When was Sarehole Mill built on the River Cole in Hall Green, Birmingham?
The year 1542 marks the construction of a water mill on the River Cole in Hall Green, Birmingham. This structure replaced an earlier mill that once stood on the same site.
Questions about Sarehole Mill
Short answers, pulled from the story.
Who owned Sarehole Mill before Matthew Boulton leased it in 1755?
Local records identify Samuel Biddle as one of its earliest known owners. The building carried his name for centuries, appearing in documents as Bedell's Mill or Biddle's Mill.
What restoration work did volunteers complete at Sarehole Mill in 1969 and 2013?
Volunteers restored the mill in 1969 after years of disrepair. A £375,000 overhaul completed between 2012 and 2013 restored the roof, chimney, water wheel, and machinery.
How does Sarehole Mill connect to J.R.R. Tolkien's writing of The Lord of the Rings?
J.R.R. Tolkien lived within 300 yards of the mill between ages four and eight around the turn of the century. The author later used the mill as inspiration for the Mill at Hobbiton in The Lord of the Rings.
When was a single cylinder steam engine installed at Sarehole Mill during the 1975 restoration project?
Installation of this replacement engine happened during the 1975 restoration project. It previously served Smith Kendon Ltd, a sweet manufacturer operating factories in England and Messina, Italy until 1948.