Winchester City Mill facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Winchester City Mill |
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Downstream front of the mill
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| Type | Watermill |
| Location | Water Lane, Winchester |
| OS grid reference | SU 48615 29316 |
| Area | Hampshire |
| Built | 1744 |
| Owner | National Trust |
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Listed Building – Grade II*
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| Official name: 1, Water Lane | |
| Designated | 24 March 1950 |
| Reference no. | 1095347 |
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The Winchester City Mill is an old water mill in the middle of Winchester, a historic city in England. It sits right on the River Itchen. A water mill uses the power of flowing water to turn a big wheel. This wheel then helps grind grain into flour.
Today, the mill is looked after by the National Trust. It is also a special old building called a Grade II* listed building. This means it's very important and protected.
Contents
A Long History: How Old Is the Mill?
The Winchester City Mill has been around for a very long time! It was first written about in a famous old book called the Domesday Book in 1086. This book listed everything in England after the Norman Conquest.
But the mill is even older than that! Records from the cathedral show it existed as far back as 932. Some of the wooden parts inside the mill are from the 11th century. This shows just how ancient this building is.
Changes Over Time: From Eastgate to City Mill
The mill was once known as Eastgate Mill. This was because it was just outside the east gate of Winchester city.
In 1554, Queen Mary I gave the mill to the city of Winchester. This happened after she married Philip II of Spain at Winchester Cathedral. After this, its name changed to City Mill.
The mill you see today was mostly rebuilt in 1744. A man named James Cook, who was a tanner (someone who works with animal hides), did this work. An artist named J.M.W Turner drew a picture of the mill in 1795. His drawing shows that the building and the water channels look very much the same even now.
Saving the Mill: From Laundry to Hostel
In 1820, the city sold the mill to the Benham family. They owned it until the early 1900s. Around the late 1890s, the mill had money problems. Other mills nearby made it hard for City Mill to compete. By 1910, it stopped working as a mill.
During World War I, the mill was used as a laundry. After the war, it became empty and started to fall apart. In 1928, there was a risk that the building would be pulled down. But a group of people bought the mill to save it. They then gave it to the National Trust.
In 1931, the mill became a Youth Hostels Association hostel. This meant young travelers could stay there. It was used as a hostel until 2005.
The Mill Today: Grinding Flour Again!
In 2004, a big project to fix up the mill finished. It took 12 years to restore it! After not working for over 90 years, the mill started grinding flour again using water power.
Now, the water wheel runs every day of the year. You can even watch demonstrations of flour milling on weekends. The mill building also has a cafe and a shop run by the National Trust.
Otter Watch: Spotting Wildlife
The Winchester City Mill is also a great place to see wildlife! The mill works with the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust and the Environment Agency. They have set up special night-vision cameras.
These cameras watch the river flowing under the mill. They record images of otters as they swim by. You can often see these recordings playing on a screen inside the mill. It's a fun way to learn about the animals living in the river!
