Heron Corn Mill

{{Short description|Water mill in Beetham, Cumbria, England}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}

{{Use British English|date=February 2023}}

File:Heron Corn Mill Sluice Head and Leat - geograph.org.uk - 656840.jpg

The Heron Corn Mill is a working 18th-century water mill on the River Bela at Beetham, Cumbria, England. The mill and its mill race are Grade II* listed,{{NHLE|num=1087334|desc=Heron corn mill and attached mill race|accessdate=18 April 2013}} and in 2013 it was awarded a £939,000 grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund for major restoration work.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cumbria-20693408|title=Lottery cash to restore Heron Corn Mill|date=13 December 2012|publisher=BBC News - Cumbria|accessdate=18 April 2013}}

The mill is open to visitors, with regular opportunities to see flour being milled.{{cite web|title=Mill Tours and Milling Demonstrations|url=http://www.heronmill.org/mill-tours-and-milling-demonstrations/|publisher=Heron Corn Mill|accessdate=17 May 2018}} The 18th century barn is used as a venue for a range of community and educational activities.{{cite web|title=Barn|url=http://www.heronmill.org/barn/|publisher=Heron Corn Mill|accessdate=17 May 2018}}{{cite web|title=What's On|url=http://www.heronmill.org/whats-on/|publisher=Heron Corn Mill|accessdate=17 May 2018}}

Within the mill site there is also a Kaplan turbine generating hydroelectricity, some of which is sold to the BillerudKorsnäs paper mill across the river.{{cite web|title=Heron Corn Mill, Beetham|url=https://millsarchive.org/explore/mills/entry/3820/heron-mill-beetham#.Wv2bzZch3IU|website=Mills Archive|publisher=Mills Archive Trust|accessdate=17 May 2018}}

A fish ladder bypassing the weir allows salmon to pass up the river to breed.{{cite web|title=River Bela Association|url=https://scrt.co.uk/our-area/bela/|publisher=South Cumbria Rivers Trust|accessdate=17 May 2018}}