Hethpool Mill, College Valley, Northumberland

There is a picture on the National Park website taken in the College Valley which has always been a puzzle until we finally found where it was. It is the bottom of the fish ladder as the water runs out of Hethpool lake towards the College burn and Hethpool Linn.

You will come to know the field outside the mill very well.
It has an amazing standing stone…ok probably an old boundary stone but in the twilight and with the owls calling this is a different world here. This picture shows the lichen on the stone.

and here is the stone in perspective

At the back of Hethpool Mill is a workshed which doubles as a dog run. Here the wood and coal are stored. There is a separate room, with door, where the dogs can shelter come the rain.

See the picture below on the middle and lower right.

and here you can see the swallows that one summer came to nest above the wood store

The light in the Valley can be very special. Lovely blue skies through to dramatic sunsets

Although the Mill does have a garden the soil in this part of the valley is very stony and it is hard to grow garden plants here.

To the south side you also have the ruins of the old mill building itself and these are protected.

Daffodils grow well and spring brings a lovely display

and here you can see the large pebbled area

Visitors to Hethpool Mill often ask what it was like before the conversion and want to know more about it’s history.

Here are a couple of pictures pre conversion

These pictures help show what the house looks like from the outside.Kind of gives you and idea of the layout.

This picture is taken from the bank behind the house and looks north west towards hethpool.

Taken from the bank behind the house

This photo is taken from the north side. The main entrance into the porch and kitchen is just behind the car. The small window, visible over the bonnet is the downstairs bathroom.

To the far left and just visible is the dining room and the upstairs window is the upstairs bathroom. Note the pebbled area outside which is great for dogs – no muddy feet

This shows the mill from the other, or south side. Note on this side you have the upstairs bedroom windows.With the sun around this side we often have breakfast on the table outside.

The picture above shows the patio outside the sitting room along with table and chairs.