The Watermill

The ancient village of Bradbourne, near Ashbourne, is mentioned in Domesday Book and its restored watermill is considered the oldest surviving in the county. Owners Sandy and David Potter have now turned it into luxury self-catering accommodation

- Catherine Roth

An old water mill in Bradbourne has been transformed into luxury self-catering accommodation. Arranged over three floors, the old mill workings have been preserved to create a unique space for up to 16 guests to relax in a place that promises a home-from-home.

Bradbourne Mill is a collection of four 300-year-old properties on a 15 acre site now owned by Sandy and David Potter. The former miller’s house is the family home whilst the outbuildings, where the miller would have stabled his horses and stored machinery, have been turned into luxury holiday lets – Tissington Ford Barn and Waterside Barn.

When the opportunity came to purchase the nearby Water Mill last year – 12 years after Sandy and David had bought their first property at Bradbourne Mill – it felt as if the missing piece of the jigsaw had finally slotted into place. Sandy says, ‘To us The Water Mill is the jewel in the crown and all the properties are now united as they used to be years ago.’

The current watermill was built in 1726 and is the oldest working example in Derbyshire, replacing a previous water mill that dated from the 1450s. Sandy says, ‘It was the ideal location for a water mill as it’s where Haven Brook meets Bradbourne Brook.’

However, transforming the Grade II listed property into five-star holiday accommodation took time. Although the building had already been restored, there was still much to do. Sandy and David worked all hours of the day and brought in numerous specialists to encapsulate the history and turn the property into a perfect destination for guests. They also brought the 300-year-old waterwheel back into operation. Although the mill race is no longer in use, the wheels can still be turned using the water from the upper and lower mill ponds.