July 2022
Tyrone Mills, in the former Village of Tyrone, now part of Clarington, Ontario, is both a tourist attraction and a functioning mill, one of Canada’s oldest water powered grist mills still in operation.
Erected in 1846 by James McFeeters and John Gray, it has served as a grist mill, flour mill, lumber mill, apple cider producer, bakery, and rural community centre.
Today, the mill continues to grind grain and mill lumber using water power lumber, under the ownership of Robert Shafer since 1979. A blacksmith shop was also added.
A shop on the main floor sells various products like apple cider, local preserves, and freshly baked cookies, doughnuts, artisan breads and pastries made from Tyrone-milled flour, baked in an outdoor bake oven. Local products such as honey, ice cream, artisan cheeses and maple syrup can also be found in the shop. This also makes the mill a popular tourist attraction as well.
The woodworking shop is located on the second floor, where things like eastern white cedar Muskoka chairs are hand-crafted.
Tyrone Mills is open Monday to Sunday from 11am to 5pm, all year-round. It’s located at 2656 Concession Road 7, in Clarington.
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- Tyrone Mills. Historical photo.
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- Interior of the main floor in Tyrone Mills. Photo: Bruce Forsyth.
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- Interior of the main floor in Tyrone Mills. Photo: Bruce Forsyth.
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- Interior of the main floor in Tyrone Mills. Photo: Bruce Forsyth.
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- Stairs leading to the second floor in Tyrone Mills. Photo: Bruce Forsyth.
Sources: Welcome to Tyrone Mills – Circa 1846, Tyrone is still milling after all these years (durhamregion.com), Visiting Tyrone Mills: A Historic Ontario Mill Built in 1846 – Ultimate Ontario, Tyrone Mills | A Country Path.
