Bourne Mill in Colchester undergoes restoration repairs on waterwheel

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Bourne Mill, built in 1591 by Sir Thomas Lucas, was made from various types of stone, including limestone reclaimed from the nearby St John's Abbey.Bourne Mill was originally used as a Fishing Lodge, before being converted into a Fulling Mill and then later a Grain Mill.

The National Trust purchased Bourne Mill in 1936 when it was used as a private residence until the 1980s.

Unfortunately, since last year, when part of its wooden mechanism began to rot forcing the wheel out of line, the 16th century Bourne Mill has been out of action.

Restoration work to raise the wheel back into place, is being undertaken by the Bristol-based specialists Dorothea Restorations. This work will consist of inserting 48 new wooden chocks to hold the shaft in place, allowing the wheel to turn once again.

Being just one part of a constant programme of restoration on the National Trust owned Bourne Mill, these repairs are estimated to cost around £4000.

 
The Trust's Area Warden for Essex and South Suffolk, Dave Piper, explained how the current work on the waterwheel was just the latest in a continuous process of restorative repair.

"We have it turning as a working waterwheel and due to it being a piece of metal sitting in water, obviously we have metal rusting and we are constantly maintaining parts of the mill," he said.

"There's also been restoration from the past where some of those techniques have actually marred the stonework so we're now looking to use new materials or even go back to the original materials which should have been used in the first place," he added.

Whilst the repairs are not hugely complicated, Geoff Wallis from Dorothea Restorations said every care had to be taken to get it right.

"Most waterwheels tend to be constructed in generally the same way, but each one is still different, so we have to develop our techniques every time, but we've become quite familiar with this one as we inspect it every year and make sure it's in a good condition."

The mill is active at various open days times throughout the year and for the first time in 2010 Bourne Mill will be open over the Easter Weekend. 

For more information on Bourne Mill and its other opening times, visit the National Trust website.