This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-dorset-52369075
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Coronavirus: Ancient mill resumes commercial flour production | Coronavirus: Ancient mill resumes commercial flour production |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| An ancient water mill which usually operates as a tourist attraction has started producing flour on a commercial scale to meet increased demand during the coronavirus lockdown. | An ancient water mill which usually operates as a tourist attraction has started producing flour on a commercial scale to meet increased demand during the coronavirus lockdown. |
| Sturminster Newton Mill, in Dorset, was mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086 and became a working museum after ceasing industrial operations in 1970. | Sturminster Newton Mill, in Dorset, was mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086 and became a working museum after ceasing industrial operations in 1970. |
| But miller Pete Loosmore decided to turn it back into a full-time operation after local grocers reported shortages. | But miller Pete Loosmore decided to turn it back into a full-time operation after local grocers reported shortages. |
| He said the work had been a "pleasure". | He said the work had been a "pleasure". |
| The current building on the River Stour was last reconstructed in the 18th Century and the charity that runs it believes there has been a mill there since 1016. | The current building on the River Stour was last reconstructed in the 18th Century and the charity that runs it believes there has been a mill there since 1016. |
| Mr Loosmore, whose grandfather was the miller at the site for about 50 years, restored the machinery 26 years ago and it was reopened to provide heritage tours. | Mr Loosmore, whose grandfather was the miller at the site for about 50 years, restored the machinery 26 years ago and it was reopened to provide heritage tours. |
| He said he and his fellow miller Imogen Bittner usually operated it on a part-time basis during the tourist season to produce enough flour for visitors. | He said he and his fellow miller Imogen Bittner usually operated it on a part-time basis during the tourist season to produce enough flour for visitors. |
| "We would have been milling, on the whole, about two days each month - that would have supplied us with enough flour to keep going throughout the whole of the season," he said. | "We would have been milling, on the whole, about two days each month - that would have supplied us with enough flour to keep going throughout the whole of the season," he said. |
| "And then suddenly we had lockdown - and our first impression was that we couldn't do anything with the mill because of social distancing." | "And then suddenly we had lockdown - and our first impression was that we couldn't do anything with the mill because of social distancing." |
| 'Back to life' | 'Back to life' |
| However, a rise in the popularity of baking because of the government's advice to stay at home has caused a spike in demand for flour. | However, a rise in the popularity of baking because of the government's advice to stay at home has caused a spike in demand for flour. |
| Mr Loosmore said the mill usually gets through a tonne of grain during the tourist season but this increased when local shops started reporting shortages of flour. | |
| "This year we have got through the whole of that tonne in two to three weeks and we're still chasing more and more grain," he said. | "This year we have got through the whole of that tonne in two to three weeks and we're still chasing more and more grain," he said. |
| "It's been nice to bring the place truly back to life and back into something like it used to be when it was working six days a week." | "It's been nice to bring the place truly back to life and back into something like it used to be when it was working six days a week." |