Nearly three years after a devastating fire destroyed it, Whitchurch’s historic Bere Mill has been reconstructed.

The historic mill, was home to Portals, who made paper for the Bank of England in the 18th century.

It was destroyed by a fire caused by an electrical malfunction on the night of February 7, 2018. The fire had destroyed much of the house and the detailed renovations of the past 30 years, which had brought the buildings back into use as a family home.

But, nearly three year later, the reconstruction of the beautiful group of buildings has been completed. Its west barn has now been opened for public use.

The exterior of Bere Mill has been rebuilt precisely as it was before the fire, with original brick walls, timber cladding, and antique roof tiles. Windows and doors have been remodelled, as previously, in oak.

The reconstruction has respected traditional building techniques, through construction of an oak timber frame to match the original, traditional hand-cut joinery, and lathe and plaster wall coverings, with the use of lime render throughout. The builders said that mill machinery would shortly be restored to its previous state.

The renovation was carried out by P J Roper, traditional builders of Whitchurch, Hants, while the architecture was done by Michael Kaner of Kaner Olette, Tunbridge Wells.

The builders said the renovation respects the original layout of rooms, while the west barn has been fitted internally for community use, with modern lighting, audio-video systems and good access.

Owner of Bere Mill, Ruper Nabarro, said: “My wife Elizabeth, and I, are grateful for the sympathy and support we have received from the local community through this long reconstruction process and most especially to the building team that has carried out the work. Their level of skill has been exceptional and they have cut no corners.

“We were delighted to give the renovation work to local experts, as the entire building team live and mostly originate from the Whitchurch area. They are an extraordinary witness to the continued existence of historic building skills.”

The Bere Mill butchery has remained open throughout the renovation, supplying grass-fed, home-reared lamb and beef, offering a click and collect service, or home deliveries.

The beautiful gardens and water meadows that lie alongside the River Test, complete with Mediterranean, herbaceous and bog plants, and sculpture by well-known artists, will be open for private visits by arrangement, and under the National Garden Scheme on 14 March and 2 and 31 June 2021.