The Old Bakery, Manor Mill & Forge facts for kids

The Old Bakery, Manor Mill & Forge is a special group of old buildings in a village called Branscombe. This village is in Devon, England, near Seaton. These buildings have been looked after by the National Trust since 1965. The National Trust is a charity that protects important places and nature.

This property includes three main buildings: an old bakery, a water-powered mill, and a forge where metalwork was done.

Exploring the Old Bakery

The Old Bakery in Branscombe.

The Old Bakery is a charming building made of stone. Some parts are covered with plaster, and its roof is made of thatch, which is dried plant material. This bakery was very important because it was the last traditional working bakery in Devon. It finally closed its doors in 1987.

Inside the bakery, you can still see the old equipment used for baking. It's like stepping back in time! The rest of the building is now a cozy tea room. Here, visitors can enjoy a snack and imagine how bread was made long ago.

Discovering Manor Mill

The historic Manor Mill at Branscombe.

Next to the bakery is the Manor Mill. This mill used the power of water to grind grain into flour. It's very likely that this mill provided the flour for the bakery next door. Imagine fresh bread made from flour ground right there!

The mill has recently been fixed up and is now working perfectly again. You can see how the water wheel turns and helps to grind the grain. It's a great example of old technology.

Visiting the Forge

The water wheel at Manor Mill.

The Forge is another unique building in this collection. It's special 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.

The blacksmith at this forge makes things out of ironwork. You can often see them working and even buy some of the items they create. It's a chance to see a traditional craft in action.