Hele Cornmill celebrates 500th anniversary by joining Ilfracombe Art Trail

HELE Cornmill is marking its 500th anniversary celebrations with a special showing for Ilfracombe Art Trail this weekend.

Not only is North Devon’s last working watermill a fantastic and peaceful place that provides the perfect location to enjoy art, but five members of owners the Jones family will be exhibiting as artists during the event.

This includes a full size wooden carousel horse crafted by David, neo-retro Pixel art by son Ben, traditional painting, pencil drawing, pottery and textiles by Jennifer, multimedia work including crochet by Emily and digital art in gouache and acrylic pens by Katie. 

The free Ilfracombe Art Trail runs across Saturday and Sunday, May 10 and 11, with 48 venues across the town and two in Berrynarbor providing open studios, a showcase of a huge range of vibrant artwork and the opportunity to meet and chat with the artists.

Above: Hele Cornmill owner David Jones with his handcrafted fairground carousel horse, which will be one of the centrepieces at the mill’s Ilfracombe Art Trail exhibition. Credit: Hele Cornmill

Hele Cornmill is located at Cornmill Close in Hele Bay on the very outskirts of Ilfracombe heading towards Combe Martin and is the perfect location for visitors to start or end the trail while enjoying a cream tea or lunch in tranquil surroundings.

The Jones family of David and Kathy and their children have owned the mill since 2011 and are delighted to take part in the art trail in conjunction with the mill’s 500th anniversary.

Fittingly, May 10-11 is also National Mills Weekend, with the theme of ‘Mills in Art’ for 2025.

The exact birthday of the mill is not known, but the family knows it was built in 1525 and over the past 15 years they have researched the history of all the millers and tenants who have resided at the mill since that date.

David has learned the skills of traditional milling via the giant millstones turned by the power of the mill’s waterwheel and the resulting flour is put to good use creating a range of homemade cakes and bread for the mill tearoom, set in a quiet courtyard surrounded by plants and flowers.

It is the first time the mill and its five resident artists have taken part in Ilfracombe Art Trail and they are looking forward to sharing their creations with visitors.

Kathy explained: “No one really knows about the art work our family do here. People will know David as a miller, but they won’t know about his past life as a wood worker or his craft work as a cabinet maker.

“All the children have loved art and been encouraged in art throughout their lives. Ben went to the London College of Printing, Jennifer studied maths but has always loved art – she uses traditional mediums such as quilting, ceramics, textiles, line drawings.

“The result is that we have got five artists in one venue.”

Kathy added: “We will be open at 10am both days, making it a good place to start or finish the trail, with last orders at the tearoom at 5pm, so it is also a great opportunity for a cream tea or lunch to keep you going!”

Hele Cornmill has recently received a Rural Enterprise Prosperity Fund grant and is now able to offer disabled parking for up to three cars and improved wheelchair access. Please call 01271 863185 to book a space. Entry to the art gallery and mill is free.

There is no other public parking at the mill and visitors are asked to park in the main Hele Bay car park a short walk away at the entrance to the beach.

For more information about Hele Cornmill visit www.helecornmill.com and to view the full programme for Ilfracombe Art Trail and the many venues across the town, please go to https://artilfracombe.co.uk