description Bourne Mill, Colchester Overview
Bourne Mill in Colchester, Essex, is a National Trust property built in 1591 as a fishing lodge and later converted to a watermill. It is noted for its ornate Flemish Renaissance gables and was used for grinding corn. The mill operated into the 20th century and is now open to visitors as a historic site maintained by the National Trust.
help Bourne Mill, Colchester FAQ
When was Bourne Mill built?
Sir Thomas Lucas built the present Bourne Mill in Colchester in 1591 as a fishing and banqueting lodge. Its ornate Dutch or Flemish Renaissance gables reflect that original status rather than a plain industrial mill design.
Was Bourne Mill always a corn mill?
No. Around 1640 it became a fulling mill for shrinking and cleaning wool cloth, then it was converted back to corn milling around 1840. It made flour until the 1930s, when the machinery became uneconomic to maintain.
Who owns Bourne Mill now and can I visit?
The National Trust bought it in 1936 from the last miller, A. E. Pulford, and it is a Grade I listed property. Visitor access is seasonal and ticketed, so check the National Trust booking page before traveling.
What makes Bourne Mill's architecture unusual?
The two-storey building has elaborate Dutch-style gables and incorporates reused stone from St John's Abbey in Colchester. It is also unusual because fishing-lodge and watermill functions were brought together in one building.
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