We hope you will be able to join us on Wednesday 1 July for a visit to Pakenham Water Mill which is near Ixworth, about 8 miles from Bury St. Edmunds. Pakenham Water Mill is the oldest surviving flour mill in Suffolk. There has been a Water Mill in Pakenham for almost a thousand years and for all that time millers on this site have been using water power to produce stone-ground wholemeal flour.

Owned today by Historic Suffolk, a team of dedicated volunteers continues this long tradition. Streams are channelled across Pakenham Fen to feed into the beautiful millpond. This water provides the power to turn the mill’s great iron waterwheel and drive the millstones.

The programme is;

10.30 to 11am Meet at Pakenham Water Mill for tea/coffee. The Water Mill has a large car park. The post code for satnav users is IP31 2NB.

11am Talk by Ian Robertson about the Mill's history and present day activities.

12pm Guided tours of the Mill.

1pm Lunch in the garden by the mill pond (or in the Courtyard Barn if inclement) - sausages, new potatoes and salad followed by cheese or pudding.

After lunch, explore the tranquil setting by the millpond or stroll along the circular walk past a recently planted orchard of traditional fruit trees and around the pond coming back on the other bank where there is a wildlife area.

3.30pm Tea, cakes, scones and depart