Ifield Watermill

History of the Building

Ifield Watermill is on the site of an earlier corn mill, known to have been in operation by 1660, but which burned down and was rebuilt in 1683. The current building dates from around 1817, and was in use until corn milling ceased in the late 1920s. The building was derelict until around 1970, when restoration work was begun by a group of local admirers.

Ifield Watermill Museum

Ifield Watermill is administered by Crawley Museum Society, which also runs the Crawley Museum Centre in the town centre.

The mill now contains 4 floors of exhibitions related to the history of the mill and milling, the local iron industry, and local agricultural history.

Location and Transport

Ifield Watermill is on Hyde Drive. As well as being within easy walking distance of Ifield, Ifield West, and Gossops Green, the site can also be reached by:

• car: there is ample parking immediately off Hyde Drive.
• bus: the Metrobus no.2 service runs along Hyde Drive (for details, see https://www.metrobus.co.uk/services/MB/2).
• bike: the site contains safe storage for visitors’ bicycles.

Opening Hours

Ifield Watermill is normally open to the public between 2.30pm and 5pm on the third Sunday of the month between April and September, as well as on National Mills Weekend, which is usually in May. If in doubt, please check with the museum.

Admission

Admission is free, although donations are welcome.

Facilities

The watermill has toilets, plenty of free parking (turn left immediately after leaving Hyde Drive), and disabled access to all 4 floors.