Quetivel Mill facts for kids
Quetivel Mill is a special old building in Saint Peter, Jersey. It's a working watermill, which means it uses the power of flowing water to grind grain into flour. This mill has a very long history, going all the way back to the year 1309! The building you see today was built in the 1700s.
Quetivel Mill is located near the Jersey War Tunnels. It's also upstream from another mill called Tesson Mill. Both Quetivel Mill and Tesson Mill are looked after by the National Trust for Jersey. The National Trust is a charity that helps protect important historical places and natural spaces.
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What is Quetivel Mill?
Quetivel Mill is a historic watermill. It uses a large water wheel to power its machinery. This machinery grinds wheat and other grains into flour. For hundreds of years, mills like Quetivel were very important. They helped communities make bread and other foods.
A Look Back in Time
The story of Quetivel Mill began a very long time ago, in 1309. The building we see now was built in the 18th century. By 1934, the mill was no longer working. It was "derelict," meaning it was in a very bad state and not being used.
However, the mill became important again during the German occupation of the Channel Islands. This was a time during World War II when German forces controlled the islands. People needed to produce their own food, so the mill was put back into use.
Bringing the Mill Back to Life
After the war, the mill fell into disrepair again. But from 1971 to 1979, a big effort was made to restore it. To "restore" something means to bring it back to its original good condition. This restoration work was so good that it received a special award. It got a "commendation" from the Civic Trust in 1978. The Civic Trust is an organization that celebrates good conservation and design.
In 2015, the mill got a brand new water wheel. This helps it work even better today.
Visiting the Mill Today
Today, Quetivel Mill is open for people to visit. Sometimes, you can even see the mill in action! They demonstrate how it works, grinding grain and producing flour. This flour is then sold to visitors. However, the mill doesn't run all the time. It's mainly for educational visits and special demonstrations.
