Heron Corn Mill facts for kids

The Heron Corn Mill is a really old water mill in Beetham, Cumbria, England. It sits right by the River Bela. This mill is special because it still works today, just like it did hundreds of years ago! It uses the power of the river to grind grain into flour.

The sluice head and leat, with the river Bela

Discovering Heron Corn Mill

Heron Corn Mill is an amazing place where you can see history come alive. It's an 18th-century mill, which means it was built a long, long time ago in the 1700s. The mill uses a big water wheel to turn machinery inside. This machinery helps to grind corn and other grains into flour.

How the Mill Works

The mill gets its power from the River Bela. A special channel, called a mill race, guides water from the river to the mill. This water then pushes against a large water wheel. As the wheel spins, it powers the grinding stones inside the mill building. You can often watch the millers at work, making fresh flour!

Making Clean Energy

Besides grinding flour, Heron Corn Mill also helps make clean energy! It has a special machine called a Kaplan turbine. This turbine uses the flowing river water to create hydroelectricity. Some of this clean electricity is even sold to a paper mill nearby. It's a great example of how we can use natural resources to power our world.

Helping Fish Travel

The river near the mill has a small wall, called a weir, which helps control the water flow. But this weir could stop fish from swimming upstream. To help the fish, especially salmon, there's a special path called a fish ladder. This ladder lets the fish swim around the weir so they can get to their breeding grounds further up the river.

Visiting the Mill

The Heron Corn Mill is open for visitors to explore. You can see how flour is made and learn about the mill's history. There's also an old barn from the 18th century on the mill site. This barn is used for fun community events and educational activities. It's a great place to learn about history and how things used to be made.

Protecting a Special Place

The mill and its mill race are very important. They are listed as a Grade II* building. This means they are a very special historic place that needs to be protected. In 2013, the mill received a big grant of £939,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund. This money helped with major restoration work to keep the mill in good shape for many years to come.