| During my research at the Mills Archive, I often encounter records of successful country mills from the early 20th century. As a working water miller for over 30 years, I have always found these accounts fascinating. The stories in this article come from The Miller journal and are standout examples of rural milling success. They feature two contrasting yet equally innovative sites: the water-powered Knapp Roller Mills near Christchurch and the wind/steam-powered Newington Mill in Ramsgate. |
| Knapp Roller Mills |
| Featured in The Miller, March 1904 |
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| Nestled in the tranquil countryside near Christchurch on the River Avon—under the shadow of the town’s historic Priory—stood Knapp Roller Mills. Owned by Messrs Barnes and Maidment, The Miller’s journalist was taken around the mill by Mr Troke, a representative of mill engineers J.J. Armfield & Co.The mill exemplified innovation following adversity. In 1898, a devastating fire gutted the original structure; rebuilding commenced immediately, and the new design featured a 1½ sack roller plant by Armfield. It included: Three double sets of 24″ x 7″ rolls Three breaks and three reductions Machinery arranged over just two floors—an Armfield hallmark |
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| The Knapp millers, G H Barnes and J Maidment. |
| An unusual feature was the use of two undershot waterwheels, each 14ft in diameter and 5ft wide, placed at either end of the main line shaft. This setup balanced the mechanical load and added resilience to operations. Each wheel could also run independently—a valuable feature when powering the auxiliary provender plant. |
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| Elevation showing internal arrangement. |
| The mill’s layout included a double scalper, purifiers, three centrifugals, a chop reel, and a bran duster. Unlike most mills, Knapp didn’t rely on producing multiple runs of flour from the same mixture of wheat, but studied the individual requirements of its customers and produced practically straight run flour, meeting all the requirements of their competitors. |
| Newington Mill, Ramsgate, Kent |
| Featured in The Miller, June 1903 |
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| Half a mile north of St Lawrence Church in Ramsgate stood Newington Mill—a traditional windmill transformed into a modern roller mill by Peter Mack, a young and ambitious miller.With limited space across its three octagonal floors (the largest just 18ft 6in across), the transformation was considered a marvel. J.J. Armfield & Co. installed what was described as a “veritable waistcoat pocket installation.” |
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| Powered by a 12hp steam engine (with optional wind power from its original 70ft sails), the system included: Three double sets of 12″ x 6″ rolls Provision for upgrade to 18″ rolls A double scalper, three centrifugals, a purifier, and a bran duster Magnets on the first break to remove metal contaminants A clean, regular delivery of middlings—praised for their brightness and quality Flour and offals were collected in the basement and hoisted directly into wagons for dispatch—maximising space and efficiency. |
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| Internal arrangement of machinery in the mill. |
| Despite the roller upgrade, the mill retained its traditional stones. Two pairs of 4ft 6in stones (one set Derbyshire Peak, the other French Burr) were used for grinding barley and farmers’ corn. Later one set was removed to provide room for a crusher and kibbling machine. In a 1931 letter to William Coles Finch, Mack reflected: We make our own gas (from anthracite coal) to drive the gas engine, which powers the stones, crusher, and flour plant. We also bake our own bread, sold at two shops. Our trade includes corn, fodder, flour, and bread. He noted the mill’s sails hadn’t turned since 1904 and would require considerable repair. The site also included a bakery, completing a self-contained cycle of production from grain to loaf. Although Mack believed the mill had been relocated from a former railway site, sources suggest it was purpose-built by John Holman for the Mascall family. The decline of the sails was later confirmed in a 1937 sketch by Karl Wood, held at the Mills Archive. |
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| Newington Mill Sketch by Karl Wood 1937 – WOOD-M998 |
| Innovation in the Countryside |
| The stories of Knapp and Newington Mills highlight the adaptability and ingenuity of millers in an era of transition. Both adopted modern roller systems, while preserving key traditional methods and embracing a bespoke, customer-focused ethos.Whether driven by water or wind, steam or gas, these country mills showcase the enduring spirit of British milling heritage—efficient, enterprising, and rooted in their local communities. |
| Further reading |
| The Miller archive (available at the Mills Archive Trust)Karl Wood windmill sketches https://catalogue.millsarchive.org/karl-wood-windmill-sketches Coles Finch, Watermills and Windmills (1933) |
| This article was originally published in Milling and Grain, the current title of Milling (founded 1891) the best and last-standing of the Victorian milling journals. To read this month’s issue visit https://mymag.info/EN_latest |
