A building built for work and entertainment from Day 1.
The Abbey Mill, located in Abbey Gardens, Winchester, is a landmark building that historically operated as "Inn The Park" and continues to serve as a hub for community and business activities with a deep history.
. The venue has undergone recent refurbishment under new local ownership and now blends flexible co-working spaces with social and dining experiences.
The Story of Winchester’s Silk Mill
In 1796, local entrepreneur John Shenton built the Abbey Silk Mill beside Winchester’s Abbey Mill on the River Itchen — part of a short-lived but fascinating chapter in the city’s industrial past.
At the time, silk production was booming across England. Shenton’s water-powered mill, inspired by pioneering factories in Derby and Overton, employed around 300 local women and children, many from the city’s workhouse or nearby parishes. The work involved twisting delicate silk threads imported from Asia into yarn strong enough for weaving — an intricate process requiring small, nimble hands.
The mill’s creation brought new employment and prosperity to Winchester, reducing reliance on poor relief and introducing industrial techniques to a largely agricultural county. Newspaper reports from the era described cheerful processions of workers through the city streets, celebrating “Youth and Age Supported by Industry.”
However, the silk industry’s fortunes changed rapidly. Cheap imports and the Silk Act of 1824, which removed tariffs on foreign goods, devastated English mills. After John Shenton’s death in 1817, his widow Sarah and son William struggled to keep the business alive, even diversifying into sawmilling. By 1829, the Abbey Silk Mill closed, marking the end of silk production in Winchester.
Though short-lived, Shenton’s enterprise reflected the ambitions and contradictions of early industrial Britain — combining innovation and employment. all under the emerging pressures of global trade.
Today, only traces remain, but the story of the Abbey Silk Mill remains a vivid reminder of Winchester’s brief moment in the age of silk.
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During the War….
Situated beside the River Itchen and just a short walk from the city centre, the Mill’s riverside setting made it an ideal gathering point for troops stationed in and around Winchester. The building provided meals for servicemen passing through the city, as well as a warm and social space for civilians enduring rationing and wartime uncertainty.
Inside, the mill’s large open rooms were repurposed as a canteen-style dining area, filled with the sounds of boots, laughter, and the chatter of relief. Many who dined there recalled long queues, steaming tea urns, and the comforting smell of hot meals made with whatever ingredients were available.
Beyond serving food, the Abbey Mill became part of Winchester’s broader wartime support network — a place where soldiers could rest, write letters home, and share news before returning to duty. Like much of the city, it played a quiet but vital role in sustaining morale.
By the end of the war, the Mill had cemented its place as a cornerstone of Winchester’s resilience — a symbol of how historic spaces could adapt in times of need. From its days powering silk machinery to feeding the nation’s defenders, Abbey Mill’s enduring strength has always been its ability to serve the people of Winchester in every era.
Post-War Years
After the Second World War, Abbey Mill’s days as a wartime canteen gave way to new civic purposes. The riverside building, with its centuries-old stonework and tranquil setting beside the Itchen, became part of Winchester’s civic estate, housing council offices and community services for much of the mid-20th century. Though no longer serving meals, it remained a familiar local landmark — a quiet presence in the heart of the city, overlooking the same waters that once powered its silk-spinning wheels.
By the early 2000s, as Winchester began to reimagine its heritage buildings, attention turned once again to Abbey Mill’s potential as a place for people to gather, eat and enjoy the historic surroundings.
River Cottage Canteen (2014 – 2019)
In 2014, Abbey Mill entered a new era when celebrity chef Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall opened the River Cottage Canteen in the restored Grade II-listed building.
This transformation celebrated the Mill’s connection to food and sustainability, offering menus built around local produce, seasonal ingredients and ethical farming — principles that echoed River Cottage’s wider philosophy. The interior combined the building’s original character — exposed beams, brickwork and water-side views — with contemporary rustic design.
The restaurant quickly became a favourite spot for both locals and visitors, providing a modern dining experience rooted in Winchester’s history. It showcased how historic architecture could be sympathetically adapted for a new generation of guests.
Inn The Park (2020 – 2024)
Following River Cottage’s closure, Abbey Mill was reborn in 2020 as Inn The Park, a relaxed bar, grill and wine room that continued the site’s tradition of social dining. The restaurant offered a modern British menu and a welcoming riverside atmosphere — a perfect continuation of the Mill’s role as a meeting place and retreat within the city.
Inn The Park embraced the setting’s natural charm, with outdoor tables overlooking the mill stream and interior spaces that highlighted the building’s craftsmanship. It operated successfully until late 2024, when it closed its doors after the Christmas period, marking the end of another chapter in Abbey Mill’s long and varied life.