Month: July 2018

Theatre of machines

One of the oldest books in our collection, a guide for centuries of millwrights. This fascinating Gem is an enormous...

Gems of the Archive: The Universal Theatre of Machines

Hello, it’s me again. Unbelievably I am now halfway through my internship at the Mills Archive (insert obligatory Bon Jovi...

Measure for measure

‘Safe as a thief in a mill.’ Millers have historically had a terrible reputation. Old sayings such as ‘honest millers...

A lonely fight for survival

“Newport’s cattle market had not seen anything like it before. There, talking business among the weather-beaten faces of Isle of...

She’s a jolly miller

“With flour-dust sprinkled in her greying hair and a beaming smile [she] runs, all alone, the centuries-old watermill of Thunder...

Gems of the Archive: The Mill that Moved

Since starting at the archive five weeks ago, I have gained a real appreciation for the complexity and skill required...

Breathing fire

Transport links are the lifeline of milling. This photograph shows a steam wagon outside Sonning watermill. The wagon is called...

Mill of old age

Some mills have miraculous powers. This postcard was produced by the Belgium publisher Marco Marchovici in the early 20th century....

Advertising and symbolism

Mills have been critical to the development of civilisation and play a central role in our culture. Not surprisingly, artists,...

Mills at war

If an army marches on its stomach it is unsurprising that mills have played a crucial role in all manner...

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