Welcome to Acorn Bank Watermill

Winter 2026

We are now closed for the winter period. We will be open but not running in February when Acorn Bank opens for Snowdrop weekends. Our normal opening and milling will start in mid March 2027 when Acorn Bank opens fully.

During the winter our Engineering and Maintenance team will be working to improve and repair the mill workings, buildings and surroundings.

If you want to buy our flour during the winter months you will find it on sale in Nature's Health in Penrith and at Stainton and Kirby Thore village shops.

Official Opening of the Second Water Wheel

A special event was held on 19th September 2026 to officially open the second water wheel. Amanda Owen, the television Yorkshire Shepherdess, was on hand to offically open the wheel by pulling a rope to open the sluice gate that allowed water to flow onto the second wheel. The event was watched by a crowd of invited guests.

Refreshments were served including a fine spread of home made cakes, bread and biscuits made with the mill flour, while Appleby Town Band played a selection of summer music.

More information about the building of the second waterwheel can be found on the Second Wheel Build page

If you want to buy our Acorn Bank Stoneground Wholemeal Flour when we are closed it is available from the visitor welcome hut at Acorn Bank and from our local shops - Nature's Health in Penrith, Kirkby Thore Post Office and Stores, Stainton Village Shop and Alston Wholefoods.

The Acorn Bank Watermill Trust

The watermill at Acorn Bank has been restored into a working state by a group of National Trust volunteers over the last thirteen years. In 2019 the mill was running regularly every weekend and grinding flour which was sold to visitors. The Covid-19 pandemic has forced the National Trust to re-evaluate the operation of many of its properties including Acorn Bank.

The Acorn Bank Watermill Trust has been set up by the mill volunteers to continue to maintain and run the mill and keep it open for visitors to Acorn Bank. The mill buildings will be open to visit on Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays when the Acorn Bank garden is open. Entry to the mill is free but access is through the National Trust Acorn Bank garden for which charges apply. Opening times for Acorn Bank can be found from the National Trust website, use the National Trust link on this page to find out when Acorn Bank is open. Find out about the progress we are making towards reopening the mill and when we are milling again by checking our Facebook page. The blog records the work that has been carried out over the years by a small group of dedicated volunteers.