The milling industry has weathered many storms and has a long history embedded in civilisation and our daily lives, dealing with food security and food safety issues.
Our library and archive holdings reflect milling in its many aspects. We aim to bridge the gap between traditional mills and millers long past, and the modern industry and its contributors today.
The history of how the UK and Irish flour milling industry handled the transition from a rural agricultural economy through import threats and two world wars, followed by the challenges of the European Union and then Brexit, is a fascinating story of endeavour and ingenuity.
We are not only custodians of so much of that history, but we also pay tribute to the many unsung heroes who have managed our flour supply. Recent events such as covid and the second invasion of Ukraine have underlined the modern industry’s vital role in our food security. We are committed to shining a light on their contributions for the public to see and appreciate the value of the work that all those associated with milling have contributed historically and today, often in difficult circumstances. Their stories need to be captured now, before they are lost. They also need to be provided in a variety of engaging and accessible ways both for those in the industry now and the future, as well as milling heritage enthusiasts, young people and the general public.
Equally notable are the technological developments witnessed in milling. Nowadays, modern mills have incorporated blockchain and a digital approach to how they track, deliver and manage their work.
Receipt of the nationally – and internationally – significant archive of the Millers’ Mutual Association and those it worked with, including the UK Flour Millers, was a very important milestone for the Trust, coinciding with our 20th anniversary in 2022. We are now responsible for the permanent care of this collection, a vital part of the nation’s history, and we will ensure that it remains publicly accessible.
Click any of the four images above to find out more, or view the milling history diagrams below:
History of UK milling firms
Follow the links below to view graphs illustrating the history of the major UK milling firms. You can view details on individual mills and firms, and then follow the references to the catalogue to view archival items.
