Worsbrough Mill's flour production risks grinding to a halt

Oct 26, 2024

The stones of a South Yorkshire flour mill are at risk of grinding to a halt permanently unless £40,000 can be raised for "urgent" repairs.

Worsbrough Mill, located in Worsbrough Mill Country Park, Barnsley, has been in use since 1625 and is one of the last remaining working flour mills in Yorkshire.

According to Barnsley Museums and Heritage Trust, the 16.4 ft (5m) upright oak shaft that drives the mill's mechanism needs fixing, with a specialist millwright required.

The trust said it hoped to restore "Barnsley's pride and joy" and reinstate flour production as soon as possible.

Worsbrough Mill, which will celebrate its 400th anniversary in 2025, is capable of grinding around 16 tonnes of grain each year thanks to water power from the nearby River Dove.

The first record of a mill at Worsbrough was in the Domesday Book of 1086, the trust said, although the exact location of the mill along the river is unknown.

Today's mill produces a range of organic flours used by bakeries and kitchens across the UK, along with the Worsbrough Mill cafe.

But production was paused due to concerns that the state of the current oak shaft could cause damage to the building.

To get the mill working again, the trust launched a fundraiser to help cover the cost of the repair.

David Exley, the trust's chair, said: "It’s an absolute must that we get the mill working again.

"If not, the fascinating stories become untold for future generations and the mill becomes just another monument in history."

Councillor Robin Franklin, Barnsley Council's spokesperson for regeneration and culture, said: "Worsbrough Mill has been a crucial part of our industrial heritage for almost 400 years, and it is vital that it can remain so for future generations."

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