Welcome to Acorn Bank Watermill

Autumn 2025

The Mill will continue to be open at weekends and Bank Holidays, between 11.00am and 3.00pm, until Acorn Bank closes for the season at the beginning of November. Come along and see the mill working and see how we are progressing with the installation of the second waterwheel. We usually have some samples of baking made with our flour for you to try.

Work undertaken this summer

The second water wheel is finally begining to take shape, as shown in the picture below. More information vcan be found on the Second Wheel Build page

The weir, which had been in danger of being undermined and collapsing for some time, was replaced by a rock ramp. This work was planned and overseen by the National Trust's Riverlands project. more information can be found on the Mill Race and Launder page

The area at the back of the mill behind the wheelhouse has been cobbled and a new spillway has been constructed to take water from the dump valve back to the river. More information can be found on the Mill Yard page

Most of our wildlife summer visitors have now started to leave. One family of swallows still had chicks in the nest inside our stable in early September. Hopefully they will fledge soon and get ready for their long migration journey.

If you want to buy our Acorn Bank Stoneground Wholemeal Flour when we are closed it is available from the visitor welcome hut at Acorn Bank and from our local shops - Nature's Health in Penrith, Kirkby Thore Post Office and Stores, Stainton Village Shop and Alston Wholefoods.

The Acorn Bank Watermill Trust

The watermill at Acorn Bank has been restored into a working state by a group of National Trust volunteers over the last thirteen years. In 2019 the mill was running regularly every weekend and grinding flour which was sold to visitors. The Covid-19 pandemic has forced the National Trust to re-evaluate the operation of many of its properties including Acorn Bank.

The Acorn Bank Watermill Trust has been set up by the mill volunteers to continue to maintain and run the mill and keep it open for visitors to Acorn Bank. The mill buildings will be open to visit on Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays when the Acorn Bank garden is open. Entry to the mill is free but access is through the National Trust Acorn Bank garden for which charges apply. Opening times for Acorn Bank can be found from the National Trust website, use the National Trust link on this page to find out when Acorn Bank is open. Find out about the progress we are making towards reopening the mill and when we are milling again by checking our Facebook page. The blog records the work that has been carried out over the years by a small group of dedicated volunteers.