51/835

This mill stone was found in the cobbled court of Downside, Lavinia Smith’s home in East Hendred, and it is said that there were several mill stones scattered about the village. It was probably part of a small hand mill used for grinding small quantities of corn at home. It is made of mill stone grit from the Pennines and has been roughly cut, and the surface is grooved to help distribute the wheat and meal over the grinding surface to reduce the grain and to supply air to keep the grinding surfaces cool.

1 mill stone: millstone grit of the Pennines

MERL 'Catalogue index' card – 'This mill stone was removed from the cobbled court of Downside (Berks) and it was reported that there were several mill stones of this size scattered about East Hendred. It must have been part of a small hand-mill used for grinding small quantities of corn in the home. // The stone is mill-stone grit of the Pennines, very roughly cut on one side, pecked according to one of the usual patterns on the other side, but very much worn down. It is ‘cracked’ into 8 quarters or HARPS, that is, it has 8 main grooves which run at angles from the centre to the circumference. These quarters are further cracked into 14 secondary furrows. The surface between the grooves is called the LAND. The function of the furrows is to distribute the wheat and meal over the grinding surface, to reduce the grain to some extent, and to supply air to keep the grinding surfaces cool. There is an eye left in the middle of the stone into which the wheat is fed. This type of stone needs frequent re-dressing as it is not as durable as, for instance, French burr stone. // The stone measures approximately 22 inches in diameter, and has been at least 2 inches thick at one time. // See also 52/162.', Lavinia Smith Catalogue (D60/28) - 'A list of the contents of the East Hendred museum. July 5 1940 // 356. Small millstone removed from the cobbled court at Downside. Some one [sic] said he thought these small stones, found here and there in village [sic], were those formerly used for grinding corn at home.', Heritage of the Hendreds Exhibition 1969 - 'Catalogue of Exhibits // Number 48 // Millstone // Lent by Museum of English Rural Life'

Rippon, Miss Dorothy May Lyddon (Agent)