Milling
According to UNESCO's intangible heritage/crafts and skills designation, from a proposal by Dutch millers,
The craft of the miller operating windmills and watermills involves the knowledge and skills necessary to operate a mill and maintain it in a good state of repair. Millers now also play a key role in transmitting the related cultural history. Mills, and therefore the miller’s craft, play a significant social and cultural role in Dutch society. Various safeguarding measures are undertaken, and the Guild of Volunteer Millers, established in 1972, offers training and ongoing support to anyone interested in the craft.
In the UK, SPAB Mills Section and The Traditional Corn Millers Guild recognise that the craft of the miller in traditional horizontal stone mills is endangered, while the craft of millwrighting is considered to be critically endangered. At High Salvington Windmill we recognise that preservation of the windmill alone is not sufficient, we also need to preserve the skills of millwrighting and milling in relation to a traditional post mill. This page collects information to support our cadre of trainee volunteer millers.
Milling Skills
- Bob Potts - Miller Training 2014
- Practical Flour Milling - Fosters Mill, Swaffham Prior, 13 October 2023
Wheat Types
In 2021 we were donated organic wheat grown on a farm in Petworth by Barry Flanaghan who cleaned it using equipment he had developed for use at Burton Mill. The variety was RGT Illustrious and Barry donated approximately 55Kg.
In July 2023 we bought four 25Kg bags of organic wheat from the Weald and Downland Living Museum, originally acquired by Lurgashall Mill from Trinity in Southampton. Our contact at Lurgashall was Steve Scott.