A POPULAR visitor centre and commercial site is up for sale in Allendale.

Allen Mill comprises seven independent retail units and the site covers approximately 2.1 acres. It is available for offers over £390,000.

Hexham Courant: The Allen Smelt MillThe Allen Smelt Mill (Image: Michael Fox) 

The Allen Mill site was the centre of the lead mining industry in the Allen Valley from the 17th century and many of the original flue tunnels and bunkers remain.

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Hidden behind a Grade II listed stone wall and at the side of the river East Allen lies Allen Mill, a brownfield development site which is helping to bring employment opportunities to the residents of the Allen Valleys.

Hexham Courant: An aerial shot of the Allen Mill siteAn aerial shot of the Allen Mill site (Image: Michael Fox)

A Scheduled Ancient Monument at Allen Mill includes the remains of condensing chambers and reverberatory ore hearths.

The first development phase was completed in 2010 with the opening of seven businesses contained in what had been stabling and workshops for the old lead smelting works, which closed in 1896.

Rebuilt with lime mortar and reroofed with Burlington Blue slates, the building is completed to the highest contemporary building standards. The site is shared with the highly successful Allendale Brewery and is becoming a tourist attraction in its own right. There are future plans to reinstate a water wheel.

Allen Mill is future-proofed with a three-phase electricity supply, a flood bund, substantial car parking and space for further building development. It has electric car charging facilities and an entrance developed with Northumberland County Council's Highways department, ensuring easy access for the public.