Shropshire Star

Young farmers get digging as Shropshire mill almosts grinds to a halt

A large build up of silt almost brought Shropshire's oldest working water mill to a grinding halt.

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Daniels Mill in Eardington, near Bridgnorth, had suffered from a steady build up silt because there was a less vigorous water flow going through the mill's watercourses and the mill pond.

Trustees of the 18th century mill, which still grinds flour in the traditional way, noticed the wheel was moving slowly and decided to drain parts of the pool to investigate further.

Trustee Anne Dingley said: "It wasn't until we dropped the pool out to investigate a possible leak we noticed the build up of silt around its outlets.

"Member of Bridgnorth Young Farmers Club lent a hand to not only keep the wheel turning but also provide the foundation for a huge floral planter.

"The farmers had come down recently to visit the mill as part of their regular programme of events and when we mentioned the problem they kindly offered to come back to help clear the silt build up for us.

"Now the pool will hold more much-needed water and the wheel will respond and turn quicker with its water feed cleared. It was really great to have the help of such enthusiastic and fit helpers as it's not the lightest of jobs we have to do."

Jewsons in Bridgnorth donated two wheelbarrows and tubs to help with the clearing work, which will also be used for the other maintenance jobs at the mill.

The mill can suffer with tonnes of silt build-up at times and Mrs Dingley said diggers may have to be used in the future if more rain does not arrive.

"Usually the pool washes it through but although we've had a bit of rain recently it hasn't been enough to move the silt," she said. "The pool was completely dug out in 2007 and since then we've kept on top of it but really we're hoping for some more rain."

Hannah Braithwaite, chairman of Bridgnorth Young Farmers, said the club was happy to help and support a local organisation.

"This was one of our Monday night activities, which we all thoroughly enjoyed – and ended in a mud fight," she said.

Volunteer Mark Thomas has also been building a 90-foot long plant box along the car park at the mill, which has now been filled with the excess pond silt.

Mrs Dingley said: "We have a large composter, which our volunteer groundsmen have been building up over the past couple of years and we will mix that in and then sow in a wild meadow flower mix with other donated perennial plants. It should make a lovely splash of colour in a few weeks' time.

"If anyone has any excess perennial plants they would like to donate to fill the planter just drop them down to the mill."

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