New grindstone for old watermill

Letheringsett Mill in North Norfolk now has three sets of grinding stones

Letheringsett Mill in North Norfolk has been fitted with a new set of made-to-order Dutch grindstones.

The new stones, the third set to be fitted, will double productivity and allow staff to cope with the increasing demand for products.

The mill has been out of action for the past week while the two sets of original stones were being polished.

The mill, near Holt, has been grinding flour for more than 200 years, and is the only working watermill in Norfolk.

'Double output'

Mike Thurlow, the owner and miller at Letheringsett, said the new stone has been specially made in Holland.

"Sixty or 70 years ago, this mill produced up to 20 tonnes of flour a week, and 100 tonnes of animal feed a week. This new set of stones is going to enable us to double our output overnight.

"The demand is so great we can't cope. We have people on a waiting list, waiting for these new stones to start working so we can start supplying them."

Mr Thurlow told BBC Radio Norfolk he has had to turn Harrods down in the past because he cannot fulfil their order requirements.