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The Watermill estate dates back to the 17th century when it was one of two mills in the village of Great Bardfield. The second mill, the windmill, sits on the high ground at the top of a quarter mile drive. For centuries the two mills provided employment and ground the flour for the local farmers. |
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The timber watermill itself was destroyed in an arson attack in the 1980s. All that remains is the old water wheel and the mill pond, but the 17th century timber-framed mill house and surrounding estate remain to this day situated in a beautiful and isolated spot in the middle of this agricultural area, close to the old mill pond and at the centre of a network of country walks. |
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Literally open the front door and you are on a public right of way. There are paths to take you in all directions of the compass, either alongside the river, or over fields.
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A riverside walk to the nearby village of Great Bardfield, with its shops and pubs, is little more than half a mile and takes you through water meadows rich with wildlife, including the Bardfield Oxslip, a rare strain that grows only locally. |
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For the more adventurous other paths will take you across the rolling countryside to the other villages. From the high ground on a clear day you can see all the churches of the three parishes of Great Bardfield, Finchingfield and Wethersfield. |
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And for those keen on angling, the mill pond thrives with freshwater fish, and for guests at the cottages, fishing is complimentary. |
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