The Old Bakery, Manor Mill & Forge facts for kids

The Old Bakery, Manor Mill & Forge is a special group of old buildings located in Branscombe, a village near Seaton in Devon, England. These historic buildings have been looked after by the National Trust since 1965. The National Trust is a charity that helps protect and preserve important places and buildings in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland for everyone to enjoy.

This unique property includes three main buildings: a traditional bakery, a watermill, and a forge. Each one tells a story about how people lived and worked in the past.

The Old Bakery: A Taste of History

The Old Bakery is a charming building made of stone, with some parts covered in a smooth plaster-like material. Its roof is made of thatch, which means it's covered with dried straw or reeds. This was a common way to build roofs long ago.

Why the Bakery is Special

This bakery was very important because it was the very last traditional working bakery in the whole county of Devon. It finally closed its doors in 1987. When you visit, you can still see the old baking equipment, like ovens and tools, preserved just as they were. Today, the rest of the building has been turned into a cozy tea room, where visitors can relax and enjoy a drink or a snack.

Manor Mill: Powered by Water

The Manor Mill is a watermill, which means it uses the power of flowing water to turn a large wheel. This wheel then powers machinery inside the mill. It's very likely that this mill produced the flour that the Old Bakery used to make its bread and other baked goods.

Restoring the Mill

The mill has been carefully restored in recent years. This means that experts worked hard to fix and rebuild parts of it so that it could work properly again. Now, the Manor Mill is in full working order, showing visitors how grain was once ground into flour using the power of water.

The Forge: A Blacksmith's Workshop

The Forge is another amazing building in this collection. It's especially unique because it's the only forge in England that still has a thatched roof. A forge is a workshop where a blacksmith works with metal.

What a Blacksmith Does

A blacksmith is a skilled craftsperson who shapes metal, usually iron, by heating it in a very hot fire and then hammering it. At the Forge, the blacksmith creates beautiful ironwork pieces, which are then sold to visitors. It's a great way to see traditional craftsmanship in action.

External links

• Branscombe – The Old Bakery, Manor Mill & Forge information at the National Trust