Name: Bourne Mill
Rating: 5.0

Bourne Mill

Bourne Mill - National Trust, Bourne Road, Colchester, UK

1-99 Years

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Description

Bourne Mill is a historic National Trust property located just south of Colchester, offering a peaceful setting and over 1,000 years of history. Originally built in 1591, it has served as a fishing lodge, fulling mill, and corn mill over the centuries. Today, it provides an enjoyable and educational visit surrounded by tranquil water and wildlife.

The mill features a working cast-iron waterwheel, complete with a millpond and flowing stream set within quiet grounds. Visitors can explore fulling stocks, learn about historic textile production including Colchester’s famous ‘Bay’ cloth, and discover the people and personalities who lived and worked here. Other highlights include the recycled Roman and monastic building materials, a hand-stitched historical banner, wetlands, woods, and wildlife such as birds, bats, and waterfowl.

Entry to Bourne Mill is free. Guided tours are available at no extra charge and are recommended to fully understand the history and working features of the mill. The venue is also available for private functions, with details provided on request.

Bourne Mill offers a calm and fascinating experience for visitors of all ages. The combination of living history, interactive elements, and natural surroundings makes it both educational and relaxing. It’s an ideal place to visit for families, history lovers, and anyone looking to explore Colchester’s heritage in a peaceful outdoor setting.

Features

Free
Host birthday parties: Yes

Features

Mill: A delightful piece of late Elizabethan playfulness. Built as a fishing lodge in 1591 and converted into a fulling mill in the 17th century and then a corn mill in the 19th century, Bourne Mill still has a working waterwheel, millpond and stream. Bourne Mill is set in tranquil grounds, next to a millpond and babbling stream. The mill still has a working waterwheel and the grounds give plenty of scope for family fun. The grounds have a pond, wetlands and woods and are home to a variety of wildlife including birds, bats, waterfowl, bugs and beetles.
The working waterwheel: With a circumference of 18 feet and 72 buckets to turn, this cast-iron overshot wheel sits proudly beneath the main floor. The machinery is sadly now long gone but you can experience the thrill of starting the wheel and hearing the sound of the rushing water.
Fulling stocks: Can you use pedal power to take the place of water to operate the fulling stocks? The mill brings this once important industry back to life. Discover what the slightly unpleasant 'chamber-lye' was and why it was so important in the production of Colchester’s textiles, particularly a special cloth known as 'Bay' famed for miles around.
People and personalities: The mill was originally built in 1591 by Sir Thomas Lucas as a banqueting house but was later converted for working with fullers and then millers until the 20th century. Find out more about the individuals that have lived and worked here through the centuries.
Recycled Colchester: The mill’s walls read like a book on the history of Colchester. Constructed from a mixture of Roman clay brick and monastic limestone, they were then finished with black flint galloting and Dutch-style gables. While successfully showing off Sir Thomas’s wealth, the building was also a great example of upcycling.
Hand-stitched banner: See the magnificent banner created by Colne and Colchester Embroiderers Guild. It depicts items from around the grounds and snapshots of the history that make up the story of Bourne Mill.

Facilities

Parking: Limited parking for blue badge holders only.
Bookshop: Small selection of second hand books.
Guided tour: Guided tours, available at no extra charge, are recommended for you to get the most out of your visit.
Toilets: Toilet available.

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Price

Price: Free

Birthday Parties

Offer Birthday Parties: Yes

Birthday Party Details

Available for functions, please contact for further information.

Contact the venue for timing information.

Address: Bourne Mill - National Trust, Bourne Road, Colchester, UK

Post Code: CO2 8RT

Council: Colchester

County: Essex

By Car: 1 mile south of centre of Colchester, on Bourne Road, off Mersea Road (B1025) There is space on site for blue badge parking only, if you are arriving by car please park in the nearby Napier Road North (7GA, Napier Rd, Colchester) car park.
By Bus: 175, S1 and S9 – Scarletts Road stop on Old Heath Road is close by 68, 86, 174, S8 – Cemetery Gates stop on Mersea Road is close by. 174/175 runs from Colchester to Fingringhoe, S1 runs from Highwoods to Wivenhoe, S9 runs from Colchester to Rowhedge, 68 runs from Highwoods to West Mersea, S8 runs from Colchester to Monkwick, 86 runs from Colchester to West Mersea
By Train: Bourne Mill can be accessed from 3 railway stations: Colchester (1.84 miles away), Colchester Town (0.73 miles) or Hythe (0.88 miles). The 66 bus runs from Colchester Station to Old Heath.