The Dudbridge Flour Mill is hosting a ‘This is Archaeology’ week.

Tours of the site of the old mill, by Sainsbury’s on Dudbridge Hill, will be taking place from the week beginning Monday, July 23.

The remains of the beam engine and gas engine house will be available to see, as well as three French burrstone millstones.

The CIRCA Trust (Construction Industry Resource Centre Archive) moved in to what became Kimmins Mill in 1999.

The Grade II listed building houses hundreds of historical records.

Volunteers have been collecting rubbish and cutting down trees to tidy the area ahead of the event.

CIRCA Trust curator John Keenan said: “We just want to build on the resources that have been donated already so that it can become an educational resource for the public.

“We are entering a new phase and look forward to rebuilding links with the local community.”

After the archaeology week tours of the site will then be available by appointment.

The mill was threatened with demolition in the 1990s, when Sainsbury’s planned to build the store, but was saved by pensioner Eileen Halliday.

Eileen, who lived in the cottage next door to the mill, refused to sell her home and the supermarket was consequently built around the house.

The mill is thought to be one the last, and therefore also one of the most advanced, water-powered flour mills to have been built in Britain.

To regain its charity status the CIRCA trust requires a minimum income of £5,000 a year and is looking for people to become a ‘friend’ of the heritage centre.

To book a tour call John Keenan on 01179 687850.