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Blue plaque for Woodbridge Tide Mill benefactor

Cleah Hetherington
BBC News, Suffolk
BBC On the left is a large white mill building. It's on the edge of the river and is around four or five storeys high. It's white and is made up of horizontal wooden slats. There are four small windows on the side of the building and a further five on the front with two windows in the tiled roof. The tide is out and the mud of the river bed is visible. There are a lot of trees in the background and a blue, cloudless sky.BBC
The building is one of the most recognised landmarks in east Suffolk

The woman credited with saving one of the last working tide mills in the country has been honoured with a blue plaque.

Jean Gardner bought the Grade I listed Tide Mill in Woodbridge, Suffolk for £7,300 at an auction in May 1968 after hearing a lecture on its plight by local historian, Norman Scarfe. She then oversaw its restoration before gifting it to the town in 1977.

Four generations of Mrs Gardner's extended family were at the ceremony for the unveiling alongside guests from the community.

The chair of the Woodbridge Tide Mill Museum, John Carrington, said "We are grateful to the work of the Woodbridge and Melton Society in securing this lasting tribute to the lady that saved the Mill".

SIMON BALLARD A circular, blue plaque with white writing honouring Mrs Jean Gardner who is credited with saving Woodbridge Tide Mill from destruction. Gifting it to the town in 1977. The plaque is set against the white wall of the Tide Mill which is made up of horizontal planking. The cover that had been over the plaque hangs from the bottom of it.SIMON BALLARD
The plaque was unveiled by one of Mrs Gardner's great-great grandsons, George

The earliest record of a tide mill on the River Deben site dates back to 1170.

The present mill was built on the site in 1793 and didn't close until 1957. It is now one of the only working tide mills in the UK and still harnesses the River Deben's tides to produce stoneground flour.

Mr Carrington said it had become a tourist attraction.

"It is one of the most photographed, painted and drawn buildings in the East of England, and attracts the attention and interest of mill enthusiasts worldwide," he said.

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