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Currant Affairs 
Time Team crew uncover old mill at Stoke TristerARCHAEOLOGISTS from television's Time Team travelled to the Blackmore Vale to unlock some of the secrets of a long-forgotten watermill last week. Stephanie and Steven Fry bought Buck Mill Farm in Stoke Trister, near Wincanton, in 2003 to set up a rehabilitation centre for horses with physical, mental and emotional problems. Later that year, Stephanie stumbled across the remains of the old mill. Since then, Stephanie has approached bodies including English Heritage but has been unable to find detailed information about the historic mill, other than the fact that records of the operation date back to 1066. But last week, Tony Robinson, Mick Aston, Phil Harding and other experts from Time Team were joined by camera crews as they set about unearthing the old mill. The television archaeologists managed to find the flagstone floor of the old mill house, the millstone and the bottom half of a mill wheel, as well as the remains of the miller's home. The team discovered that the last known miller to work at the site was John Benjafield in the early 18th century. Mr Benjafield's descendents travelled from Yorkshire to see last week's excavations. It was brilliant to be able to find out more about the mill after waiting so many years," Stephanie said. The Time Team dig at Buck Mill Farm is due to be broadcast early next year. Back to the list |