Mill Model returned to Town Mill in time for Millfest after complete renovation

This May, we’ve been busy marking Millfest here at the mill - our celebration of the rich heritage and the deep veins of craftsmanship here in Lyme Regis - and just in the nick of time, we received back on site of fabulous scale model of the Town Mill, which has been spectacularly refurbished by Bristol-based production design house, OBJECT SOUP.

The 1/10th scale model has been in the mill since 2007 and was built by skilled model maker and volunteer Miller, Jim Macallister. The model has been a key educational resource in the mill ever since, enabling the Millers to explain to visitors much more easily in miniature the interaction between the three mil floors and how the mills cogs and structures work as a whole to produce our fantastic stoneground flour.

While still cherished, after 18 years in situ in the challenging physical environment of the mill, Jim‘s unenclosed model had certainly seen better days; so when the trust board applied to The National Lottery Heritage fund for support with a number of projects in 2004 to ready the mill for the future, the shoring-up of the mill model was a key job on the list.

In autumn 2024, the model was collected by female-led production house OBJECT SOUP who specialise in scale models and dioramas and whisked away to Bristol for months of painstaking work.

Leading this talented team, Helena Black returned Jim’s model back to Lyme Regis on Friday, May 23 and with such a glorious transformation complete - with the model now featuring a working water wheel, cogs , gears and millstones all beautifully illuminated - we decided to showcase it in the Malthouse Gallery for the three days of Millfest. This temporary location seemed entirely fitting for our site wide celebration of artisan craftsmanship which also included an exhibition by Lyme Regis’ world-renowned Boat Building Academy as well as jewellers, potters, spinners, brewers and artisan producers.

Helena Black of Object Soup returns the mill model to Rob McLaughlin, Chair of Town Mill Trustees.

We were delighted to welcome a wonderful gathering of current mill volunteers and mill alumni to a “grand unveiling” on Saturday May 24th. many of whom remembered Jim’s labour of love with fond affection. Plus, we were delighted to welcome a very special guest of honour -  one of Jim’s sons, Steve Macallister.

The Town Mill team enjoyed reflecting with Steve about the significance of his father’s model to the mill and Rob McLaughlin, the Chair of Trustee’s, marked the moment beautifully by encouraging us all to remember both Jim’s legacy and to celebrate the human skill, endeavour and affection which ultimately underpins the maintenance of all heritage.

The continued fondness for and admiration of Jim was palpable throughout the weekend – and it was equally delightful to see swathes of new visitors of all ages over the 3 days of the festival enthralled by the model for the first time, fulfilling its intended purpose to captivate, educate and inform which we’re all sure would have been a deep source of satisfaction to Jim – as it is to us now.

Using money raised by National Lottery players, The National Lottery Heritage Fund supports projects that connect people and communities with the UK's Heritage. Our ability to forge ahead with the model refurbishment project which is a critical but delicate educational asset for the story-telling that takes place everyday in our historic mill will allow us to continue to share our site heritage in an engaging and easy to understand way with our community and many visitors.

As well as expressing our appreciation to all our funders, thanks to National Lottery players, we have been able to move forward with this vitally important project within the Trust’s overall vision to secure the future of the mill and embed its legacy as a vibrant community asset in the very heart of Lyme Regis.

The mill model has now been re-located back to its permanent home on the mill’s sack floor and can be viewed everyday during our opening hours. We are currently offering free entry to the mill with donations welcomed to keep the waterwheel going.