Dunster Working Watermill

At the time of the Domesday Book in 1086 there were two mills in Dunster. One which was called the Lower Mill was on the site of the present mill. In the 17th century there were both malt and oats mills but by 1721 one of these had been converted to a fulling mill. The present mill, which was built around 1780 and replaced the two former mills. In 1940 a bakery was added. It was restored to working order in 1979, winning a conservation award in 1982. A cafe was opened in the buildings which used to be the wagon house and stables. It is owned by the National Trust and can be visited by National Trust members for free or by non-members buying an entry ticket. The site is visited by around…

The three-storey building has a slate roof. To the south east a stone wall contains wrought iron gates in an arched gateway. which transfer power to associated (internal) pit wheel, spur wheel and stone nut. This then drives the millstones. There are trapdoors on the first and second floors to allow grain to be hoisted up the building via the sack hoist.