Cogglesford Mill, East Road, Sleaford, Lincolnshire

Cogglesford Mill is a restored and working watermill standing on the bank of the River Slea approximately half a mile from Sleaford town centre (view street map). It is Lincolnshire's last working water mill (and possibly England's last working Sheriff Mill). The national importance of this mill was emphasised in a recent television programme and we are accommodating an increasing number of educational visits from schools and other groups as a result of this publicity.

Although the present mill was probably built around 1750, with the top floor added in the 1830’s, millers have produced flour on this site for more than 1,000 years. The "Coggle Ford" after which the mill was named is a few yards further east, where Mareham Lane, a prehistoric trackway and Roman Road, crossed the River Slea.

However, by 1885, the present mill had ceased full working and fallen into a serious state of neglect. Fortunately, it was rescued from collapse in 1991 by North Kesteven District Council and today you can discover the fascinating characters and events that shaped its history from its Anglo Saxon origins to the present day.

The mill itself is now restored to working order and is open to the public (see opening hours). The Grade II listed three-storey building houses an internal wooden water wheel and two sets of millstones. If you step inside the Mill on one of days when we are milling, you are able to see and hear grain being turned into flour by the heavy millstones, much as it would have been hundreds of years ago. Organic grain is stone ground into flour that is sold in the shop and at Sleaford TIC.

The Friends of Cogglesford Mill, in partnership with the mill’s owners North Kesteven District Council, have offered a programme of special events and milling days for several years. Please ask at the mill if you would like to join the Friends of Cogglesford Mill.

The mill is a member of the Tastes of Lincolnshire initiative that encourages people to buy locally grown and produced products. The mill shop stocks honey, jam and chutney, all produced locally and the organic stone-ground flour produced at the mill is always available. Between March and December, there is a varied calendar of special events when the mill is actually working. Some are organised to coincide with larger events in the town as part of a wider regional or national initiative.