Bourne Mill

Important notice -

We're working hard to reopen many of our places where it is safe to do so. However, Bourne Mill is currently closed.

Picturesque watermill with working waterwheel, set in the Essex countryside.

More about this place

Visitors walking through a garden in spring

Visiting this spring 

In England and Northern Ireland, our gardens, parks and countryside remain open for local people to exercise. Shops, houses and other indoor areas are closed, and cafés are takeaway only. The safety of our staff, volunteers and visitors from the nearby community remains our priority and we urge you to book your visits in advance and stay local. All places in Wales are currently closed. Please check the property webpage before you travel.

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Bourne Mill

History

Unpick the history of Bourne Mill

Archive image of Bourne Mill

Explore the past 

With a history dating back over 1,000 years, through the dissolution of the monasteries and peaceful pursuits of fishing and smelly industry of fulling and dusty milling, our special Mill has something to interest everyone.

Close up of the exterior of Bourne Mill

The three Mills on Bourne Stream 

The tale of how a small, spring-fed stream helped power the cloth and flour trade of Colchester.

A piece of old Bay cloth from HollyTrees Museum archive which looks brown and moth eaten

Colchester White Bay 

Colchester was associated with the production of woollen textile fabrics between the 16th and 18th Centuries. Bourne Mill was at various times the site for spinning wool yarns and Fulling woven woollen cloths (production of wool felts). These fabrics became so well known that they carried a trademarked Seal of quality. The Colchester wool trade began to decline midway through the 18th century as it moved north to Yorkshire.

The Lucas coat of arms over the door of Bourne Mill

Sir Thomas Lucas 

Sir Thomas Lucas was out to impress when he built Bourne Mill in 1591 having held a number of offices at court. He was a formidable figure in Colchester and known to have an 'imperious and violent temper.'

Bourne Mill Diary

Bourne Mill Diary 

A day in the life of Sir Thomas Lucas. 21 June 1599 to be precise. Read this account from Sir Thomas' Diary of a typical day entertaining his guests.

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Bourne Mill

Our work

The Felt creations from the Essex Cultural Diversity Project at Bourne Mill

Essex Cultural Diversity Project 

We are delighted to be working in partnership with local artists Nicola Burrell and Lisa Temple-Cox on a commission for Bourne Mill. They are working with local communities, visitors and volunteers to create work which reflects Bourne Mill and the surrounding Bourne Valley. The project is entitled Bourne Narratives. It will be working with diverse communities in Colchester to create a large felt-based map, to explore Bourne Mill, geographically and culturally, and highlight the beauty and ecological diversity of the site.

View of Bourne Mill showing the lucum

Our work at Bourne Mill 

Repairing the water wheel and maintaining the stonework are just two of our ongoing tasks. Find out more about the work we do to care for the mill.

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Bourne Mill

Learning

A young girl writes carefully with a quill onto paper

Schemes of Lessons at Bourne Mill 

Bourne Mill is the perfect setting for school groups to cover many areas of the curriculum. We have started by focusing on KS2 but know that our site can cover all ages and aid teachers in reaching attainment targets.

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Bourne Mill

Join or give

Support our work

Bourne Mill Colchester

Support our work through a donation 

Make a donation today and support our ongoing conservation work at Bourne Mill. Old buildings, their collections and the water wheel take a lot of care, so help secure their future today for all to enjoy.

Cycling at Osterley Park and House, London

Renew your membership 

If you have an existing membership, we’ve made it easier and quicker to renew online. So you can enjoy another year of membership in minutes.

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© National Trust Registered Charity 205846 Heelis, Kemble Drive, Swindon SN2 2NA

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