Sarehole Mill

Sarehole Mill is a Grade II listed water mill on the River Cole in Hall Green. The original mill dates back to 1542 and in that time has made it’s mark on history by being leased to Lunar Soc member Matthew Boulton in the 18^th century, and after being rebuilt, was and influence for JRR Tolkien in his early life.
In 2012 – 13 Birmingham Museums Trust undertook a £375,000 restoration of the site, which followed an original restoration in 1969. It must be one of the eldest fully working watermills in the country.
The mill is open Tuesday — Sunday, but milling only takes place on Sundays. Another reason to visit on a Sunday is that they’ve teamed up with ‘Flying Teapot Events’ to put on fortnightly events at the mill. These alternate between folk music and a craft market, but always have street food and ale. I recently visited on one such Sunday.
For the event they had Bare Bones Pizza, Pietanic, The Vegan Grindhouse, ales from Two Towers and wine from Halfpenny Green Vineyard, along with a stage for the folk musicians who kept us entertained. If you know the Birmingham/​Midlands street food scene then you’ll know that all of the above are well recognised as being great producers of food. This event was much more chilled and relaxed than some of the more hip street food events. There were no queues and barely a hipster in site. Saying that, some of the clientele probably invented hip first time round (I mean that as a compliment). I enjoyed devouring a pizza from Bare Bones and a bacon cheeseburger pie (you’ve got to try these!) from Pietanic over the few hours I was there.
For these events they reduce the price of entry to the mill to £3 (normally £6). It’s well worth the money to see such a historic piece of industrial history in action. Not only does the mill work, but they use it to produce their own flour! Surely all you bakers out will want some traditionally milled wholemeal flour from the very mill that inspired Tolkien! It is available to buy in their shop, but I forget how much for.
Having the mill working and turning really helps the kids to understand how it works. The whole building shakes from the power of the mill as one climbs the steps to the top of the building. There’s plenty of information about the history of the mill and Tolkien, as well as a few activates for the kids.
If/​when you do visit, make sure you take the time to walk around the pond at the back. I wish I had time to walk along the River Cole, but that mean I’ll just have to return.

Ah, I’m in Tolkien land. You can do the Hobbit Trail too. Start at the entrance to Moseley Bog on Yardley Wood Road walk through the woody area, down into the bog, follow the stream and exit through Pensby Close. Cross Wake Green Road into the playing field are then turn right into Sarehole Mill. There are lots of blackberries growing in the hedges in Summertime for jam-​makers. Then walk up Green Road past the mix of Scandinavian-​looking houses and what I call ‘Witches Cottage’, just on the right. Turn right onto Wake Green Road, then left at the playing foelds and you are back where you started.
A great walk that takes you through the most leafy and calmest areas of Moseley, where you’ll barely see another soul. For those who are less able-​bodied, there is a wheelchair path in the bog. For the more nimble you can incorporate this route into a cross-​country run.

Simply Gorgeous! If you’re a Tolkien fan, you HAVE to make some time to visit this museum. J.R.R spent many of his Childhood years here, so visit and immerse yourself in some of the real locations that appear in The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings.
On our last visit, the kind and helpful staff turned on the water mill for us so we could see how everything worked. We were told they are planning to actually put the museum into working use again and sell the flour which is made here! Cool, huh?
Lots of big, noisy machines (great for young kids) and a lovely garden out the back (fun to explore), you can visit the exhibitions in the little coffee shop free of charge; but there is a £3 charge if you want to enter the Mill itself.
There are lots of events held here (especially around Tolkien week), so keep an eye out for that!

If you really want to experience some Brummie heritage, Sarehole Mill is one of the best places to go to in the city. It is little areas like this that make Birmingham a truly great city in capturing the imagination of generations. For children who are interested in history at school (like I was), you can experience a guided tour and talk, explaining exactly how the mill used to work. The views outside the mill are beautiful, and you can really experience how Tolkien became captivated by the area as a young’n himself. There’s just something magical about the whole place, but you can’t quite put your finger on it.
Outside of the Mill, you can walk along the river Cole and up to the Mill pond, which is surrounded by nature and woodland plants just asking to be explored by children. The walk is also great to take dogs to, and there’s a field at the back for them to be let loose.

Sarehole Mill was the place that Geography field trips lead us to back in Primary school, but is sitll a nice place to visit if you’re hosting out of towners or have small chidren to entertain. It sits along the side of small rover so makes a nice place to visit and picnic in the accompanying floodplains.
Another successful preservation by Birmingham City Council, much like the Jewellery Quarter it highlights Birminghams industrial past and is an asset to the city’s portfolio of historic buildings.

Sarehole Mill is in the Hall Green area of the city and can be accessed (like many things) via the famous number 11 bus service. A working mill until the early part of the nineteenth century it was sold to Birmingham City Council in the 50s but left derelict until 1969 when it was successfully restored and turned into a museum. Tolkien is said to have been inspired to use the mill as a location in Lord of the Rings and once a year nearby land is used to host the rather charming and eccentric Middle Earth weekend — where you can mingle with people dressed as Gandalf, buy a wood carving and tuck into a pork bap. It’s free to visit the grounds with a small charge for the museum. If you do visit you might want to head over the road for a cup of tea at the aptly named ‘hungry hobbit’.

where jrr tolkien got his inspiration for lord of the rings, i used to go fishing here as a child and loved going. play on the grass, go for a walk or go and visit the old mill. lots of information and things to see inside. they often have special things going on here and i think they do school trips.