The mill was derelict and facing demolition, until it was acquired by Nottingham City Council in 1979. Funds were raised by the University of Nottingham and it was renovated by Thompson's, millwrights of Alford, Lincolnshire between 1984 and 1986.
It is a  It was reopened in December 1986 and is now part of a science centre which is open to the public. At the same time, No 3, Green's Gardens was restored from near dereliction by the Nottingham Buildings Preservations Trust as a residence for one of the Museum staff.