Welcome to Acorn Bank Watermill

National Mills Weekend

National Mills Weekend this year is on 9th and 10th May. We will be having a special Open Day on 9th May at Acorn Bank.

The work of rebuilding the second waterwheel has been completed by the end of April 2026. A period of commissioning will be needed but who knows we may have it turning for the Mills weekend open day. Come along and see how we have got on.

The first wheel will be working as usual and making flour from 11.00 until 3.00pm. In addition there will be puppet making workshops taking place in the morning and afternoon. Children will be able to make a finger puppet and take it away with them. In the afternoon Appleby Town Band will be playing in the mill yard.

More information about the building of the second waterwheel can be found on the Second Wheel Build page

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.