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Bourne Mill
Picturesque watermill with working waterwheel.
Bourne Road, Colchester, Essex, CO2 8RT
Important notice
We are currently closed for the winter season, but we look forward to welcoming you back to the Mill in Easter 2025!
Opening times for 21 December 2024
Asset Opening time Watermill Closed Grounds Closed MTWTFSS2526272829301234567891011121314151617181920212223242526272829303112345OpenPartially openClosedStandard admission including guided tour.
Ticket type Gift aid Standard Adult £6.00 Child £3.00 Family £15.00 1 adult, 2 children £9.00 Become a member and discover more than 500 places
Assistance dogs only
Assistance dogs only are welcome inside the mill.
Dogs allowed
Dogs on leads allowed in grounds.
Available for functions
Please contact for further information.
Electric vehicle charging point
Numerous podpoint charging points around Colchester. The nearest is at Magdalen Street, CO1 2JT.
Bookshop
Small selection of second hand books.
Guided tour
Guided tours, available at no extra charge, are recommended for you to get the most out of your visit.
Car park
Limited parking for blue badge holders only.
Toilet
Blue Badge parking on property. On-road parking available in close proximity. Grassy paths and slopes, some steps around grounds. Toilet on the first floor. Picnic tables outside the Mill.
Accessible toilet
Accessible composting toilet in grounds.
Seating available
Indoor seating, outdoor benches and picnic tables.
Induction loop
Portable induction loops or in-ear devices available upon request.
Steps/uneven terrain
Varied terrain including slopes, boardwalks and some steps. Occasionally soft or boggy ground. Very steep staircase inside mill.
Ramped access/slopes
A ramp is available to access the ground floor of the mill.
By road
1 mile south of centre of Colchester, on Bourne Road, off Mersea Road (B1025)
Parking: There is space on site for blue badge parking only, if you are arriving by car please park in the nearby Napier Road North (7GA, Napier Rd, Colchester) car park.
Sat Nav: Using the property postcode CO2 8RT when coming from Mersea leaves you in Roosevelt Way. The property is not visible from here so walk back to Stalin road and head north down the footpath, over the brook and up onto Bourne Road. Alternatively, Stay on Mersea road towards the centre of Colchester and take a right at Bourne Road.
By train
Bourne Mill can be accessed from 3 railway stations: Colchester (1.84 miles away), Colchester Town (0.73 miles) or Hythe (0.88 miles). The 66 bus runs from Colchester Station to Old Heath.
By bus
175, S1 and S9 – Scarletts Road stop on Old Heath Road is close by 68, 86, 174, S8 – Cemetery Gates stop on Mersea Road is close by. 174/175 runs from Colchester to Fingringhoe, S1 runs from Highwoods to Wivenhoe, S9 runs from Colchester to Rowhedge, 68 runs from Highwoods to West Mersea, S8 runs from Colchester to Monkwick, 86 runs from Colchester to West Mersea
By bicycle
Planning your visit
Events at Bourne Mill
Search our upcoming events, from seasonal trails to community open days.
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School visits to Bourne Mill
Plan your school visit to explore the wildlife, history and culture of this historic site with our lesson ideas and resources.
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Visiting Bourne Mill with your dog
Dogs on leads are welcome at Bourne Mill. This article explains where your dogs can and can't go, the facilities we provide for them and our Canine Code.
Highlights
Mill
Built as a fishing lodge in 1591 and converted into a fulling mill in the 17th century and then a corn mill in the 19th century, Bourne Mill still has a working waterwheel, millpond and stream.
Things to see and do
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Things to see and do at Bourne Mill
With its fulling stocks and 72-bucket waterwheel, Bourne Mill offers a fascinating peek into the history of Colchester's textile industry. Explore its highlights on a tour of the mill.
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Discover the grounds at Bourne Mill
Explore the millpond, bug hotel and stumpery in the grounds at Bourne Mill and take a stroll around to fully appreciate the exterior of the 16th-century mill.
Places to stay
Thorington Hall
A striking eight-bedroom farmhouse with fine historic detailing throughout.
Thorington Lodge
A cosy gate lodge on the side of a 17th-century Suffolk farmhouse.
Top trails
Trail
Bourne Mill pub tour
This circular, 3-mile walk will take you to some of the most celebrated inns in Colchester, Essex, as well as some of the area's historic landmarks.
Upcoming events
Sorry, there are no upcoming events at this place
About Bourne Mill
A delightful piece of late Elizabethan playfulness. Built for banquets and converted into a mill in the 19th century.
Just a mile south of Colchester sits Bourne Mill, a grade 1 listed building steeped in history. It was built as a fishing lodge in 1591, converted to a fulling mill around 1640 and then converted to a corn mill in about 1840, which continued working until the 1930s. It is well worth a visit for all the family.
Bourne Mill is set in tranquil grounds, next to a millpond and babbling stream. The mill still has a working waterwheel and the grounds give plenty of scope for family fun. The grounds have a pond, wetlands and woods and are home to a variety of wildlife including birds, bats, waterfowl, bugs and beetles.
History
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The history of Bourne Mill
From a monks' fishing spot to an Elizabethan banqueting house to a fulling mill, Bourne Mill's history is inseparable from the town of Colchester's. Discover its rich story here.
Our work
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Our work at Bourne Mill
Find out how we’re researching and reinterpreting Bourne Mill thanks to Heritage Lottery Funding, and discover the vital conservation work we’re doing to preserve this place.
Support us
Volunteer with us
Search for live volunteering opportunities, or register your interest with Bourne Mill.