William Scott Abbot, one of Sacrewell Mill’s highly influential owners, implemented and inspired a whole generation in the art of intensive farming. During WW2, William and his wife Mary, with the help of the Women’s Land Army transformed the food output from the farm. His innovative farming was desperately needed as food was getting dangerously short. The success of William’s new farming practises proved highly influential and was taken up by others quickly and effectively.
Women's Land Army
These changes coupled with the efforts of the Land Army cannot be understated. William’s idea combined with the hard work of this huge, new, female workforce resulted in Britain being able to produce sufficient food to the population contributing significantly to the ultimate success of the Allied war effort.
Later in life, William continued to have inspirational ideas. According to Mary, in 1959 William had a dream that Sacrewell Mill should become a place where people could learn about both farming and the history of farming. In 1964 the process of making this dream a reality begun when the William Scott Abbott Trust was created.
Sacrewell Mill exhibition - interior
The trust has worked tirelessly over the decades that followed to both maintain and restructure the farm to make William’s dream come true. However, the size and scope of the project proved larger than first envisaged. When revenues dwindled the Trust struggled to maintain the upkeep of the 18th century building. It fell into such a bad state of repair that it was identified in Historic Englands ‘At Risk’ register. Thankfully in 2015 the Trust won a £1.4 million grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund.
Decades of renovation and carefully planned and implemented retrofits, have resulted in the Sacrewell Mill of today. Its history has been painstakingly preserved, whilst it has been subtly adapted to house a highly engaging and interactive repository of historical stories.
Sacrewell Mill and 1930's kitchen interior
Selectaglaze, following designs from Purcell, are happy to have played their part in preserving this very special building for future generations. An acoustic and thermal secondary glazing treatment was designed, manufactured and fitted to the satisfaction of the building’s conservation officer.
The restoration was so successful that Sacrewell Mill won the RICS East of England Project of the Year.
Steeped in the lives and livelihoods of local Cambridgeshire farmers and renowned for innovative farming methods, Sacrewell Mill continues to inspire, nurture and educate both now and into the future.
Women's Land Army
These changes coupled with the efforts of the Land Army cannot be understated. William’s idea combined with the hard work of this huge, new, female workforce resulted in Britain being able to produce sufficient food to the population contributing significantly to the ultimate success of the Allied war effort.
Later in life, William continued to have inspirational ideas. According to Mary, in 1959 William had a dream that Sacrewell Mill should become a place where people could learn about both farming and the history of farming. In 1964 the process of making this dream a reality begun when the William Scott Abbott Trust was created.
Sacrewell Mill exhibition - interior
The trust has worked tirelessly over the decades that followed to both maintain and restructure the farm to make William’s dream come true. However, the size and scope of the project proved larger than first envisaged. When revenues dwindled the Trust struggled to maintain the upkeep of the 18th century building. It fell into such a bad state of repair that it was identified in Historic Englands ‘At Risk’ register. Thankfully in 2015 the Trust won a £1.4 million grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund.
Decades of renovation and carefully planned and implemented retrofits, have resulted in the Sacrewell Mill of today. Its history has been painstakingly preserved, whilst it has been subtly adapted to house a highly engaging and interactive repository of historical stories.
Sacrewell Mill and 1930's kitchen interior
Selectaglaze, following designs from Purcell, are happy to have played their part in preserving this very special building for future generations. An acoustic and thermal secondary glazing treatment was designed, manufactured and fitted to the satisfaction of the building’s conservation officer.
The restoration was so successful that Sacrewell Mill won the RICS East of England Project of the Year.
Steeped in the lives and livelihoods of local Cambridgeshire farmers and renowned for innovative farming methods, Sacrewell Mill continues to inspire, nurture and educate both now and into the future.
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