| This newsletter is taken from our online exhibition, Grains of Inspiration: The Mill as Muse, created by intern Nyah Addicott. |
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| Medieval manuscripts from the 13th and 14th centuries provide vivid and revealing portrayals of the milling world. Illustrated with remarkable detail and often embedded within moral or religious texts, manuscripts such as Books of Hours, the Smithfield Decretals, and other illuminated works reflect not only the technical aspects of milling but also its cultural and symbolic significance. This newsletter presents a selection of these manuscript extracts, offering a closer look at how mills, and the people connected to them, were depicted in the medieval imagination. |
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| Source: Luttrell Psalter. England (East Anglia), c. 1325–1335. British Library, Add MS 42130. |
| The Sinful Hermit |
| These images are from a medieval illuminated manuscript, specifically the Taymouth Hours following the Use of Sarum – a popular Latin rite in England in the Middle Ages. The images show decorated marginalia, which are illustrations in the borders that often told moral tales, included humour, or illustrated religious lessons. These particular marginalia are often unrelated to the main religious text and can be quite whimsical or satirical. These particular marginalia illustrate the story of ‘The Sinful Hermit’. The story is as follows: |
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| A devil once tempted a hermit to seduce the miller’s wife, whispering promises of pleasure and sin. |
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| Succumbing to temptation, the hermit gave in, and he and the miller’s wife lay together in secret. |
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| When the miller discovered the betrayal, he stormed after them in rage, wielding a heavy mallet. |
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| In the struggle that followed, the hermit seized the weapon and struck down the miller, killing him with his own tool. |
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| Overcome by guilt and horror at what he had done, the hermit descended into madness, tormented by the weight of his sins. |
| Source: A Book of Hours (Taymouth Hours). Use of Sarum. England, 14th century. British Library, Yates Thompson MS 13. |
| The Talbot Shrewsbury Book |
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| The Talbot Shewsbury Book was a manuscript created in Rouen, Normandy around 1444-45. This volume was produced for John Talbot, Earl of Shrewsbury, and gifted to Margaret of Anjou upon her betrothal to King Henry VI. It compiles fifteen French texts including poems, romances, and treaties on warfare and chivalry. The extract above embodies the Battle of Heroes and Lovers aesthetic, typical of mid-15th century Rouen workshops, rich in detail and symbolism. This illumination helps set the scene for the epic narrative that follows, merging literary content with high artistry. The bottom right of the illustration depicts a watermill, referred to as the “Mills of Babylon,” offering a rare glimpse of medieval milling machinery in action. With its clearly depicted waterwheel and architectural structure, the scene provides valuable insight into how such mills functioned within both the practical and symbolic landscapes of the Middle Ages. While serving a decorative purpose within the manuscript, the image also reflects a broader interest in engineering and everyday life, making it one of the few visual records of milling machinery from the period. Source: Poems and Romances (the ‘Talbot Shrewsbury Book). France, 1444-1445. British Library, Royal 15 E. VI |
| The Rochester Bestiary |
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| The Rochester Bestiary is an English manuscript produced around 1230 to 1240, likely in Salisbury. It is part of the bestiary tradition, a genre that blends natural history, Christian symbolism, and moral instruction. The manuscript contains vivid descriptions of real and mythical animals, each accompanied by allegorical interpretations meant to convey moral or theological lessons. Animals like lions, elephants, donkeys, and even fantastical creatures such as unicorn and griffins are depicted with colourful miniatures and paired with Latin text that explains their supposed behaviours and spiritual meanings. This illustration depicts a man coaxing a donkey with a stick and whistle, guiding it toward a waterwheel. It is a rare vignette showcasing the use of watermills during the medieval era for grinding grains. The donkey is likely being used to transport the grain to the mill. Source: Bestiary. England, 1230-1240. British Library, Harley 4751, f.25 You can view the rest of Nyah’s exhibition here: |
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