Combe Mill

A Grade II* Listed building, Combe Mill Museum is the original ‘power house’ of the old Blenheim Palace Estate timber mill and workshops. This working industrial museum offers visitors a fascinating insight into work that went on behind the scenes of the Blenheim Estate over the last century or so. Visitors get a feel for the past as they enter this authentic building where they are able to talk with Society members operating the machinery and demonstrating lost skills. The exhibits will be of interest to the whole family and children are catered for too. A rare 1852 Thomas Piggott working beam engine and associated belt-driven line shafting is the museum centrepiece. The Cornish boiler of the same date was probably the oldest working boiler of its kind until 2003 when it was taken out of service. Steam is now raised by a modern boiler and this serves several other small steam engines and models that demonstrate the history of steam power. The water wheel can also be seen working. During steaming days there are continuous demonstrations at the forge and demonstrations of wood turning and other crafts upstairs in the Pattern Shop. Outside there are several examples of portable single-cylinder engines operating machinery. Refreshments are available in the shop and there is also a riverside picnic area.