Ludlow’s new Mill on the Green, the riverside visitor centre, which recalls the importance of water power to the town’s growth and prosperity, will welcome its first visitors on July 19.
The addition to Ludlow’s recreational facilities has been created by volunteer townspeople near the Millennium Green on the Teme bank at Dinham.
A more formal tape-cutting ceremony will be combined with the Green’s annual Funday and Duck Race on August Bank Holiday Monday.
Chairman of Dinham Millennium Green Trust, Paul Nicholls, said: “Possibly the most exciting feature is that we shall once again have a working waterwheel exactly on the spot where a mill was introduced nearly 700 years ago.
“Previous wheels made possible the milling of corn, tanning and even an iron foundry on this site at Castle Mills. Now we shall produce our own electricity.”
Mr Nicholls has steered the project since inception in 1998.
He added: “The new mill has water power displays as well as facilities for meetings, craft classes, study groups and riverside refreshments. Part of the building is set aside for employment creation as stipulated by our very generous grant-givers, Advantage West Midlands. This is currently being advertised to attract appropriate tenants.
“The new water wheel has been professionally manufactured by young local craftsmen. When linked to a turbine all viewable by visitors it will produce a modest flow of electricity for sale to the National Grid.”
As final electrical work, decoration and furnishing goes on at the Mill, the trustees and ‘hands-on’ Friends are striving to be up and running for school summer holidays.
“Hopefully we shall have something to show as early as July 19,” said Paul.
“On that Sunday afternoon we plan a free brass band concert by way of celebration. We hope that people will share our delight that a decade of very great effort by a great many Ludlovians is at last reaching fruition.”
The Dinham area of Ludlow, with castle ramparts and wooded Whitcliffe on east and western flanks, is considered one of the scenic gems of the entire Marches landscape.
The spot is depicted on the ‘Welcome to Ludlow’ tourist signs erected on the approach roads to town.
