The Old Wachenmühle (location) is located between Heinrichsmühle and the Faun forester's house, where the Heinrichsbach flows into the Wachenbach. It is the oldest settlement in the Wachengrund. It was first mentioned in documents in 1429 as "Mule in der Wachenbach". The mill is probably even older. It could have existed since the 9th century. From around the Thirty Years' War, two families lived in the mill, which was then divided. Around 1700, the original owner of the Old Wachenmühle built the New Wachenmühle a few hundred meters down the valley. His son-in-law Johann Pfeuffer built the Pfeuffersmühle in the lower Wachengrund in 1804.
The Wachenbach flows through the Wachengrund, where it powered six mills. The Old Mill (demolished), Petersmühle (demolished), Heinrichsmühle, Old and New Wachenmühle and the Pfeuffersmühle (demolished). Some of these mills have disappeared completely. None of the mills that still exist are still in operation. Only the Alte Wachenmühle has been using hydropower to generate electricity since 2001. The mills that still exist are all located in the municipality of Esselbach.
Source: Wikipedia