About us
Close to the East Coast in Suffolk, between Woodbridge
and Orford, there is a small group of buildings called Butley
Mills. Originally a farmstead consisting of an ancient water mill
and wind mills, it is sited about a mile from the village of Butley
and a few hundred yards from Chillesford along a narrow lane.
The original brick built mill is about 200 years
old and has undergone a number of changes over the centuries with
the addition of a steam engine in the 19th century and a change
to diesel early in the 20th century. From about 1948 the mill
was powered by electricity.
The water wheel, and chimney for the steam engine were removed
about this time but the mill increased its output and thrived
until 2001.
Butley Mills was a provender mill, producing dry
foods for livestock for local farmers and householders, having
regular delivery rounds to the surrounding villages. Towards the
end of the 20th century the gradual changes in country life styles
and farming resulted in a decline in demand for these services.
At the same time the Hewitt family’s own pig herd was expanding
and by the end of the century 90% of the output from the mill
was devoted to feeding these pigs. The advent of Swine Fever in
2000 and the loss of the pig herd lead to the closure of the mill
in the spring of 2001.
SELF CATERING HOLIDAYS IN SUFFOLK
The family has developed the old mill building into
five apartments for self catering holidays. Structural changes
have been kept to a minimum to retain the interesting and traditional
external character of the building as original as possible. The
modest sized windows have a truly wonderful outlook. To the west
there are meadows with streams carrying water from Butley and
Chillesford, which once fed the water wheel. To the east the view
is over the tidal reed beds and the upper reaches of the Butley
River.
Click
here for more information.
The adjoining Mill House has now been renovated
and provides 2 self catering cottages, each with its own garden
by the mill pond.
The nearby forest, the meadows, reed beds, mudflats and eventually
the river allows a huge variety of wild life to flourish.
Click
here for more information.
A view of Butley from the air
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In total we now have a possible
total occupancy of 30,
And a room with suitable
seating and tables.
GROUPS
CORPORATE EVENTS
FAMILY PARTIES |
