Bishops Lydeard Mill

About the museum

Bishops Lydeard once had two mills, the Higher and the Lower, which ground flour for the surrounding area. The Higher Mill was later demolished, leaving the Lower Mill with its overshot waterwheel. The wheel weighs over two tonnes yet can be turned from inside the mill with two fingers, and it is fed by the Back Stream, which rises in the Brendon Hills.

The Back family restored the mill and the attached Mill House over many years, and both are Grade II listed. The mill was officially opened by the town mayor on 10 May 2003 and was restored as a working mill. The Tea Room opened in 2004. All proceeds and donations go to five charities, and the mill reports that it has donated over £180,000.

The displays show traditional trades and country life, among them a wheelwright's shop moved from Devon and kept as its last owner left it, a blacksmith's forge, cooper's and saddler's shops, a Victorian kitchen and a thatching display. There is also a small transport museum with some 30 carriages and wagons, handmade models of mills and a farmyard, and a garden with a gypsy caravan and a shepherd's hut.

Highlights

• Working overshot waterwheel weighing over two tonnes
• Wheelwright's shop moved from Devon and the blacksmith's forge
• Transport museum with about 30 carriages and wagons
• Handmade models of mills and a farmyard
• Gypsy caravan, shepherd's hut and garden
• Dusty Miller's Tea Room with views of the waterwheel

Permanent exhibitions

• Watermill and waterwheel – The restored mill with its overshot wheel, millstones and the miller's equipment explained over four floors.
• Rural trades – Workshops of a wheelwright, blacksmith, cooper and saddler, a Victorian kitchen and a thatching display.
• Transport museum and models – About 30 carriages and wagons and handmade models of mills, wagons and a farmyard.

Founded

2003

Admission & discounts

Prices are for 2026. Ticket holders get special concession prices in the Tea Room. Card payments are accepted.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description

The mill is a Grade II listed building with limited access: a stair-lift (about 5 steps) leads to the stone floor, where a wheelchair is available, and there are four floors in total with handrails on both sides of the stairs. The Tea Room, transport museum, gardens, waterwheel and accessible toilet with baby-changing unit can be reached without using the wooden bridge steps. Audio guides for visitors with visual impairment and touch screens are provided, and a virtual-tour DVD of the mill exhibits is available. Assistance dogs are welcome.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Hands-on stations
• Stroller-friendly
• Baby changing facilities
• Playground / play area

The mill has a small entertainment area for children, interactive displays, and a quern where children can grind their own corn. Well-behaved dogs on leads are welcome.

Getting there & parking

The mill is on Mill Lane in the village, close to the West Somerset Railway and the Quantock Brewery.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop

Dusty Miller's Tea Room serves home-made cakes, soft drinks, ice cream and sweets, with gluten- and wheat-free cakes always available; there is outdoor seating by the waterwheel. Gifts and mementos are sold.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit