Sturminster Newton Mill. Having spent several years of my childhood in Sturminster Newton, I often spent hours down by the Mill larking about. Some personal memories inspired this piece. On a warm day, a Swan keeps watching while her cygnets explore and learn.

Sturminster Mill is one of a series of ancient flour mills built on the River Stour. There may have been a mill on this site in Saxon times and there is evidence that a mill existed in 1016. The Mill is recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 where four mills in the Sturminster area are mentioned.

The present L-shaped building consists of the south and north wings. The south wing, which sits firmly on the river bank, was last rebuilt c.1650 on a centuries-old site. The north wing, which juts out into the river, was originally a completely separate mill that was built in 1611. It was demolished in the late 18th century and rebuilt in brick on its original stone base, then they joined it with and extended the grain mill.

Until the turn of the 20th century, Sturminster Newton Mill was powered by a pair of undershot water wheels that worked side by side which drove four sets of stones. The last pair of water wheels were fitted in 1849. They were capable of producing a combined output of 12 horsepower. In 1904 the mill was upgraded, and the two water wheels were replaced with a single water turbine.

In 2016 Sturminster Mill celebrated 1,000 years of milling at this site on the Stour. If you visit them, there’s a specially commissioned timeline, covering the whole period, on display at the Mill.