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The mill wheels at Cricklepit in Exeter first started to turn in the early part of the 13th century.

Medieval records show the existence of 'Crykepitt Mills' at an area in the city which was known as Exe Island.

Over the centuries, the mills thrived along with local industry. At the peak of prosperity in the 1750s, there were five mill buildings and 11 water wheels.

The wheel before renovation

At that time, Cricklepit Mills had five water wheels, driving three grist or corn mills, one malt mill, and two pairs of fulling stocks - used in the cloth industry.

But these heady days for the mills were numbered, and they fell into decline until finally, from the middle of the 20th century, Cricklepit Mill was the only working corn mill left.

Its days were numbered too, and it went the way of all the others, when it closed down in the 1970s.

The mill suffered decades of neglect and fire damage until 2004, when the conservation charity, the Devon Wildlife Trust, bought it for use as its new headquarters.

Since then - and with the help of major grants - some 拢425,000 has been spent on renovating the mill.

Millwright Martin Watts

Traditional millwright Martin Watts was brought in to get the mills two working wheels back in action and now, for the first time in three decades, it is again being used for bread-making.

The trust - which has moved into the renovated mill - has trained a team of volunteer millers to work the machinery to make bread.

The first bread-making day will be at Cricklepit Mill's grand opening day on 17 April 2008.

Trust spokesperson David Ireland said: "It's really nice because there has been a mill on this site for centuries.

"The bread will be made for special events and on open days.

"We'll open the sluice gates, the water wheel will turn, and the grain will be ground into flour for bread to be made outdoors."

In other words, it'll be just like the old days.

You can find more information on the trust's website, which is linked from this page.