The Heritage Centre

Discover a historical gem on your doorstep

A space to discover, learn and explore. Botley Mills invites you to take a trip back through time.

Dating back to the Doomsday Book, Botley Mills is teeming with centuries of history and fascinating stories. The Heritage Centre is an immersive time capsule of Botley Mills’ historical treasures set inside the heart of the old mill. It’s an open space to learn about the local heritage and history that exists, right on your doorstep. From 200-hundred-year-old machinery and equipment to the Mills’ ancient architecture and time-honoured stories of key people and local families through the ages, there is so much to explore and uncover.

Botley Mills, Southampton

Open Monday - Friday 9am-5pm

FREE admission

The Heritage Centre Experience

A walk through time

Learn about how Botley Mills forms a key part of local history throughout the ages and how it developed into becoming a flour mill.

Go right back to the Mills’ earliest historical recording in the Doomsday Book and discover the history and evolution of the mill from medieval times through to the 19th century.

Find out how the mills’ architecture has changed, and explore what still remains, thousands of years later, to this day.

Sift through our milling history

Find out how we did things back then, and see for yourself the types of equipment that were used.

From roller milling equipment to original stone ground milling stones, see, touch and read about Botley Mills’ preserved machinery used throughout the 19th and 20th centuries. There’s also plenty to learn about the milling processes.

Delve into how commercial white flour and stone-ground flour products were produced, find out how the mill was powered and learn about what went into storing, packaging and transporting flour across the UK.

The Mill People

People have always been a central part of the story of Botley Mills, paving its path to becoming the place that we all know and love today.

Over many centuries, the mill has been owned and operated by various notable families and figures. Unravel history as you discover Botley Mill’s family heritage, right from its ownership by Ralph de Mortimer, an important French nobleman who fought on the side of King William I at the Battle of Hastings in 1066, through to the modern-day ownership by the Appleby family, who formed Botley Flour Milling company in 1921 and remain the owners of the heritage site and local business hub it has become today.

The Heritage Centre is also a place to discover local family history. Learn about the mill people and see if you can spot any familiar faces from your own family heritage within the centre’s archive pictures.

Take a look through these story-telling snapshots in time, and help us to gather information about as many of the Botley Home Guard of WW2.

How do you fit into the story?

Whilst Botley Mills is no longer operating as a flour mill, it still very much exists as a prosperous hub for the local community. We encourage you to visit, learn a little local history and explore what Botley Mills has to offer.

Maybe you were a relative of someone who used to work at the mill. Perhaps you have some interesting historical facts about the mill and the local area that you’d like to share with us. Or maybe you’re interested to see what Botley Mills used to look like and operate before the modern day.

The Heritage Centre invites you to take your own slice of history from the Botley Mills story.

Plan your visit

Admissions
A visit to the Heritage Centre is FREE. We don’t charge admission but we always encourage you to continue your local exploration by stopping by and supporting some of the local businesses on site.

Opening hours
The Heritage Centre is open Monday - Friday from 9am - 5pm.

Parking
Onsite parking is free for up to one hour. After one hour, parking fees apply and can be paid for via the meter onsite.

Groups and schools

Admissions
Is your school or group looking to learn more about the local area, Botley’s history or flour milling through the ages?

We welcome schools, colleges, universities, scout groups and other community groups. We can arrange for you to have an accompanied visit with a member of the Botley Mills’ team.

What’s included:

All group visits are free and for adult groups, all guests can receive a 10% discount in 1086 Wine Bar on pre-arranged visits. For youth groups and school visits, we can also provide a quiz.

For all group and school visit enquiries, please contact joanna.appleby@botleymills.co.uk

Hire The Heritage Centre for your next event

Set inside the historical mill, the Heritage Centre offers a superb event space for a range of events and functions.

The space is ideal for workshops, launch, networking or training events, christenings, weddings and birthday parties. Whether you’re a business looking for a local venue for an upcoming event or have a special family celebration on the horizon, The Heritage Centre at Botley Mills could be just what you’re looking for.

Event space facilities
A large space that can hold up to 100 people with a small kitchenette (please note, this does not include cooking facilities but does have a sink), toilet and large table that can seat approximately 10 people with use of a TV available.
The Heritage Centre is close to, and has links with, 1086 Wine Bar for beverages and catering.

Please note that the exhibits cannot be moved and the space is hire as seen.

Hire fees and prices
£10 per hour

How to book
To make a booking enquiry, please contact joanna.appleby@botleymills.co.uk