The art of milling was ever-present in Cumbria from the 12th century right through to 1989, and it is enjoying a renaissance thanks to volunteers and part-time staff at Warwick Bridge Corn Mill.
Using water-powered Victorian stone milling machinery, a wide variety of are produced at the mill, and are made into bread in the onsite bakery housed in a converted cart shed. They are sold at farmers’ markets, shops, restaurants and pubs within the local area only.
Warwick Bridge Corn Mill - which is supported with comprehensive business insurance policies from leading independent brokers H&H Insurance Brokers - mills 17 different flour products from four types of wheat, rye, spelt and oats. No additives are added to any of their products, making them unique to what is more readily available on the market.
Graham Brooks, the mill manager, said: “We are one of a very few commercial bakers in the whole county which don’t use any additives, and one of only two mills in Cumbria milling on a commercial basis.
“Warwick Bridge Corn Mill is a very unique mill and our volunteers and staff members feel it is important to preserve the rich heritage of the ancient process of milling and the historic buildings themselves. To make the business viable, we need to keep it working and not just a museum piece, and we’re thrilled to be able to be producing such unique, popular products.”
Warwick Bridge Corn Mill is located just off the A69 six miles east of Carlisle, and was previously known as Little Corby Mill.
Milling at Little Corby began in the 12th Century when the area was owned by Robert de Vallibus, the Lord of the Barony of Gilsland, and was operational until it ceased trading in 1989 and subsequently sold by then-owner Bob Willis to a housing developer a year later.
The mill started to deteriorate as there was never any intention for it to be worked again, but Cultura Trust - the mill’s current owners - came to its rescue in 2015 and carried out significant repairs.
With support from The Architectural Heritage Fund, the Heritage Lottery Fund and other funders, repairs valued at around £2m were carried out to reinstate the corn mill with the milling machinery and waterwheel fully restored to working condition.
Warwick Bridge Corn Mill Ltd was formed as a Community Benefit Society by keen volunteers and two part-time staff are employed - Karen Mason as the miller and Neville Tulip as the baker - to bring the age-old milling tradition back to life.
The group is supported by H&H Insurance Brokers which has secured a competitive insurance package covering all aspects of the business.
Graham said: “We’re so grateful to H&H Insurance Brokers for supplying us with such a comprehensive business insurance package which covers everything from liability insurance, public and employee liability, contents, and trustees and directors insurance.
“It’s a peace of mind knowing we have got the necessary insurance in place and the people who deal with it are easily accessible and close by. I like dealing with people I know are always there if I need to knock on their door, and it’s nicer to use local people rather than communicating by email or phone all the time.”
Members of the public are able to tour the mill on Sundays to gain an insight into how milling is carried out.
The Corn Mill is also visited by local schools to educate children about the historic process of milling and where their food comes from.
Warwick Bridge Corn Mill can be contacted on [email protected] or by texting 07876 417695. Visit www.warwickbridgecornmill.co.uk for more information.