This weekend, the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings-Watermills Section holds its annual open weekend for wind and watermills, and we are opening Clencher’s Mill in Eastnor from 10.30am until 12.30pm.  Thanks to the support of the SPAB and to funding through Natural England under the Higher Level Stewardship scheme, we have been able to reconnect the old mill machinery and restore the waterwheel ; we expect to be able to test  run the mill on Saturday morning, though not to grind flour.

We have more work to do. The mill pond walls have deteriorated in large areas since the water was cut off in the 1920s after a dispute between the miller and farmer where the water was diverted into the leat, but we anticipate a little more grant funding towards their repair. In due course, we would like to lift the mill stones and inspect and recut them as necessary, but that will involve quite a bit of work as Herefordshire mills were not provided with stone hoists. We aim to open the mill when we can and especially to encourage visits by schools. We would like to grind wheat and make flour.

A note by the SPAB (Alan Stoyel) is set out below:

Eastnor has had its watermill since at least the late 13^th century, but it was in the 18^th century that Clencher’s Mill was rebuilt in its present form. A weather-boarded timber-framed structure on a brick and stone base, it is typical of many local farm buildings. The combination of overgrown former millpond beside the road, pig-sties in the yard behind, and pieces of millstone built into the front wall is evidence of it being a water-powered corn mill. The tall chimney on the building was purely for serving fireplaces on two floors – dispelling the frequently-held misconception that traditional corn mills were in constant danger of explosions from flour dust!

When the mill was constructed it was built in a conventional way, typical of the period, with two pairs of millstones on the first floor, driven from below, by wooden machinery. The massive upright shaft was continued above the stones, to power any other machines required. This, with the crown-wheel at the top, driving the wooden lay-shaft and pinion, is contemporaneous with the building and, together, these constitute an important survival. There would have been belt-driven connections to a sack-hoist in the loft and, formerly, a flour dresser to remove the bran from the ground meal to produce white flour.

The present waterwheel is 16 feet in diameter, larger than usual for Herefordshire. It carries the date of 1820, which makes it the earliest dated example in the county. The wheel is overshot, and was mounted on a wooden shaft originally. The iron machinery driven by the wheel is a replacement from the last quarter of the 19^th century. At the same time, or shortly thereafter, the present iron waterwheel-shaft replaced a massive wooden one, and a new sack-hoist was installed in the loft. Following all these improvements it was a relatively short time before flour production ended - during the First World War. The mill then produced only animal feed, and working by water power ceased in the 1920s. It was probably at this time that one of the pairs of stones was removed. About 40 years later use of the mill finally came to an end – by which time it had been powered by a tractor via shafting from the next door building where a cider press and apple scratter were also housed. The water to the mill had been cut off when the miller had a dispute with the upstream tenant at Goldhill farm, a Mr Browning.

The postcode is HR8 1RR. Parking will be in the field below the mill, reached via the gate just before the ford on the western side. Clencher’s Mill is Listed Grade II.

We look forward to seeing visitors from 10.30am on Saturday 11^th May.

JH-B 8^th May 2013

After a very successful first year, the Chilli Festival at Eastnor Castle, near Ledbury, is back on Sunday 5th and Bank Holiday Monday 6th May.  This year, there will be even more stalls and entertainment, showcasing all things Hot!

Over 40 exhibitors will be exhibiting and demonstrating their products in the Castle Courtyard Chilli Market and visitors will be able to try and buy delicious products such as curry sauces and pastes, pickles and jams, chilli-flavoured chocolate, cheese and vodka, as well as grow-your-own chilli plants. There will also be a number of specialist hot food suppliers selling authentic Asian curries and other spicy foods.

David Littlewood, General Manager at Eastnor Castle said “We are really excited about our second Eastnor Chilli Festival. This year we have a new Chilli eating competition, organised by the Clifton Chilli Club, for those who are brave enough! Younger visitors are also well catered for with the new Easy Peasy Children’s Cookery Theatre, our specially designed Chilli Trail and the much-loved Eastnor Stilt Walker and Fire Juggler.

We are also delighted to welcome a number of new local exhibitors, including Fat Man Chilli from Preston-on-Wye and his curry sauces, plants, jellies and chocolates, Chilli Pepper Plantation from Bromyard and their grow-your-own chilli plants and Becky’s Bhajis and Dips from Rushwick in Worcestershire”.

In our cookery theatre, Rayeesa from Mordiford, will be demonstrating Indian cookery skills; vegetarian cookery will be the focus of Our Lizzy from Malvern and Marina Ibrahim will be showing visitors how to make delicious Egyptian mezze.

To create a real carnival atmosphere, there will be live musical entertainment from local Mexican band – Los Squideros from Hereford and the Pantasy Steel Band will be entertaining crowds with their traditional Caribbean music.

The second Eastnor Chilli Festival will be open from 11am to 5pm on both days and admission prices are Adults: £9.50, Seniors: £8.50, Children: £6 and a Family Ticket (2+3) is priced at £25.  Discounted tickets are available on-line.

Further details visit  Eastnor Castle or call 01531 633160.

We are nearly ready to open for the Easter weekend, starting on Good Friday at 11am.  We are running our popular Easter Egg Treasure Hunt, which this year extends the egg pun to: Easter mEGGa  Hunt, with clues around the castle and grounds giving visitors the chance to win a very large chocolate egg; if consumed too fast, there will be a definite breach of the Government’s healthy eating campaign, but it will be delicious…

Behind the scenes, a lot has to be done before we open the doors.  Spring cleaning has to be finished, ropes and signs put up, the DVD for visitors unable to walk up the stairs checked, the dog bowls filled (we welcome dogs in the house with well-behaved owners), items sent away for restoration returned and put in their places. Outside, we have put new gravel in the courtyard and car park, repainted the village signs, restored the lake weir and tidied up the many fallen branches brought down by the earlier snow falls.  The tea tables will have been placed in the tea room yard, though it may be a bit chilly for those who normally like to sit outside, and the visitor centre will be clean and ready for action.  We have arranged for visitors with Privilege Cards to be fast tracked through the entrance, which should be good for them and shorten any queues.  The shop has been restocked, though if this weather continues, the demand for ice cream may not be too high.

The daffodils, if not covered by snow, should be out, and the playground ready for action, with its repaired swing and the Burma bridge, which was very popular last year when it was new.  We have planted a lot of young trees in the grounds, something future generations should appreciate if the rabbits and squirrels do not get them first.  At least there is no drought at the moment, so they are having a good start.

We hope to have a busy weekend, whatever the weather.  My coal-fired traction engine should be in the Courtyard in steam on Easter Day, and a wood fire will greet visitors every day in the Great Hall, giving a genuinely warm welcome in what may be EGGstreme conditions for the time of year…

JH-B  25th March 2013