Sherborne Steam & Waterwheel Centre

About the museum

The Sherborne Steam & Waterwheel Centre is based at Castleton Mill, just east of Sherborne. The waterwheel was installed in 1869 to pump clean water to the town's residents and worked until 1959. In 1876 a Hindley steam engine was added to boost the supply when the wheel could not manage on its own.

After the pumping station went out of use the site was neglected. Local volunteers then spent about 25 years rescuing it, and the large waterwheel, around 26 feet in diameter, was rebuilt at a cost of about £60,000. A Hindley steam engine was installed to replace the original, which had not survived, and one engine is housed in a separate Hindley Museum building.

The centre also shows Victorian engineering and objects linked to water pumping and to the Hindley works of Bourton, including a cheese press, an apple crusher and a circular saw bench. The Nether Cerne Manor waterwheel, built in 1819, is among the oldest surviving all-iron waterwheels in England. A copy of an 1852 map of Sherborne, made for the Public Health Act, records the town's privies, breweries and laundries. Run by a charity of local volunteers, the site opens only on selected Sundays, when the wheel and engines run.

Highlights

• Rebuilt 26-foot waterwheel of 1869
• Hindley steam engines running under steam on open days
• Twin-cylinder pumpset of 1883
• Nether Cerne Manor all-iron waterwheel of 1819
• Copy of the 1852 map of Sherborne

Permanent exhibitions

• Waterwheel and pumping engines – A rebuilt 26-foot waterwheel of 1869 and Hindley steam engines that supplied clean water to Sherborne, running on open days.
• Hindley Museum – A building housing a Hindley steam engine and objects linked to the Hindley works of Bourton.

Operated by

Sherborne Steam & Waterwheel Centre (registered charity)

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Entry is by donation (cash or card), and Gift Aid donations give admission for 12 months. Heritage Open Days listings say an entry charge is usually made on other open days.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• 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: no information

At the 2026 Heritage Open Day the organisers described access as generally good with partial wheelchair access, and assistance dogs were welcome. The one on-site toilet is reached by several steps with a handrail. Hot and heavy machinery runs on open days, so visitors should follow the safety notices.

Kids & families

Children and family activities were offered at the 2026 Heritage Open Day.

Getting there & parking

The centre is reached by a narrow drive off Oborne Road, just east of Sherborne.

Amenities & dining

Basic refreshments and a picnic area were available at the 2026 Heritage Open Day; there is plenty of room for picnics.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit