Retaining Wall Construction

Having worked on a number of National Trust Properties throughout the south east including Bodiam Castle, Sheffield Park Gardens, Bateman’s Mill and Chartwell, we are a trusted contractor for the National Trust under the Construction Line scheme.

One of our projects was to reinstate and reinforce the retaining walls at Bateman’s Mill Pond. The project included the excavation of all ten sections of the pond as well as the installation of a viewing platform to allow visitors to see how the work progressed.

Now complete, our work allows the pond to be enjoyed by future visitors to the Bateman’s estate. Next to the mill is the 18th-century working watermill which was much loved by Rudyard Kipling and featured in his stories written at Bateman’s. The mill dates from about 1750 when it was operated by John Skinner.  Rudyard Kipling removed the waterwheel and installed a turbine in 1903. The turbine drove a generator and provided Bateman’s with electricity for 25 years. The mill features in a number of Kipling’s Sussex stories including ‘Puck of Pook’s Hill‘ and ‘Below the Mill Dam‘.

The mill was restored in 1975 and produces flour most Wednesdays and Saturdays between 14.00-16.00. It is powered by an overshot waterwheel.

Bateman’s was the home of Rudyard Kipling from 1902 to 1936. It was built in 1634 in the Jacobean style. Kipling wrote a poem about the mill.