Care Home Fundraisers Amass £3,000 to Help Maintain Ancient Dorset Mill

Residents and staff at a north Dorset care home have raised nearly £3,000 for the community charity that looks after their town’s historic mill.

The Sturminster Newton Heritage Trust was chosen as charity of the year by Colten Care’s Newstone House in early 2025.

Over the rest of the year, the home staged a series of fundraising activities to help their campaign.

Families, friends and community contacts attended in-home events such as a summer festival, concerts, a Christmas gala and lunch, and a ‘trash or treasure hunt’ featuring a money tree sprouting donated Lottery tickets.

The relationship between Newstone House and the trust was already strong due to residents visiting the landmark mill in recent years and heritage experts such as miller Peter Loosemore giving talks back at the home including the showing of old photos and film footage.

Three residents, Pat Gee, Jim Freer and Derek Martin, attended a cheque presentation at the home to round off their year-long campaign.

Pat said: “It’s very important to remember the history of the town. We’re so pleased we have been able to support the trust in keeping history alive.”

Kate Seck, Companionship Team Leader at Newstone House, who was also at the presentation, said: “The mill is very much the photographic star of our town and one of the few surviving local mills that still grinds flour. Our residents were only too keen to join forces with the trust and do their bit in support. Altogether, Newstone House has raised the wonderful sum of £2,876.”

Kate added that the money will be used to update and install displays within the museum and the mill itself. “As the mill is prone to flooding, specialist displays are needed,” she explained.