Acton Mill Farm is steeped in history. Built in the 1600s, Acton Mill Farm featured heavily in the local economy for generations, dating back to 1641 when owed by John Hide. In the 1650s the Mill was used as a fulling mill to process the wool being produced in abundance across western Worcestershire.
The farm also features in the legacy of Job Pingree who was born here is 1839. Job inherited the farm in 1843 following the passing of his father and was baptised in The Mill Pond in 1855, before emigrating to America in 1858.
In a bartered economy, local farmers did not always have enough cash to pay their bills so Job took portions of grain as payment for his services. A dishonest miller could become very wealthy by taking more grain than he was allowed. There was a local tradition that a miller without hair on his arms could never be an honest miller for no evidence - - grain - dust - - would cling to him if he pilfered flour. Such a miller would always be mistrusted.
Interestingly before emigrating, Job married Ester Hooper (An ancestor of the current farm owners) who followed him to America in 1861.
We often have descendants of Job visit the farm today travelling from as far as Salt Lake City.
Here is a picture from 1906, showing local farmers dipping their sheep in the mill pond.