London & South East

History in the making at Jordans Mill

Jordan's Mill Refurbishment- Broom

A decade long project to refurbish and restore the historic Jordans Mill is nearing completion.

Jordans Mill, near Broom, has been home to the Jordan family for more than 150 years, but most recently has undergone a restoration scheme to transform the site into a brand new, family attraction. Jordans Mill will open its doors in April and comprises The Flour Mill, Mill Store, The Barn, Riverside Café, and wildflower gardens.

The new, free to enter, oak-framed Mill Store that sits on the River Ivel will employ up to twenty members of staff and will sell local produce. In addition to its retail facilities, the Mill Store incorporates the Riverside Café, along with first floor meeting and function rooms.

Molina Projects is the main contractor on the refurbishment project, whilst Roderick James is providing all architectural services.

Joinery specialist A.P. Specialist Doors & Joinery Ltd is supplying internal doors and staircases for the project, along with external doors and windows. The company is installing windows and doors throughout the site, including The Mill.

Commenting on the project, A.P. Specialist Doors & Joinery Ltd Company Director, Paul Pitman, said:

“We are a local company, so being involved in such a prestigious project as the refurbishment of Jordans Mill is very important to us.”

The Mill building has been designed so that it can be divided in two, with a floor-to-ceiling glass screen separating the two halves of the building. One side of the building comprises the working part of the mill, whilst the other side includes a contemporary display area.

The story of each section, and the role it plays within the Mill, is told in a lively and interactive manner, with visitors given the choice of how they tour the Mill. General admission covers the interpretation side of the facility, however regular guided tours will be available for those who want to gain a greater understanding of the Mill’s inner workings.

Jordan's Mill Refurbishment- Broom

A second oak framed building, The Barn, has been constructed at Jordans Mill and provides a link to the Mill. The Barn provides additional interactive and graphic interpretation facilities, covering the history of the Jordan family, conservation and milling history, whilst offering a perfect space for both education and adult learning organisations.

Award-winning Chelsea Flower Show designers, Kitson & Toll is conducting landscaping work on the Mill’s wildflower gardens, which are set to open in the summer. The gardens will provide the perfect opportunity for visitors to witness the history of food production in the making and will include rare varieties of salad, potatoes and onions.

Milling was once a major industry in Bedfordshire, with more than 400 active mills in the county alone. A fire in the mill in the late 19th century brought about the change from traditional stone milling to metal roller mills and this helped Jordans Mill to become one of the leading producers of flour in the region.

Once open to the public, the newly refurbished Jordans Mill can be reached by car, train and bus, and with London Luton airport and London Stansted airport nearby, Jordans Mill is even accessible by air. The historic site will be open to the public on a daily basis between 9am and 5pm, with last entry one hour before closing.

The Flour Mill, Mill Store, The Barn and gardens all form part of Jordans Trust, a registered charity run by volunteers. For more information about Jordans Trust, or to become a volunteer, please visit: www.jordansmill.com.

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Roma Publications