As early as 1755, the mill was leased by Matthew Boulton, one of the pioneers of the Industrial Revolution and leading figure of the Lunar Society for scientific experimentation.

As well as milling grain it has been used for grinding bones for fertiliser, metal rolling (Matthew Boulton), tool sharpening and wire drawing.

In April 2012 the millpond was drained to repair the sluice gates, and in the winter of 2012–13 the heavily silted mill pond was dredged.

[2] In 2012/2013 Sarehole Mill underwent a £375,000 overhaul of the roof, chimney, millpond, water wheel and machinery were restored to produce flour again.

[5] During the COVID-19 pandemic, the mill was temporarily closed, like all locations managed by the Birmingham Museums Trust but it has now reopened to visitors.

In 1852 the water wheels at Sarehole Mill were supplemented by a single cylinder steam engine.

[7] In an interview with Guardian journalist, John Ezard in 1966, before the mill's restoration, Tolkien said: It was a kind of lost paradise...