A group of volunteers have ensured that the wheels of history will keep on turning - by bringing a derelict watermill back to life.

After decades of neglect in the latter half of last century, which culminated in a devastating fire in 1992, Stotfold Mill looked destined to be snapped up by developers and converted into another block of plush apartments.

But a handful of Stotfold residents had other ideas, and decided to purchase the charred ruins of the mill with the intention of restoring the building to its former glory.

And now, over ten years and £750,000 later, the watermill is refurbished and fully operational, standing as a testament to the Stotfold Mill Preservation Trust.

Paul Redwood, secretary of the trust, said: "We are calling the mill the phoenix of Stotfold because it has, quite literally, risen from its former ashes.

"When people from the trust first attempted to get onto the site in 1998, it was just a charred mass of rubble and we realised it was going to be a huge, daunting project."

Daunting is an understatement. The first task faced by volunteers was to clear the site, by hand, of some 60 tonnes of ash and rubble.

Over the following months the material was slowly cleared, and the debris was painstakingly sieved to ensure that every item of historical significance was salvaged and stored, waiting to be incorporated into the restored mill.

But in order to begin the rebuilding process, the trust needed funding. Fortunately a number of bids were successful - Mid Beds District Council provided a start-up grant and major donations came from Motorola, Vauxhall and the National Lottery.

Other fundraising activities included open days, quiz nights and car boot sales.

With the money in place work could get underway and the rebuilding of the Mill's shell began in 2001. This was followed by the installation of the refurbished milling machinery and a restored set of mill stones.

"In many ways the salvaged equipment saved the mill," admits Paul. "The restored cornmill waterwheel, for example, is the widest in the country and a bit of a claim to fame here."

In April 2006 - eight years after the volunteers ventured into the dilapidated ruins - the first flour was milled since the closure of the business in 1966.

And a few months later the mill was officially opened by HRH the Duke of Edinburgh - although further work was still needed to fully complete the renovation.

The last few months has seen the building adapted to meet modern health and safety requirements as well as the refurbishment and commissioning of the grain sorting, flour sifting and oat rolling equipment.

Phillip Radford, a member of the Trust, has closely witnessed the site's transformation over the last decade.

"When you walk around this stunning building today it is difficult to imagine that it once took a considerable amount of time and effort to climb through the wreckage and over the debris to get from one end to the other," he said.

"I well remember the excitement when we had finally cleared a path a foot wide right down to the far wall to make it easier to get wheelbarrows in to clear the vegetation and debris that covered the waterwheel."

And the renovated mill is truly impressive. The beautifully restored machinery is displayed, in full working order, over three floors and complemented by work from local artists.

Flatscreen TVs document the history of Stotfold Mill, displays compare today's threshing and milling techniques with those of yesteryear, and a miller's office has even been recreated to give people an idea of how the business used to operate.

It is clear that the Stotfold Mill Preservation Trust really have put a lot of care and effort into the job.

But Paul Redwood reveals that there is still work to be done. He said: "Perhaps the most important aspect of the mill is how it has brought the community together, but I don't think the journey is over yet."

The mill complex includes 8 acres of adjacent meadows, and these are currently being developed as a visitor-friendly nature reserve in conjunction with local conservation groups. The work will start in September and is likely to go on for two or three years.

"The mill is all singing and all dancing," smiles trust member Christine Smith. "We just hope we can attract a lot of people this summer!" From what I can see, they'll have no trouble at all.

Stotfold Mill is open for two Sundays every month and will be holding the increasingly popular Steam Fair and Country Show on May 11 and 12.

For further details call 01462 734541 or visit
www.stotfoldmill.com