A RURAL restaurant has revived an intriguing part of Staffordshire’s past by restoring its historic mill wheel to full use.
The Mill at Worston is set in a 200-year-old mill, last used in the 1920s, and bosses have repaired its mill wheel so customers can watch it turn while they eat and drink.
The culmination of a two-year project, company partner Neil Washington told the Newsletter that the now-functional wheel gives him an advantage against more modern venues.
He said: “There were a lot of components that needed fixing on the wheel but it’s now up and running and has been for a week.
“It’s been the centre of attention and everyone who’s seen it has given very positive feedback.
“The building was last used for milling in the 1920s and was originally built in 1814, but we’re not sure how old the wheel itself is.
“It’s coming up to the 200th anniversary of the building and, having moved in six years ago, we’ve been thinking about that for a while.
“It’s been a case of finding the time, money and expertise to get the project started, but, with the anniversary coming up, we were eager to get the wheel turning as soon as possible.”
Mr Washington said: “In the floors above there’s all the mill equipment and my aim in 2014 is to open that up so people can go on a tour of the facilities on bank holiday weekends.
“The mill’s been here for 200 years and my view is that we’re just passing through and are the current keepers of the building, so we want to restore as much of it as possible,” he said.
He added: “I think the location of our business really adds character in a way modern venues just cannot achieve, because they don’t have that history.”
