Millers were very important to the medieval culture.  They ground the grain that was brought to them by the citizens of the town (below).  They would grind the grain into flour to make bread.  One person that utilized the miller was the baker.  Many other people had “personal” ovens, so they came with their own grain.  Millers also made their own bread, so they were paid either one twelfth or one sixteenth of the grain that they ground, depending on the quality of the grain (above).  In some reported cases, the millers were known for stealing their pay before they were paid so they got double the amount of grain.   

Their day started early, and they had all sorts of equipment to set up to grind the grain.  The grinding  stone, water wheel, and various gears, teeth and axles were very high-maintenance.  Some of this equipment was required to be cleaned once a week because in the process of grinding the grain,  it would get stuck in the nooks and grooves would get sticky, and in the summer when it was hot and humid, they sometimes had to be cleaned everyday.  Mills were usually located on feudal estates and were rented to the miller for the year.  The rent was usually paid in grain that the miller had earned though out the year.  In conclusion, millers were a vital part of society and were key in making one of the staple foods of the medieval times.

Comments are requested, and quite welcome: Allyson Terry's email or Kacey Marton's email

  Page last updated: 04/11/2003 03:42