Pakenham Water Mill wants votes to be the best of British

Suffolk’s oldest working watermill has been nominated for a national award as one of ‘Britain’s Best Landmarks’.

Pakenham Water Mill has made the short-list of the BBC Countryfile Magazine Awards 2019 and is up against some world famous places in the category.

David Eddershaw, curator at Pakenham Water Mill, said: “We are delighted to have been nominated in the best landmark award, alongside such places as the iconic Hadrian’s Wall.

“Here at Pakenham Water Mill we are so proud of its history and the fact it is still fully working for today’s visitors.”

The three other nominees are Dunluce Castle, in County Antrim, Northern Ireland, Huer’s Hut, in Newquay, Cornwall, and Nine Standards Rigg, in Cumbria.

Readers of the magazine were asked to put in their nominations last year and a panel of expert judges whittled them down to five places in 10 different categories including holiday destinations, beaches, landmarks and
gardens.

The 18th century watermill is owned by the Suffolk Building Preservation Trust and is operated by a dedicated team of volunteers who continue the 1,000-year-old tradition of milling on this site.

Piers Hart, chairman of the trust, said: “Not only is Pakenham Watermill a wonderful place to visit, but anyone living or travelling in the area cannot fail to appreciate the magical setting of the mill, as seen across the water meadows.

“We’d love anyone who knows or has visited the mill to get behind us and vote for us in the best landmark category, to give us a great chance of winning.”

The winners of each category will be announced by the magazine in March, with voting for the nominees closing on Sunday, February 17.

To vote for Pakenham Water Mill and to see the other categories, go to www.countryfile.com/awards.

To find out more information about the mill and its history, go to www.pakenhamwatermill.org.uk