Historical Introduction

Traditionally, a mill powered by wind, water or animals would have served every community. The study of milling from ancient querns to the steam mills of the Victorian era has fascinated historians for many years. The Roman architect Vitruvius (ca 70 – 25BC) wrote a detailed description of the use of waterpower in ancient Rome. In the early 20th Century the decline of the windmill in this country concerned those interested in preserving traditional British vernacular architecture and led to the formation of the Mills Section (as it is now known) of the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings. From this time many publications on mills and milling appeared, creating a new genre of books, which continues to this day. Early pioneers including people such as Rex Wailes travelled throughout the country recording and photographing mills.

Origins

The Heyday of the Mill

Milling is the art of grinding cereal grain to produce flour for use in baking. The importance of “our daily bread” meant it was essential to have a tool, which could be used every day to convert hard grains into a fine meal or flour. Mills have been in use for over 10,000 years. The deliberate cultivation of wheat and barley for human consumption caused primitive milling tools to be developed.

Mills powered by traditional sources (i.e. wind and water) were in their prime during the post medieval period until the middle of the 19th century. For example as many as 10,000 windmills may have existed in England during their heyday, although only fifty or so are capable of operating today.

Power Sources

Mills and People

The earliest type of mechanical mill is the rotary quern, a tool consisting of two small circular stones, approximately 0.4m in diameter, which would be rubbed together, the grain being ground between them. Operating a quern required lots of muscle power; it was also a very slow means of grinding flour.

The subject of molinology, just like any other, has its notable persona. People featured in our databases include millers, millwrights and the inventors who pioneered various technological developments. The diverse interests and personalities of “mill people”, as well as enriching the subject for the researcher, help to explain the reasons behind the modification, restoration and recording of mill structures.