Docton Mill & Gardens

Introduction

Docton Mill - mentioned in the Doomsday Book - is a restored historic mill and waterway, set in a garden created in a secluded valley, less than a mile from the sea. There are eight acres of natural woodland, lawns and streams. The cream teas are fantastic and the gardens are easy to walk around. Most places are accessible for disabled people. Docton Mill is open from 1 March to 31 October, 10am - 6pm and can be visited at Spekes Valley, Lymebridge, Hartland, Bideford, Devon EX39 6EA. Ring 01237 441369 or visit the website for information.

Background

Docton Mill and its adjoining leat, head weir and tailrace have been traced back to Saxon times, probably before the Norman conquest. A more likely date would be upwards of 150 years earlier, after the death of King Alfred in 901. By that time the Royal Manor of Harton would have been well established, inspiring confidence in the surrounding settled farms and promoting the new technology of water powered milling , to enhance their living and above all process the larger quantities of grain they could now produce. The Mill stopped working in 1910 simply because it ran out of business. Its last big customer, so far as known, was Gifford the Baker, still in business today at Harton.

Botanical notes

Situated only 1,400 yards from the famous Spekes Mill Mouth Coastal Waterfall, the garden at Docton Mill was created in 1980 around the existing river, waterways, leats and ponds. From February to May narcissi abound including Mount Hood, Barrett Browning, Semper Avanti and February Gold, while the wild undergrowth of ferns, bluebells, campion, wild garlic and violets are left intact. Great oaks still dominate much of the prominent hillside and in summer the riverbanks billow with native ferns and wild flowers. A wet bank - home to native stellaria and bog pimpernel - just above the mill was developed as a bog garden (in summer a fabulous fusion of astibes, primulas, hostas and ligularia) focused around two small, connected ponds, crowded with waterlillies. Lower down, by the old orchard, the only dry area of the valley, there are a mixture of shrubs and perennials on a predominantly gold and burgundy theme, in echo of the colour of the moorland hills, richly coated in heather and gorse. The magnolias originated exclusively from Burncoose Nurseries near Redruth, Cornwall.

Walks

A fifteen minute walk along a track from Docton Mill Gardens takes you to Hartland Quay, although this route can occasionally be muddy. Hartland Quay is an excellent place to start or finish a walk as it has direct access to the coastal footpath. There are indeed six circular walks which start from the Hartland Quay Museum, passing waterfalls and through some fantastic scenery.