Campaigners last week said House Mill in Bromley-by-Bow – which this year marks its 250th anniversary – should be regularly opened to the public.
The Reclaim Your House Mill campaign said that despite its importance as an industrial heritage site and potential as a cultural and community venue, the Grade I-listed building is rarely open to the public.
The House Mill Trust, which manages the mill on Three Mills Island, says the mill, which is regularly flooded must be opened safely.
The trust is currently carrying out a major restoration project worth more than £300,000 and funded through grants.
The trust said: “This programme is designed to safeguard the Mill — a Grade I listed building of national significance — so that it can be enjoyed by future generations.”
The trust describes the conservation work as “substantial, specialist, and ongoing,” and confirmed that parts of the site have been temporarily closed to the public due to “health and safety obligations.”
The mill, located on the tidal River Lea, is vulnerable to flooding at high tide around 17 times a month.
This environmental factor is the subject of an ongoing research project in partnership with University College London.
The trust said: “These restrictions are temporary, conservation-led, and essential to ensuring visitor safety and the long-term protection of the building.”
Despite the closures, the trust insists the mill is still “active and welcoming”.
It says the House Mill Café is open on Sundays from April to December, and the Millers House is also open to visitors during these times.
The site hosts weekly mindfulness workshops on Thursdays and a church service on Sundays.
Daniel MacPherson, headteacher at Harris Science Academy – a school near the site, said: “It is a privilege to be a part of the wonderful community on Three Mills Island.
“Our school benefits hugely from working with the House Mill to host community events with parents, educational visits linked to local history and to showcase student artwork in a professional setting.
“We look forward to embedding our partnership and exploring how other schools within our group can benefit from this unique facility.”
The trust has confirmed that it operates in line with its approved and award-winning business plan, under appropriate professional and regulatory oversight, and remains fully committed to delivering its charitable objectives.
A number of potential new trustees have been identified and shortlisted, and appointments are now progressing.
