Houghton Mill making flour with Wimpole wheat

Houghton Mill is now producing flour from wheat grown on the Wimpole Estate.

Houghton Mill is the last working watermill on the River Great Ouse, and records show people have been milling on the site for over 1,000 years.

Meanwhile, folk have been farming on the nearby Wimpole Estate for generations, and now, the two National Trust properties have collaborated.

Staff said they wanted to create a more sustainable and local bag of flour, available to buy in Nation Trust shops in Cambridgeshire.

Photo credit: National Trust / Paul Harris

Farm Manager at Wimpole Home Farm, David Hassall:

"We are really proud of the way we grow our wheat at Wimpole Estate. Each year, we produce over 200 tonnes of grain, and we’re thrilled to be able to give people the option to buy flour that is both locally grown and milled. This partnership with Houghton Mill not only supports our local community but also helps reduce food miles and significantly lowers carbon emissions, contributing to a more sustainable future."

Thanks to a dedicated team of volunteer millers, visitors to Houghton Mill can watch, hear and smell the flour being milled on Sundays in October and November, weather depending.

Bags of Houghton Mill’s flour are available all year-round from the Houghton Mill tearoom, as well as National Trust gift shops at Anglesey Abbey and Wicken Fen.