HOTEL CONCEPT OF THE MONTH | THE WINDMILL SUFFOLK
Hotel Concept of the Month:
Cley Windmill
The Cley Windmill in Norfolk is a B&B accommodation which was once a flour mill in the 19th Century.
Converted into a hospitality property in 1969 by Charles Blunt, father of British singer James Blunt.
The Cley Windmill has managed to attract a steady stream of guests over the years
Former headteacher Carolyn Lee came to and is where Sister Rachel, the nun who
own and run the Cley Windmill when her resided in the windmill a few generations
husband Julian, a GP, strived to purchase ago, used to pray. Lee says, “There is a little
the property that he used to visit as a child. shrine area which is now just a feature! This
Lee says, “We had no experience in the room has lovely views out over the walled
hospitality industry – it felt like an enormous garden. Basically the higher you go, the
step in the dark – and it was!” Explaining more exciting the place begins to feel.”
the history of the property, Lee says, “The On the first floor of the Cley Windmill are
windmill was built in the early 19th century two rooms – Wheat Chamber and Barley Bin
as a flour mill. It is situated on the edge of – which as their names suggest, were once
the River Glaven which used to be a busy storerooms for wheat and barley. Then,
port.” She says, “Today the river has silted halfway up the property is the Stone Room,
up although it has recently been widened which sits on the original grinding that were
and we now see small boats sailing up and stones once turned there. The highest
down on a high tide.” bedroom, Wheel Room, has to be entered
through the use of a carpeted ladder. “You
Previously owned by singer James
have to sign a waiver to book this room!”
Blunt’s dad, the property has many claims
Lee says, “It has what must be one of the
to fame being the setting of the ‘Grandpa
in My Pocket’ childrens’ TV series as well as different stays in one year – yes, that’s more most unusual bathrooms in Britain. You
the location that Elizabeth Taylor graced than once a month!” Lee says, “The windmill climb another ladder from the room, right up
when she filmed ‘Conspirator’ in 1949. has a knack of getting under people’s skin to the cap of the tower and that’s where the
and they want to come back.” bathroom is.” Guests can get a view of the
The unique experience of being able
to stay in a windmill has ensured that the
The six bedrooms inside the windmill
original mill wheels by looking up from this
point in the accommodation.
property is almost never empty, as Lee itself have retained some of features that boasts it has a occupancy rate of “nearly each room would have been used for in Outside of these rooms, there is
90%” and hosts over one hundred weddings 19th century. The B&B’s dining room was the converted Boat House and the self
a year. However, it is not just the prospect previously a granary, and guests can view catering Dovecote which sleeps four.
of staying in a former windmill that makes photos of how the property used to look. Carolyn and Julian also have plans to
the B&B stand out from other similar Then, there is the River Room which has convert the property’s restored barn
accommodations, as it offers themed rooms views out over the reeds and the river, as into a self-catering unit in 2018, adding
based on its history. “Many of our guests well as a private patio. another unique accommodation option to
return time and time again – the record is 13
16
www.hotelowner.co.uk
The Millers Room is on the ground floor
the Cley Windmill.
December 2017