2012 Season
Pakenham Water Mill has reopened for the season. We have an exciting programme of events lined up this year including the Food Fair on May 13 and our first theatrical production at the mill of David Copperfield, by the theatre company Mad Dogs and Englishmen on Wednesday June 20. We also have a new and improved programme of craft workshops running throughout the season. We are open every Thursday, 10.00am until 4.00pm where you will be able to see the volunteers at work, including milling and bagging of flour. We are also open for tours and tea on Saturdays and Sundays, 1.30pm until 5.00pm. We look forward to seeing you!
If you wish to arrange a group visit for 2012, or have any other queries, please contact the Chairman, Fiona Cairns, on 01379 783554.
A Unique Day Out
The parish of Pakenham is unique in Britain in having both a working watermill and a working windmill.
Pakenham Windmill viewed from Pakenham Watermill
The 18th century watermill, the last working watermill in Suffolk and now owned by the Suffolk Building Preservation Trust, is on a Domesday site. Here, for almost a thousand years, millers have been using the simple technology of water power to produce stone-ground wholemeal flour from locally-grown wheat. The mill is maintained and operated by a team of dedicated volunteers who continue the tradition.
Water from Pakenham Fen collects in the beautiful mill pond to turn the 16 foot high iron water-wheel that drives the mill-stones which turn the wheat into flour. The friendly guide will show you how the mill works, how to hoist sacks of wheat to the top of the mill, what the damsel does, the 1904 Blackstone oil engine, and much more besides.
In the former miller’s house next door you can see the old kitchen with its 18th C. brewing vat and bread oven.
There are pleasant walks beside the mill-pond, a beautiful setting with excellent opportunities for taking photographs, sketching and painting – or you can just sit and enjoy the view!
