News from Stotfold
Watermill
Stotfold’s event of the year…..
We are all now eagerly anticipating the Working Steam Weekend at Stotfold Mill on 9th/10th October which promises to be one of Bedfordshire’s major attractions for this year. With so many annual events cancelled we are very pleased that we are able to offer this great family day out whilst ensuring that anti-covid measures are in place to safeguard our visitors. Amongst the attractions, the key features will be many steam traction engines of varying sizes from the Saunders collection and enthusiasts from further afield. The display of static engines will include some driving a circular saw large enough to cut whole tree trunks into planks, stone crushers and other forms of powered machinery.
Most unusual is the opportunity to tour the lanes around the area in a steam driven bus. A probable highlight will be the steam engine driven threshing machine extracting grain from sheaves of the heritage wheat crop that has been grown on the field and harvested by the cutting and binding methods of a bygone era. Further displays of farming methods from earlier years will be demonstrations of ploughing by both steam engines and vintage tractors. The Mill, of course, will be open providing the opportunity to see milling of grain in action to produce our fine award-winning stoneground flour, which will be available to purchase along with the ever-popular porridge oats. For those enthusiastic to get ahead with their Christmas shopping, the craft tent has extended the number and variety of stalls so there should be plenty of opportunity to buy some unusual and attractive presents. Remember that the press is already suggesting that we could be facing shortages in many supply areas before the festive season! To ensure everyone can enjoy a whole day out at the event there children can enjoy fairground rides and there is full provision of food outlets as well as the bar marquee offering draft ales and ciders.
Advanced tickets for the Working Steam Weekend can be purchased with a 20% discount from our website www.stotfold.com. The weekend is preceded on Friday by Live at the Mill. Starting at 7.00pm this an evening of live music for rock and pop fans in the beer marquee, featuring the popular groups allergy and Delorean. There has been heavy demand for tickets but they might still be available on our website.
Our final children's event for the year is Halloween Spooktacular in the Nature Reserve 3:00 - 5:00. Sunday 31st October. See our website. If you do not manage to join us over the weekend, remember that your last chance to stock up on flour and our winter warming porridge oats will be when we open on Sunday 24th October from 12.30 until 5.00pm. Come along and enjoy a delicious cream tea before we close for the year. We will see you again in the spring! Live @ The Mill Tickets still available
To contact the Stotfold News Magazine please call 01462 731986
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