At the Old Mill

This week saw the unplugging of the culvert that lets water flow into the millpool at Sarehole Mill. The pool has been extensively dredged over the autumn and winter, and lots of crack willow removed. The culvert itself needed de-silting and rubbish cleared out by water jet and the channel leading into the millpond deepened. The water flows from the Cole Bath Brook within Moseley Bog and travels underground to reach the millpool culvert.

The atmosphere was tense. A lone duck paddled in a somewhat desultory manner on the small expanse of water already collecting in the pool from rain and underground springs. Could it sense the importance of the moment. It turned out to be a seagull but I hadn’t got my glasses on. Still, this was this was the moment Sarehole Mill had been waiting for. Contact by phone was made between the contractors at each culvert. ‘Ok! Let her go’. Or words to that effect. It took some time.

We waited, watching anxiously the narrow trickle that was already there. Would there be a wall of water, rushing headlong through the narrow tunnel and gushing out into the newly deepened channel. Wee voles riding the wave on twiggy surfboards perhaps. Rats paddling madly to out swim the torrent. Well not exactly!

It takes about 10 minutes for the water to travel the distance between bog and pool and the culvert at Moseley Bog end was being carefully unblocked bit by bit, even as we watched. The water flow increased sedately rather than tumulteously. The stream in the channel widened to touch the sides of the tunnel and then a proper flow appeared. Fantastic after all these months. An historical moment and I was ready to photograph the momentous occasion. But of course my camera phone was dead.

Never mind, others took photos for the record. I went again to see progress next day (with my camera fully charged) and lo and behold there is a proper pool and proper ducks. Most definitely ducks! The pool still had a way to go to reach its natural depth, but Thursday was gardening club day and it looked pretty much full. Very satisfying for all concerned. The millwright opened the sluice gate for a trial run of the millwheel. It all worked a treat. One of the replacements millstones acquired from Allisons Flour by said milllwright, has come home. Inscribed around its edge it reads, ‘made in Moor St, Birmingham’. Nice!

The gardens are being extended around the front and back of the mill and we are working hard to get it into a fit state for the opening of the museum towards the end of March. A few replacement plants have been added to the perrential bee and butterfly garden. The vegetable garden is rather sad having spent the winter nourishing building materials. The fernery also needs tender loving care since a dipping platform has been added. Not to worry, spring will no doubt see all the green and pleasant additions pushing their way forth. A new garden has been started around the large Yew Tree between the entrance and the mill courtyard and a beautiful wooden tree seat installed. An unwanted mill stone has been wheeled into place in front of the tree as well. That sentence makes it sound so simple. Mill stones are, naturally, heavy and it took a great deal of effort to re-site it. Not by me, I hasten to add. You most definitely do not want one landing on your toes. I just watched. It took well over an hour to lift it and move it about 25 metres. It will be there forever!

The site is being cleared of the debris left after the all the work and is beginning to look spick and span, there is a cosy fire in the cafe, fresh art work is going on the walls.

Sarehole Mill is at last coming into its own.

There is music in the rattle
Of the tinkling wheat that falls,
In the hopper, as the miller
Stops to heed the gristman’s calls.
Yes, I love this shaded building,
Love the flowing stream and flowers,
Love to hear the busy clatter
On the lingering summer hours.

From a poem by Violet Lee, 1873.