A New Chapter for the Old Mill

Open day at the Mill between 3-5pm on Saturday 26th July.

(see earlier article here ).

It's not every day you get to write to your whole village. Especially when you technically don't live in it anymore! Anyway, here goes.

Although I now live "down south", I have always held Audlem close to my heart and still very much consider it home.

I grew up in Audlem. The warmth of its people and the charm of the surroundings have shaped who I am. It's also where I realised that community isn't just a word – it's a way of life. So, when the opportunity came up to take over Audlem Mill, I couldn't resist – and I believe that the Mill still has an important part to play in Audlem's future.

Our only firm plans so far are that the top floor (already a residential flat) will be an Airbnb and we will be using the Mill's original name "Kingbur Mill"*. We also know that we also want to keep the main floors of the Mill alive as a local business venture. Our Airbnb will allow visitors to experience the charm of Audlem in a unique setting and with the rest of the building we hope to support the local economy by encouraging guests and day visitors to explore and enjoy everything the village has to offer--from our cafés and pubs to our independent shops and scenic walks. We've got a great location from which to signpost all of this for the benefit of all if there is interest in doing so.
Local businesses are the lifeblood of this village, and I've no intention whatsoever of stepping on any toes. What I do want is to enhance what Audlem already has. Maybe that means hosting something new at the Mill (perhaps some – or all – of our floor space is right for your small business?), supporting events, showcasing information about local businesses that canal visitors might otherwise miss, bringing a few fresh ideas to life...

That's where you come in.

We're holding a drop-in open day at the Mill between 3-5pm on Saturday 26th July. We're interested in hearing from local businesses and people who use the shops and services of Audlem – we would like you to share your thoughts with us. If you're down by the canal for the Audlem Historic Boats gathering between Friday 25th and Sunday 27th July (or the Audlem Festival of Transport in the playing field on the Sunday), you're already in the right place to pop in and see us!

If you're able to make it down, we look forward to seeing you there. You bring the ideas and we'll bring the light refreshments

If you can't make it but want to be a part of the conversation, please contact us on kingburmillenquiries@gmail.com

Thank you for being part – and enabling us to continue to be a part – of what makes Audlem so special.

Diane (and Chris) Fawkes

*If you're interested in the history of Kingbur Mill, this is a great place to start from. I'm hoping to surface up more about the history of the Mill so if you have information or photos you can share, please do let me know.
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