Newsletter - August 2002

First White Flour For Fifty Years

The mill enthusiasts are delighted with the latest addition to the machinery - a flour dresser.

Although the mill has been grinding wheat for the last six years, it has only been able to produce wholemeal flour; flour that contains all the parts of the wheat grain.

Before the 1987 fire, the mill had a bolter - a machine for sieving flour. This was destroyed in the fire.

Fund-raising over the last year has allowed us to commission a replacement machine from Mr.Neil Medcalf, a millwright from Lincolnshire.

Neil has built a replica of a machine dating from the late nineteenth century. Largely built from reclaimed pitch-pine, it is a good example of millwrighting skills and techniques.

The machine contains a long cylindrical drum, covered in varying grades of stainless steel mesh, and a pair of brushes that force particles of flour through the mesh.

The products of sieving wholemeal flour are: white flour, brown flour, semolina flour, and bran.

Flour Production Increase

As a result of the new flour products now available, demand for Redbournbury Mill flour has increased dramatically. Last year, the mill ground approximately four tonnes of wheat to make wholemeal flour. This year, to the end of August, we have already put nearly ten tonnes through the millstones, and this is still steadily rising. Much of our flour is sieved through the bolter, the large proportion of the white flour produced going to Kingsbury Mill Waffle House. All of Kingsbury's waffles are now made using our flour.

Volunteers Improve Displays

The mill has always been very fortunate with the help offered by numerous people to do work in the mill. Much of the restoration over the last fifteen years would have been impossible without this help.

Recently, two of the mill's volunteers, Dr.P.Smith and Mr.D.Ridgeway, have set about improving the layout of displays and exhibits throughout the mill.

Many people and organisations have donated items to the mill over several years and these had become somewhat disorganised.

Peter & Dennis have concentrated their efforts on the ground and second floors and have already made huge improvements. Work has now begun on the top floor and they aim to have it complete for Heritage Weekend.

Mill History

As part of the work on improving the experience of visitors to the mill, and making information more accessible, the mill team have put together a new display on the second floor of the mill, dedicated to its history.

Whilst there has always been a wealth of historical information around the mill, it has been spread about and could be difficult to follow. Peter Smith has spent some time researching the history of the mill and this has been combined with the chronology of mill development to create a time-line. Spanning the last 12 000 years, there is something for everybody to learn as you look back into the past.

In addition, a new display has been put together about the Hawkins family - the family that ran the mill for well over one hundred years in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.

Mill Flour Available at Selfridges

The mill has been awarded a contract with Selfridges of London to supply them with our range of flours for a promotion of regional foods.

As a member of "Tastes of Anglia", the mill was one of a handful of high quality local food producers to be selected to represent the region at Selfridges' Oxford Street store.

The initial six week promotion is designed to encourage Selfridges' customers to enjoy foods from around the country.

Mandy spent a day at the London store demonstrating recipes and talking about our flours, and received a very positive response from customers.

Dust Extractor re-installed

One of the last jobs that needed to be done at the mill after the fire was to replace the dust extraction system that used to be fitted to the millstone tuns. Before the 1987 fire, this consisted of some wooden ducting connected to a simple fan driven from the lay-shaft.

The fan drew dust from the tuns and blew it into a room where it settled and could be collected as animal feed. The fan was needed for several reasons. Firstly, the flow of air cooled the millstones. Secondly, flour dust is potentially explosive, and removing it from the tuns reduced the risk of fire. Lastly, the warm flour causes a damp atmosphere within the tuns which can then condense to cause a sticky and unhygienic mess.

We originally did not intend replacing the dust extraction system; but with the rapidly increasing throughput of the millstones, it became essential.

We were fortunate to be offered help by Helios Fans, who subsidised the considerable cost of a modern fan and ducting. The completed system has significantly increased our ability to mill for extended periods.

Unusual Mill Visitor

The mill has had an unusual guest for the last couple of weeks - a red breasted goose. He arrived one morning and has stayed ever since, seeming quite happy to join the mill's domestic geese and ducks.

Red breasted geese are a threatened species and are not normally seen in Britain; their usual home being Bulgaria, Siberia and within the Arctic circle. It is likely that this particular bird has escaped from a wildlife park. He has certainly caught the eye of several local birdwatchers.

Staying with our feathered friends, the kingfishers are particularly busy at the moment, as are the swallows who have managed three broods this year in the front barns.

We were also delighted to find a pair of spotted fly-catchers nesting in the wisteria on the front of the millhouse.

Opening times:

The mill will continue to be open every Sunday afternoon, 2.30-5pm until 29th September.

14th & 15th September the mill will be open for Heritage Weekend (Free Admission).

The annual Food Festival will be held on 26th & 27th October when several local food producers will be selling items at the mill.

Remember that the mill is available for private visits of interested individuals for a guided tour and refreshments. Minimum 15, maximum 48 people. Phone for details.

Next year's dates will be published soon. They will be largely the same as this year, but with an additional summer open weekend

Help Needed!

Despite the many people who help at the mill, we often need additional help on open days. If you would like to help with milling, running the engine, working in the shop, car-parking, farmers markets', catering, or just talking to visitors, please contact us.