Saving & Restoring Winchester City Mill

The basement spaces at Winchester City Mill post flood damage

Dating back well over a thousand years, City Mill has weathered the course of time. Following flood damage in 2014, Winchester was at risk of losing one of its most historic properties.

Immediately after the flooding, we began to assess the damage to the building and machinery. The lower millrace floor, including the waterwheel, gearing and a supporting beam and post over the slow race required significant repairs. It took nearly a year to return this part of the building to full use.

Once this work was complete, we turned our attention to the old Youth Hostel basement area, adjacent to the millrace. This area has not been publiclly accessible since the end of the hostel’s tenancy. Much of the space comprised of panels and partitions containing asbestos, which had, for many years, made assessment of the supporting beam structure behind impossible, until now.

Removing the asbestos proved a major undertaking and it quickly became apparent that the ancient oak beams and joists were in a terrible state of decay. The deterioration to the Mill’s supporting structure was so severe that over 50 acrow props were required to stop the building collapsing under its own weight.

A series of structural surveys and assessments quickly followed so we could thoroughly understand the severity of the situation. We soon realised that making the repairs would be a major project. We launched our ‘Save City Mill’ fundraising appeal in January 2017 and were amazed by the level of public support. The campaign was supported by our visitors, numerous Winchester businesses, as well as local community groups and National Trust supporter groups.

Saving Winchester City Mill, one beam at a time
Saving Winchester City Mill, one beam at a time
Saving Winchester City Mill, one beam at a time

Within 9 months, the total raised was in excess of £90,000. We were also fortunate to secure a flood resilience grant from the National Trust and work began in earnest in March 2018.

The majority of the building’s fixtures and fittings were removed and over half the floorboards lifted exposing the deteriorated oak beams and joists beneath. The last time the Mill would have been seen like this was most likely in 1744 when it was restored by James Cooke. In many places the floor consisted of three layers of floorboards. We saved and reused as much of the historic woodwork as possible but some of the boards and joists were just too far gone.

While the restoration work took place, a specially constructed viewing platform gave visitors the perfect vantage point to watch the conservation in action
Visitors, big and little, can watch the urgent restoration project at Winchester City Mill, National Trust
While the restoration work took place, a specially constructed viewing platform gave visitors the perfect vantage point to watch the conservation in action
Once the original medieval oak frame had been repaired and conserved, new oak joists were incorporated to sit within the frame
new oak joists on saddle hangers, winchester city mill, national trust, hampshire
Once the original medieval oak frame had been repaired and conserved, new oak joists were incorporated to sit within the frame

Our millwright Ian Clark and master carpenter Bob Hall were commissioned to design a new dividing partition for the mill room. The new partition is a blend of contemporary and modern design in the form of a traditional solid oak frame, which incorporates modern glass infills and doors to provide a clear view through the building.  The frame is constructed from 5 year air dried English oak grown on the Bowood Estate in Wiltshire.

With the floor and walls secured, we turned our attention to the basement. Varying levels of concrete floor were broken up and levelled out, revealing the 18th Century floor beneath, made up of Flemish red bricks, hand-laid cobbles and limestone slabs. Visit City Mill on a baking demonstration day and you’ll be able to experience the new basement area for yourself.

While taking up the uneven concrete floor in the basement we discovered a brick floor, laid circa 18th Century
Brick flooring from circa the 18th Century discovered in the basement at Winchester City Mill, Hampshire, National Trust
While taking up the uneven concrete floor in the basement we discovered a brick floor, laid circa 18th Century

With the restoration finally completed in September 2018, we began a series of flood resilience works. This involved reinforcing the arches of the millrace area and improving the building’s weed screen protection so that City Mill is prepared for any future flood event.

Phase 2 of Winchester City Mill's Restoration Project begins
National Trust undertakes flood resilience works at Winchester City Mill, Hampshire, 2019
Phase 2 of Winchester City Mill's Restoration Project begins