Sarehole Mill

The 200-year-old mill at Sarehole is one of only two surviving watermills in Birmingham.

The cobbled courtyard and mill pool are a tranquil haven from 21st century life outside, while the buildings and their impressive machinery give a unique insight into the lives of the millers who once inhabited this rural retreat.
More than seventy watermills once occupied the riverbanks around Birmingham and there has been one at Sarehole for at least 460 years.  Sarehole was first built as a corn-grinding mill but has also been used for rolling sheet metal, grinding blades and wire rolling.

The Mill was once rented to Matthew Boulton before he moved to Handsworth to build his famous Soho Manufactory. The local landscape also provided inspiration for the stories of JRR Tolkien who spent his childhood here.

What will I see at Sarehole Mill?

Highlights at Sarehole Mill include:

• The north waterwheel and the mill gears on the first floor. These can be seen working on demonstration days
• The surrounding woodland and Shire Country Park – a haven for birds and all kinds of wildlife
• The bakehouse, which houses the original bread oven and a nineteenth-century proving bin where the bread was left to rise
• The secluded mill pool – occupied by all kinds of wildlife including moorhens, mallards and herons
• The Tolkien displays – Sarehole Mill is part of the Tolkien Trail, which follows the childhood footsteps of the author and the places that influenced his writing

There is a regular programme of activities and exhibitions. Check the Events page for the latest listings.

The mill is normally closed in the winter months. School parties and pre-booked groups are welcome all year round. Charges may apply for out-of-season visits so please contact Sarehole Mill for further details.

See images of Sarehole Mill taken between 1895 and 1976 on flickr.