Hessle Mill and The Chalk Walk

Welcome to Hessle Mill and The Chalk Walk

On Hessle foreshore, in the shadow of the north tower of the Humber Bridge, stands Hessle Whiting Mill, a unique example of an early nineteenth century whiting windmill. The mill forms part of the Humber Bridge Country Park’s Chalk Walk heritage trail.

Please note: From Saturday, 9 October Hessle Whiting Mill will be closed to visitors for the winter. The mill will re-open to the public Easter 2022.

Inside the mill

Take a look inside the newly renovated Hessle Mill, see our displays on when the mill and quarry were in use. Please note, due to the size of the mill, a limited number of people can enter at a time. Please be prepared to queue, and face coverings must be worn inside.

The Chalk Walk

Follow the Chalk Walk heritage trail to learn about the natural, industrial and social history of the Humber Bridge Country Park, a former chalk quarry that once supplied the whiting mill with chalk. Known locally as Little Switzerland, the Country Park has been a popular family destination for generations. It is also a designated Local Nature Reserve welcoming more than 100,000 visitors per year.

The Chalk Walk begins close to the main Humber Bridge car park and follows a path through the oldest area of the Country Park. The trail continues on the Humber Foreshore inside the whiting mill’s tower on five levels. Inside the tower you can learn about the history of the mill, including how it worked, how whiting was made and who worked there. On the upper floors you can listen to memories and stories about Little Switzerland and Hessle Foreshore on our audio listening stations. You will also have a chance to 'meet' the mill’s Victorian owner and the wife of an Edwardian quarryman.

Watch the video on the Quarry to Country Park page

Get Involved

Do you want to be part of The Chalk Walk team? We need volunteers!

• Mill Stewards
  Be part of the stewarding team in the mill to welcome visitors, answer queries and share the history.
• Oral History Interviewers
  Become an oral history interviewer and help create our archive of recorded memories of Little Switzerland, the mill and the foreshore.
• Events Assistant
  We need enthusiastic volunteers to help tell the park’s story of geological, industrial and social heritage with guided walks and learning sessions.

The Humber Bridge Country Park is perfect for families. There is a small play area near the Hessle Mill on the foreshore, and the Country Park nature reserve offers multiple nature walks, picnic and barbecue areas.

There is free parking both at the top of the Country Park, where you will find pedestrian access to the Humber Bridge, and to the rear of the mill. The car park by The Country Park Inn is pay and display. Please note that parking in the Humber Bridge Car Park is limited due to the presence of the Covid-19 testing centre, while parking on the foreshore is restricted because of on-going floor defence works.

Bikes

Bikes are welcome to travel along the coastal path or over the Humber Bridge, but are not permitted inside the county park nature reserve itself. Please use the bicycle racks provided.

As part of the creation of the Chalk Walk, accessibility and footpaths around the Mill and nearby car park have been improved. Access to the Country Park and Chalk Walk can be gained through the underpasses to the west of the mill. Please note that access to the upper floors of the mill is by stairs only.