LOCATED close to the village of Sturminster Marshall, and with status as a National Trust site, is the 18th-century White Mill.

The mill's history stretches back centuries, but the site as it is known today was rebuilt all the way back in 1776.

In more recent times, the mill was extensively repaired in 1994, retaining its original elm and applewood machinery.

While it is far too fragile to actually use, this conservation allows visitors to get a glimpse of how it would have looked back in its heyday.

@malthouse.sheila White Mill is not often open to the public (weekends in spring and summer) but the other day, as we were passing, we got lucky! A great place topop into before or after visiting nearby Kingston Lacy. Historic Mill Water mill National Trust Dorset #watermill #mill #NationalTrust #ThingsToDo #placestovisit #Dorset @Malthouse Sheila ♬ Listen to Your Heart - Melodia Simples

Visitors can only access the mill itself during some of the spring and summer months on weekends, but its picturesque surroundings mean people come all year round.

In fact, its stature and position in nature means it has become a bit of a hidden gem spot, with some people sharing their trips to White Mill on sites like TikTok.

The history behind Dorset's White Mill

According to the White Mill website, the mill as it stands today was rebuilt in 1776 "on very much older foundations, on a site that is older still".

Before 1175, the history of the mill is uncertain but there are references to  "A Bridge on the River Stour adjacent to the White Mill" in that year, so it most likely existed from the 12th century.

The later discovery of timbers in the foundations, during the underpinning of the river end wall, was radio-carbon dated to the 14th century, perhaps indicating the mill had undergone many rebuilds.

@keironleevine ♬ Hiking - Elgafar

The website adds: "The body of the current mill is built of brick, but the Wheelchamber is of quality stone construction.

"According to the kind of people who know these things, this stonework dates to sometime in the fourteenth century, around the period when the Duke of Lancaster held the manor as a grant from the King."

After the rebuild in 1776, the mill worked on water power until 1866 "when a severe winter flood breached the diversionary works in the river so severely that they were deemed beyond economic repair".

Commercial milling appeared to end with the flood but the mill still had some use.

At the time the miller was also the local baker so, rather than simply closing the mill, he "converted one half of it to run from a portable steam engine in order to keep his bakehouse supplied with flour."

@adamgoeswalking #dorset #whitemill #walking first stop on a nine mile walk around sturminster marshall.#sturminstermarshall ♬ GLADIATOR ENDING THEME (Now we are free) - Mirko Buschiazzo

When the last miller eventually retired around the end of the 19th century, its working life was brought to a halt.

The White Mill website adds: "After the turn of the century, the tenancy changed hands a couple of times in quick succession and the mill building spent the next 90-odd years rotting away as little more than a farm shed.

"It wasn't until 1994 that the resources became available to begin the painstaking conservation of the property.

"The key word here is "conservation" rather than restoration - the mill today does not, and will never again, work at the task for which it was built."

White Mill is still enjoyed by visitors to this day, with it having earned a 4.5/5 score on Tripadvisor from 45 reviews.

 

One person wrote: "Fascinating to see the mill and the inside still in tact despite being incredibly fragile now, the staff are lovely and there is a working model to see how it works."

Another shared: "A bucolic scene of old stone Bridge, rush-flanked River, gliding swans and the gentle timbre of oak machinery from a creaking mill. Beautiful spot. Even gets a bit Dads Army with the old pillbox guarding the Southern approach to the bridge."

Meanwhile, another wrote: "Small but well worth a detour, this lovely mill is full of fascinating machinery, and NT staff are helpful and very knowledgeable."