The University of Portsmouth has been awarded £35,000 to work with The Water Mill at Calbourne – one of the oldest working water mills in the UK.
The project, funded by Innovate UK and Geo Weeks and Sons LTD, a family-run business that owns the historic water mill, aims to develop the tourism potential of the mill and contribute to the growth of the local economy. It runs from January 2023 until the end of March 2023 and is part of an Innovate UK Accelerated Knowledge Transfer to Innovate (AKT2I) project.
The Water Mill, Calbourne dates back to the 1086 Domesday Book. It is the only working water mill on the Isle of Wight and as well as providing a working museum for visitors, mills flour and oats. As well as the museum, the rural site offers holiday accommodation in the old mill house, cottages and eco-lodges
Sally Chaucer, Managing Director of The Water Mill, Calbourne said:
“We see this award as part of a longer-term association with the University and hope that together, with the University and the Island’s community, we are able to build a sustainable future for The Water Mill, Calbourne and the Island.”
The project is a result of the University of Portsmouth and Isle of Wight Council’s Business Boost programme, a free business support programme offered to all businesses on the Isle of Wight. Having attended the programme, Sally Chaucer was supported by the University to apply for funding.
Sarah Turnbull, Professor of Marketing in the Faculty of Business and Law at the University of Portsmouth, said:
“We’re very excited about working with such an historic business. The project will include an analysis of the current business operation and the development of a strategy to increase income across the Mill’s revenue streams. The funding provides for a dedicated business associate to work with the company to develop the business plan.”
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The University of Portsmouth has close business links with the Isle of Wight. Last year, it signed a new partnership agreement with Ryde Town Council to help raise the regional and national profile of both the Isle of Wight and Portsmouth.
The agreement covers areas of mutual interest such as addressing educational inequalities, finding solutions to environmental issues and supporting sustained economic growth in the region.
So another beautiful peaceful area will be filled with screaming children disinterested youths and the narrow roads jammed up with cars.
These places are the only areas left unspoiled by bored chavs on holiday.
Shame. Sophie the Seal must be turning in her cat food tins.
Sophie was at Yafford Mill not Calbourne.
Perhaps she swam round to visit an Aunt or something.
That’s it finished then ,no more will it be a quiet place to visit!!!!
This is amazing for Sally and the team at the Mill! I’m so happy for you all!
This is such a great step for not only preserving history, but also making it accessible to so many people. It is so good to see the island get some government money to support its vital tourism as well as its valuable heritage. Well done everyone involved.
Here, here! And great that a government supported university ( that means taxpayer supported) gets to profit from a privately owned mill which will profit from government money (that means taxpayer money again) and the taxpayers will be charged to visit the very historical site they already now pay for.