Gleaston Water Mill

04/06/2026

Before the mid nineteenth century commercial matches were expensive, so families would use long thin strips of rolled paper or long thin slivers of wood, called spills. Supplies of these spills were usually placed near the open fire so after being lit a spill could transfer its flame to light a candle, an oil lamp or a pipe.
This Victorian pair of spill vases would probably have been placed on a mantelpiece for easy access. Designs of spill vases varied tremendously. This pair with a lustre glaze feature rather glamorous fairies. Nowadays probably bit twee for modern tastes but ideal if repurposed for storing makeup brushes .

02/06/2026

86 years ago today Operation Dynamo was in progress. Also known as the "Miracle of Dunkirk" between May 6th and June 4th 1940 almost 930 vessels set off from England to cross the English Channel on a massive rescue mission to bring home 338,000 allied soldiers from the beaches and harbour of Dunkirk. The soldiers were cut off and surrounded by the German army. The fleet of vessels included heavily armed Navy vessels but mainly consisted of an Armada of little boats. The now famous " Little ships " were made up from an odd mix of fishing vessels, pleasure yachts, life boats and rowing boats...... pretty much anything that could float and bring back some of the lads.
Thanks to the memories of the late Marie Edmondson we now have her recollections of life at the mill during World War Two and have dedicated one room of the museum to give a taste of mill life at that time. Life here carried on as normal but anti aircraft guns under camouflage netting, while awaiting dispersal , were stored in Mill Meadow and one of the malting rooms was used by Vickers Shipbuilding to store electrical spare parts. During the Barrow blitz families came out of the town every night to seek safety and we have a list of all those who found shelter at the mill house or within the mill itself . Our two Salford evacuees would have found the rural lifestyle so different from their life at home.

30/05/2026

Our Lile Cottage basking in the afternoon sunshine all ready for today's guest arriving. Once the farrowing house for the miller's pigs it is now a cosy holiday home for couples.

29/05/2026

Thank you for visiting us and leaving your lovely comments in the visitors' book . Please tell your friends about Gleaston Watermill.

28/05/2026

Nowadays we rely on fridges to keep our food chilled and safe from insects in hot weather. From the early 1700s right up to the 1960s people relied on having a meat safe in their home to protect their food. Although not able to chill the food the fine zinc mesh panels allowed a flow of cool air through the cabinet especially if the safe was sited in a cool area in the home. The mesh also prevented blow flies laying their eggs on exposed morsels.
The photograph shows the meat safe which belonged here at the mill house. The lower section has hooks in the top on which to suspend sausages or joints of meat. I doubt food would remain in the meat safe for long since the families at the mill were large and working in and around the mill would create healthy appetites.
Our meat safe is in a tatty condition because after it served its purpose in the house it was used to store hand tools in the mill. It is a larger version of what would normally be found in most homes.

27/05/2026

Baskets, bouquets and a green stag beetle....... everything you have ever wanted.......and more.
Pig's Whisper gift shop is open until 4.30pm today. Call in after visiting the tearoom and the museum. .

26/05/2026

Just to remind you that we are closed today but if you are out and about Eskdale Mill is well worth a visit. A beautiful relaxing setting. Why not take a picnic?

Not your average museum!

Our award-winning exhibition brings the story of Eskdale Mill to life with hands-on displays that captivate all ages.

Perfect for curious kids and history-loving adults alike.

24/05/2026

The swallows have been extremely active today. Mainly flying around the mill site but we've seen them on several forays up and over Beacon Hill. When they are high over the hill you can hardly see them...... just a tiny black speck whizzing across the clear blue sky. Can you find a nest in the photo? Not sure if the eggs have been laid . They can take up to 20 days to hatch although it usually only takes a couple of weeks. Four years ago a pair arrived early and raised three broods during the summer. We wondered if the youngsters from the third brood would be strong enough to undertake the 6,000 mile flight back to South Africa but they lined up on the wires with the others when the time came. Such a small, lightweight bird to undertake such a journey.

23/05/2026

The mill, the giftshop and tearoom are open every day this bank holiday. Call in and see us .

21/05/2026

When the late Ken Major ( consultant architect for the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings) surveyed and prepared a lengthy report on the mill for us when we moved here in 1987 , he commented that our pit-wheel with it's 11 foot diameter was the best and biggest example of a wooden clasped-arm pit wheel in the country. He had seen one other but at 12 foot diameter it was in an extremely poor state of repair .

The design of the cartwheel with its radiating spokes is called a compass wheel. The clasped-arm design always reminds me of a noughts and crosses board.