INTRODUCTION
Photo: Brenda Hochachka
Assington Mill lies in one of Suffolk’s secret valleys. This is the most likely site for the mill mentioned in the Domesday Book, and again in historic records for 1588. The former watermill stopped working in 1868 when the squire “took the water for his own purposes”, and the miller was forced to acquire a second-hand windmill, which came from Sudbury. The farm now consists of 10 semi-derelict buildings, and 86 acres of farmland. The buildings are being restored one by one at the moment. Click on “About Assington Mill” for more details.
The land is being managed as a private nature reserve. The farm has an unusually wide range of diverse habitats: arable land, unimproved pasture, woodland, wetland and scrub. In 2003/4, we planted 900 metres of new hedging and a one acre woodland, Jamie’s Wood (in honour of a new grandchild, born at planting time), as well as leaving six metre margins around all three arable fields. This has been done with the help of Peter Ennis of the Stour Valley & Dedham Vale Project under the Countryside Stewardship Scheme. A new eleven acre woodland was planted in December 2004 to join nature reserve Spouses Grove with another private nature reserve, Tiger Hill. It contains a high proportion of hazel for the benefit of the local dormice. On the construction front, now that the main house is finished, and the watermill repaired, we hope to replace the most recent waterwheel. A 19th century building at one end of the mill is being converted back into domestic use, and will be available for hire.
NEXT COURSE
Dowsing & archaeology - Geoff Crockford & Nigel Hughes - 17th May 2008
CONTACT US
Contact Anne Holden for information about the arts and crafts courses on:
Tel: 01787 229955
Mobile: 07770 550570
Email: info@assingtonmill.co.uk
