Fight to save battleship mill

Deck beams from USS Chesapeake hold up the mill's ceiling

History-lovers from both sides of the Atlantic are joining forces to save a mill made from the timbers of a United States ship captured by the Royal Navy almost 200 years ago.

The Chesapeake Mill in Wickham, Hampshire, is made from the timbers of the frigate USS Chesapeake - taken by HMS Shannon in 1813 when the US and Britain were last at war.

The war started in 1812 when the US objected to the Royal Navy stopping and searching its ships for contraband.

After seven years with the Royal Navy, the ship was taken apart and large pieces were used to build the grain mill.

'Great atmosphere'

Now Hampshire County Council plans to sell the mill, which was working until the 1970s but is now a listed building.

A new private owner might mean reduced public access or alterations to the landmark - so a transatlantic group of museums has formed to make its own bid.

Among the institutions involved are the National Maritime Museum and Royal Naval Museum in the UK, and the US Naval Institute and Naval Historical Center in America.

The Chesapeake Action Group wants to open the building as a museum about the 1812 war and the mill's working life.

The group's head, Dr Robert Prescott, from the University of St Andrews, said: "When you go inside there are deck beams holding up the ceiling, which are in terrific condition because they have been part of a building for nearly 180 years.

"These timbers also tell us a lot about building a ship in 1799 when Chesapeake was built, which is important archaeology.

"The building has great atmosphere. When you go in it feels like a ship but it needs to have interpretation and preservation."

Hampshire County Council is also considering a commercial bid and must decide on a buyer on 16 October.