Worsbrough Mill facts for kids
Worsbrough Mill is a cool place to visit in Worsbrough, Barnsley, England. It's also called Worsbrough Corn Mill or Worsbrough Mill Farm. This historic site has two main buildings: an old water-powered mill from the 1600s and a newer steam-powered mill from the 1800s.
Today, Worsbrough Mill is open for everyone to explore. It uses water from the River Dove to power its machinery. The mill is a great example of how people used to grind grain into flour long ago.
The name "Worsbrough" refers to a wider area. This includes places like Worsbrough Bridge, Worsbrough Dale, and Worsbrough Common today.
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Explore Worsbrough Country Park
Worsbrough Mill is found inside the huge Worsbrough Country Park. This park covers about 240 acres, which is like 180 football fields! It's located about 2 miles south of Barnsley near the A61 road and the M1 motorway.
The park also has a large lake called Worsbrough Reservoir. This 60-acre reservoir was built in 1804. It was made when the Dearne and Dove Canal first opened.
You can find lots to do in the park. There are footpaths and cycle paths that wind through Willow Carr. You can also walk or bike all the way around the reservoir. If you like fishing, you can try your luck in the upper pond and the canal basin.
A Look at Mill History
People have been milling grain in Worsbrough for a very long time! A mill here was first written about in the Domesday Book of 1086. This was a big survey ordered by William the Conqueror.
Experts believe there's a link from that early mill to the one built around 1625. This 1625 date is likely when the Old Mill we see today was built. We don't know if earlier mills were in the exact same spot. However, mills were super important in olden times. They were a key part of village life. So, they often stayed in the same good location for centuries.
The Mill Buildings
There are two main mill buildings at Worsbrough. Each has its own interesting story.
The Old Mill
The oldest building is called the Old Mill. It has two floors and is a watermill. This means it uses water power to turn its grinding stones. You'll notice the huge stone lintels above its doors. These are the strong beams that support the wall above an opening.
The Old Mill still works today! It grinds a small amount of grain. While we don't have an exact date carved on the building, experts think it was built around 1625.
The New Mill
The New Mill was built later, around 1843. It was originally powered by steam, not water. It once had a large beam engine inside. This type of engine used steam to create power. However, that original engine was removed in 1922.
During the 1960s and 1970s, the mill buildings were restored. A different engine was then installed in the New Mill. This was a 1911 Hornsby hot bulb oil engine. It came from Sykehouse Windmill. This engine still runs, but it's not connected to the millstones in the New Mill.
See also
- Grade II* listed buildings in South Yorkshire
- Listed buildings in Worsbrough
