National Trust transformed into gingerbread world this Christmas

From Thursday, November 20 until January 4, Winchester City Mill will be decked out in golden ribbon, gingerbread figures and green garlands as part of ‘A Gingerbread Christmas’.  

Reflecting the heritage of the flour production, the cafe will also be serving up gingerbread coffees and sweet treats. 

The handmade decorations on the tree (Image: Newsquest)

Before the wheel was declared unfit, Winchester City Mill had been milling and selling its own stoneground flour since it reopened its doors to visitors in 2004.

Using grain from a nearby farm, Newhouse Farm Partnership, City Mill has been telling a strong ‘field to fork’ story by knowing exactly where their grain is grown, milling the grain into flour on-site by a team of extremely talented and committed volunteers and finally selling the flour to visitors or using it in cakes and bakes in the Mill’s café. 

Zoe Squires, marketing and communications officer at National Trust, said: “Our visitor team put lots of effort and love into the decorations, it is something beautiful to see. It is an uplifting space, to put down your phone and let your thoughts wander. It is a cosy space.  

“We want this to be a place of calm, for people to visit the Winchester Cathedral Christmas Market and then come in here to escape the clamour of the city.  

“A lot of what we serve in the cafe is made on site which is quite nice. I think most of the decorations are handmade or hand stitched."  

The outside of Winchester City Mill (Image: Newsquest)

This festive event comes as the volunteer team continue to fundraise to restore the waterwheel, which was declared no longer fit for purpose in 2023.

It was only installed in 2004, but the major floods in 2014, and several years of extreme weather since, have taken their toll and it now needs replacement. 

A fundraising campaign to raise £130,000 was launched two years ago, but due to the soaring costs of timber, the cost of repair has increased. The final figure of the repair is still being established.  

To help raise funds to restore the waterwheel, visitors are encouraged to donate, purchase second handbooks, buy an exclusive otter pin badge or buy something from the cafe.  

Donations to the fundraising campaign can be made via www.nationaltrust.org.uk/winchester-city-mill or by visiting the Mill in person.  

Winchester City Mill is open Thursday to Sunday, 10am until 4pm.