Sarehole Mill

Sarehole Mill stands beside the River Cole in Hall Green, Birmingham. It is a water mill built in 1542 on the site of an earlier mill. The present building dates from 1771 and was used until 1919. After falling into disrepair, it was restored in 1969 following a local campaign. The mill is now run as a museum by Birmingham Museums Trust. It is one of only two working water mills in Birmingham. The mill is closely linked to J. R. R. Tolkien, who lived nearby as a child. He used the mill and its surroundings as inspiration for the Mill at Hobbiton in The Lord of the Rings. Matthew Boulton, a leading figure of the Industrial Revolution, leased the mill in the 18th century. It has served many purposes over the centuries, including grinding grain, bones and metal. The site includes a restored Victorian bakery and a modern bakery that bakes bread with flour milled on site. Visitors can tour the mill and see the water wheel and machinery in operation. A team of volunteer guides leads tours and explains the mill’s history. The Millers Tea Room serves baked goods made on site. The surrounding Shire Country Park offers walks through fields and woodlands. Origins of Middle Earth tours explore the area’s connections to Tolkien. The restored steam engine, though not working, remains on display as part of the mill’s industrial heritage.