Children explored the machinery at the world’s largest surviving tidal mill while learning about the Victorians.

%image(14942097, type="article-full", alt="Year three children of Old Palace Primary School,Bow, perform "People in the mill" at the Three Mills House.")

The year-three pupils from Old Palace Primary School in Bromley by Bow performed a play called People in the Mill at the House Hill at Three Mills Island this week.

%image(14942098, type="article-full", alt="Year three children of Old Palace Primary School,Bow, perform "People in the mill" at the Three Mills House.")

They have been working with the Clio’s company to put together the play.

Trustees at the House Mill are currently trying to raise match funding to secure a Heritage Lottery grant to help them get the old machinery operating again and open the Grade I listed building up to more visitors.

An educational programme for school children would also to link in with subjects such as science, history and geography.

Trustees need to raise £500,000 by the autumn and have so far raised around £230,000.

After struggling to raise money in the current economic climate trustee Beverley Charters said: “There is still a long way to go but we feel a lot more confident than we did at the beginning of the year.”

It is also hoped that lottery funding will help introduce modern technology, allowing the mill to generate green electricity for its own use and for surrounding homes.

More arts events also continue to be put on inside the building.