Trouble at T’Mill £40k appeal to save 400 year old Worsbrough Mill

Trouble At T'Mill Worsbrough Mill needs your help | BMHT

There's Trouble at T’Mill...so a £40k appeal has been launched to raise the dough to save an iconic ancient Yorkshire water mill and get it grinding again on its 400th anniversary.

Worsbrough Mill, in Barnsley, is a symbol of the region's rich industrial past and next year marks four centuries of milling flour using water power from the River Dove.

Nestled in 240-acre Worsbrough country park, next to a reservoir, it is a slice of paradise for nature lovers, with birdwatchers, anglers and over 250,000 fresh air enthusiasts flocking every year to the site to soak up the stunning views.

The mill, which has been grinding grain since 1625, is one of only a few remaining working mills in Yorkshire and until recently it was capable of grinding about 16 tons of grain each year, keeping local bakeries and artisan bread makers powered by flour.

But it is facing a dire threat - one that could silence its waterwheel forever. It is in urgent need of repair to the main upright oak shaft that drives the mill’s mechanism, which can only be installed by specialists.

Without this, the mill will remain idle and silent, with flour production ground to a halt.

Worsbrough Mill workings including the upright oak shaft that drives the mill’s mechanism which needs to be replaced. | Front Row Live

A £40,000 Trouble At T’Mill appeal has been launched by Barnsley Museums and Heritage Trust, a fundraising charity which helps to fund and promote the town's five museums Experience Barnsley, The Cooper Gallery, Elsecar Heritage Centre, Cannon Hall Museum and Worsbrough Mill.

It is hoping to attract generous business donations but is also calling on the public to show their support.

DONATE NOW: To donate visit BMHT's JustGiving page at www.justgiving.com/campaign/savethemill or text a donation to SAVETHEMILL followed by the amount you’d like to donate (e.g., SAVETHEMILL5 for £5) to 70450.

You can also donate directly to BMHT on its website at www.bmht.org.

FUNDRAISING PACK: Set up your own fundraising campaign - check out the offical BMHT #savethemill fundraising e-guide CLICK HERE.

For more information visit the BMHT campaign web page at bmht.org/trouble-at-tmill and check out the Worsbrough Mill web site at www.worsbrough-mill.com.

BMHT says the mill’s future is in our hands. If each visitor donates just 40p - less than the cost of a bag of crisps - the £40,000 target would be reached in no time.

Even a small contribution can make a big difference. Every penny will go toward ensuring that Worsbrough Mill continues to grind flour and tell its story for generations to come.

VIRTUAL TOUR: Click on the image below to explore Worsbrough Mill online - find out how it works and learn all about the mill’s rich history in the amazing 3D walkthrough tour from Barnsley Museums, created by www.frontrowlive.co.uk and packed with information hotspots, including explainer videos featuring miller Simon Dodd.

The repair requires the work of a specialist millwright, one of the few experts left in the country with the skills to install the new, hand-picked oak shaft.

The cost is steep, but the reward is priceless - the preservation of a historical treasure that has served the community for four centuries.

Worsbrough Mill is not just a piece of machinery; it’s a part of Barnsley’s heritage. For the quarter of a million visitors who flock to the stunning setting every year, the mill is a source of pride and wonder.

Birdwatchers, anglers, hikers, and history lovers come to experience not just the natural beauty of the site, but the rhythmic sound of the mill at work, grinding grain just as it has done for centuries.

Coun Robin Franklin, Cabinet Spokesperson for Regeneration and Culture, said: "Worsbrough Mill has been a crucial part of our industrial heritage for almost 400 years, and it is vital that it can remain so for future generations.

“I encourage the people of Barnsley to donate what they can to make sure this fantastic piece of history can be preserved and continue to thrive as a museum, community hub, and outstanding free tourist attraction."

Worsbrough Mill celebrating its 400th anniversary in 2025 | Scott Merrylees

David Exley, Chair of the Barnsley Museums and Heritage Trust, added: "It’s an absolute must that we get the mill working again. If not, the fascinating stories become untold for future generations and the mill becomes just another monument in history. People of Barnsley are proud of their industrial heritage and now is the time to show it by donating what they can to this vital cause.”