The Lode wheel is turning
It's long been known by villagers in this area that when the Lode mill wheel was turning there would be flour available at the back door. But until recently, the 18th century mill was in dire need of repair and had to lay idle for many months for a programme of works to prevent water ingress. At last we can bring the good news (if you haven't noticed the wheel turning) that the mill is back in action, and producing flour once again.
The mill also has a new Steward in Chris Stimson, who is as enthusiastic about the flour as the mill itself. "The grain I use at the Mill comes from fields at Wimpole Hall. I supervise the milling and see the flour come down the shoot and straight into packs. This is about as fresh as it gets."
Lode Mill is, as much as ever, more than a tourist attraction, and since its repair it is once again a fully-functioning producer of flour. There is a growing interest in food miles and the benefits of buying locally but people who make bread regularly know what a difference the freshness of flour can also make.
The mill is a truly fascinating place to visit, too. The heavy gearing mechanism can be seen in action on many days, thanks to a new tranche of volunteers, many from this area, and there is a thrill in hearing the water gush through the building.
PS. Even if the mill is not grinding when you visit, you can still buy bags of flour in the Anglesey Abbey Visitor Shop.