Water wheel starts turning again to power restaurant at historic mill

By Jonathan McCambridge, PA

The water wheel at the former corn mill at the Florence Court estate in Co Fermanagh has started turning again this month thanks to a community project which will see it generating electricity for a restaurant on the historic site.

The Tully Mill wheel, which had been derelict for many years, has now been fully restored, including the installation of a generator.

The 18th-century corn mill, originally part of the Florence Court demesne, was rescued from dereliction in 1998 and converted into a restaurant.

Chef at the restaurant is John Roche, who has a unique link with Florence Court, having lived on the top floor of the Georgian home.

His three sons, Austin, Connell and Daithi, were born while the family lived at the National Trust building where his wife Holly was house and collections manager.

Mr Roche said: “Those times living in Florence Court were really magical – what an amazing place to raise a young family.

“The estate locked down during Covid but we remained living on the top floor which was a wonderfully memorable time to spend together.”

Mr Roche took on the National Trust catering contract for Florence Court and the neighbouring Castle Coole in 2012 and for the Marble Arch Caves in 2017.

He runs the Tully Mill restaurant in what was once Florence Court’s corn mill.

The building had lain derelict for many years until Killesher Community Development Association received funding to regenerate the property along with the construction of five self-catering holiday cottages and a community centre.

The association also received funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund to restore the mill’s original wheel.

This month the wheel began to turn once more, generating electricity for the restaurant and outdoor lights.

Mr Roche said: “It’s really exciting to have the mill stone turning once again.

“We are concentrating on developing the restaurant and part of this will include experiences like bread making.

“Diners will be able to come along, find out a little about the history of the mill and restaurant and then make their own bread, helping them to understand the original purpose of the mill, which would have produced flour for the estate using the mill stones.

“People want hands-on tourism experiences when they visit a place.

“It’s not enough to say we make our own flour; we want to be able to offer people the chance to be included in the process and feel the history which surrounds this place.

“This helps visitors get under the skin of a place which ultimately helps them form a meaningful connection as they get to know and understand the people.”

The chef has also launched a tourism experience which allows diners to experience dining in the room where the Earl of Enniskillen once hosted grand banquets and eat food inspired by the culinary traditions of the Georgian era.

The Roche family no longer live in Florence Court, but through the restaurant still retain a link to the historic estate.

Mr Roche said: “It has been an absolute privilege for my boys to have had this start to their lives, each of their birth certificates say Florence Court House on them.

“But we are excited about the future of the restaurant and the opportunities the new wheel can deliver.

“We may not live like the Earl of Enniskillen any more, but we still feel very much a part of this wonderful place.”