Preparing your water mill for the winter

During the autumn months, our millwrights are consistently engaged in preparing historic mills for the challenges of the winter season ahead. This work ranges from detailed visual inspections and operational testing through to the repair and replacement of components that have reached the end of their service life.

The replacement of sluice gates, and ensuring that higher water levels can be controlled effectively, is fundamental to the preservation of any working water mill. Recently, our team completed the replacement of two sluice gates at a site in the Cotswolds, where both the water wheel sluice and the bypass sluice had failed.

The project involved the careful restoration of the original cast iron components alongside the replacement of deteriorated timber elements. Once complete, the renewed sluice gates are capable of controlling the flow of thousands of gallons of water each day, safeguarding the mill’s functionality and resilience.

As with all our work, great care was taken to match the original construction details, reusing historic components wherever possible. These elements have protected the property for decades against both flooding and periods of low water, and their retention ensures the continued integrity and character of the site.