Historic Mill

Took a walk by the River Test today to Sadler’s Mill, probably the best known of several watermills in the town, if only for its famous salmon leap alongside, a landmark in the town of Romsey..
The mill itself goes back to the 16th century and back in the 1700s it belonged to the first Lord Palmerston who had it rebuilt. True, there were a succession of owners, but at that time and for many years over the centuries it was a working corn and grist mill, although sadly milling ceased in 1932.
From then on the mill fell into disuse and became derelict until the time the Broadlands Estate sold it around 14 years ago.
Today you would recognize it, having been completely restored, but plenty of visitors to the town as well as locals, like me, take the opportunity to walk by and pause by the river at this point.
And if you’re lucky you can actually spot salmon leaping out of the water to negotiate the river flow at the mill as they make their way upstream during the spawning season.
 
I have walked this way many times, but only on one occasion have I actually seen this remarkable sight of the salmons' annual trek.