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This mill was used for grinding corn by hand in the 18th century at Fyfield Hall, Ongar, in Essex. Historically, it is of a type which comes between the quern and the power driven mill, and was often found on farms, in monasteries and in places where corn could be ground for small groups of people.

1 mill

MERL 'Catalogue index' card – ‘… // DATE ACQUIRED: // GROUP: // NEGATIVE: // PERIOD: // PLACE OF ORIGIN: // NUMBER: // DESCRIPTION: …‘ This is of a type which comes between the quern and the power driven mill, and was often found on farms, monasteries and places where corn could be ground for small groups. It is very similar to a mill made by a Mr Lloyd for which he was awarded a society of arts premium in 1761, except that his was equipped with an overhead fly wheel. It is supported by a strong oak frame. The upper stone is mounted on a spindle which pierces the bed-stone and which is turned by hand through a bevel gearing. This gearing consists of a vertical cog wheel working in an open basket pinion, which is mounted on the spindle. This gearing is also known as lantern gearing. The workmanship in both the stones and the gearing is very fine. In this specimen the hopper, through which the corn was poured, the casing round the stones, the flour delivery spout and the crank are missing. //, MERL miscellaneous note - 'The Mill, from which unfortunately the hopper, the casing round the stones, and the flour delivery spout were then missing, came to the Science Museum from Fyfield Hall, Ongar, Essex. There is evidence that it was there in the 1840's and it can be inferred that it had been there then for two generations. It seems likely therefore that the mill was made between about 1770 and 1790...' //

1770 - 1790