Mills in the Medieval Economy: England 1300-1540 (Great Britain & Ireland)

The late medieval English milling industry epitomizes one of the most important technical achievements of early societies: the exploitation of wind, water and muscle power for augmenting human endeavours. Through a computerized analysis of the number and variety of mills in England from 1300 to 1540, as well as the technology, practices and personnel sustaining them, Langdon reveals the structural evolution of the milling industry, highlighting both its accomplishments and its limitations. Although it focuses on England during the later middle ages, the book's innovative methodologies and original findings will furnish useful comparative material for all scholars investigating pre-industrial societies. It also offers a challenging new perspective on the later middle ages as a time of change, in addition to providing enthusiasts of old technologies generally with a wealth of detail about one of the most recognizable and enduring features of medieval society. Contents......Page 8 List of Plates......Page 12 List of Figures......Page 13 List of Maps......Page 14 List of Tables......Page 15 List of Abbreviations......Page 17 Preface......Page 18 Introduction......Page 22 1. The Milling Industry about 1300......Page 29 1.1. The Number of Watermills and Windmills about 1300......Page 30 1.2. The Nature and Structure of the Milling Industry about 1300......Page 36 2. Mill Numbers and Revenues 1300–1540......Page 42 2.1.1. Total Mills......Page 47 2.1.2. Regional Variation......Page 52 2.1.3. Types of Mill: By Power Source......Page 55 2.1.4.Types of Mill: By the Nature of Work Performed......Page 61 2.1.5. Ecclesiastical versus Lay Estates......Page 68 2.1.6. Rural versus Urban......Page 69 2.1.7. Tenant Mills......Page 76 2.2. Mill Revenues 1300–1540......Page 77 2.3. Conclusion: The Durability of Milling......Page 84 3. The Technology of the Late Medieval English Milling Industry......Page 86 3.1.1. Horizontal versus Vertical Watermills......Page 91 3.1.2. Water Control Systems......Page 95 3.1.3. The Construction and Repair of Weirs, Water-Channels, and Millponds......Page 101 3.1.4. Waterwheels, Wheel Pits, and Tail Races......Page 105 3.1.5. Internal Mill Workings......Page 113 3.1.6. Fulling and Other Industrial Mills......Page 119 3.1.7. Mill-Houses......Page 124 3.2.1. Post-Mills......Page 129 3.2.2. Tower Mills......Page 133 3.2.3. Post-Mill Foundations......Page 137 3.2.4. The Inner Workings and Housing of Post-Mills......Page 139 3.3. Horse-Mills and Hand-Mills......Page 146 3.4. Conclusion: Technical Creativity and Technological Systems......Page 150 4.1.1. The Capacity of Mills......Page 157 4.1.2. What Mills Were Grinding......Page 168 4.1.3. The Efficiency of Grain-Milling......Page 173 4.1.4. Other Services Provided by Millers......Page 176 4.1.5. Mills for Other Purposes......Page 178 4.2. Milling Supplies......Page 179 4.2.1. Timber......Page 180 4.2.2. Other Materials......Page 182 4.2.3. Millstones......Page 183 4.3. Conclusion: The Reliability of Supply......Page 195 5. Entrepreneurs......Page 197 5.1. The Demesne Sector: Investment in Milling by Lords......Page 199 5.2. The Demesne Sector: Mill Lessees......Page 206 5.2.1. Length of Leases......Page 208 5.2.2. Maintenance Costs Agreements......Page 214 5.2.3. Pledges and Securities......Page 219 5.2.4. Who Were the Lessees?......Page 222 5.2.5. Mill Lessee Families......Page 227 5.2.6. Cooperative Leasing......Page 230 5.2.7. Sub-leasing......Page 236 5.2.8. The Typicality of Mill Leasing......Page 238 5.3. The Tenant Sector......Page 239 5.4.1. Borough Sector......Page 248 5.4.2. Domestic Sector......Page 251 5.5. Conclusion: Capital Fragmentation and Reformulation......Page 252 6. Workers and Customers......Page 257 6.1. Workers......Page 258 6.1.1. Operators......Page 259 6.1.2. Maintenance Workers......Page 269 6.1.3. Millwrights and Master Carpenters......Page 273 6.2. Customers......Page 278 6.2.1. Legal Commentary and Legislation on Suit of Mill and Other Milling Issues......Page 280 6.2.2. Case-Law in Medieval Milling: The Curia Regis Rolls......Page 283 6.2.3. Case-Law in Medieval Milling: The Year Books......Page 290 6.2.4. The Practical Effect of Suit of Mill upon Communities......Page 294 6.2.5. The Practical Effect of Suit of Mill upon Tenants......Page 296 6.2.6. Multure Rates: The Cost to the Customer......Page 300 6.2.7. The Reaction of the Customer......Page 304 6.3. Conclusion: The Social Interactions of Milling......Page 312 Conclusion: The Later Middle Ages as an Era of Change......Page 317 1. Mill Computer Program......Page 327 2. Manors Sampled for the Mill Computer Program......Page 332 3. Mills and Their Revenues on a Medieval Manor: Birdbrook, Essex, 1292–1516......Page 344 4. Construction of a New Windmill at Burstwick, Yorkshire......Page 347 5. Survey of the Lawling, Essex, Windmill......Page 349 6. Construction of a New Horse-Mill at Ivinghoe, Oxfordshire, 1408–1409......Page 350 7. Multure Rates......Page 351 Bibliography......Page 356 B......Page 374 C......Page 375 D......Page 376 F......Page 377 G......Page 378 H......Page 379 L......Page 380 M......Page 381 P......Page 384 R......Page 385 S......Page 386 T......Page 387 W......Page 388 Z......Page 390 The Late Medieval English Milling Industry Epitomizes One Of The Most Important Technical Achievements Of Early Societies: The Exploitation Of Wind, Water, And Muscle Power For Augmenting Human Endeavours. Through A Computerized Analysis Of The Number And Variety Of Mills In England From 1300 To 1540, As Well As The Technology, Practices, And Personnel Sustaining Them, Langdon Reveals The Structural Evolution Of The Milling Industry, Highlighting Both Its Accomplishments And Its Limitations. Although It Focuses On England During The Later Middle Ages, The Book's Innovative Methodologies And Original Findings Will Furnish Useful Comparative Material For All Scholars Investigating Pre-industrial Societies. It Also Offers A Challenging New Perspective On The Late Middle Ages As A Time Of Change, In Addition To Providing Enthusiasts Of Old Technologies Generally With A Wealth Of Detail About One Of The Most Recognizable And Enduring Features Of Medieval Society.--jacket. 1. The Milling Industry About 1300 -- 2. Mill Numbers And Revenues 1300-1540 -- 3. The Technology Of The Late Medieval English Milling Industry -- 4. The Operation Of Milling -- 5. Entrepreneurs -- 6. Workers And Customers -- Conclusion : The Later Middle Ages As An Era Of Change -- App. 1. Mill Computer Program -- App. 2. Manors Sampled For The Mill Computer Program -- App. 3. Mills And Their Revenues On A Medieval Manor : Birdbrook, Essex, 1292-1516 -- App. 4. Construction Of A New Windmill At Burstwick, Yorkshire -- App. 5. Survey Of The Lawling, Essex, Windmill -- App. 6. Construction Of A New Horse-mill At Ivinghoe, Oxfordshire, 1408-1409 -- App. 7. Multure Rates. John Langdon. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [335]-351) And Index. This book examines the evolution of mills - whether powered by water, wind, animals or humans - during an important era of English history. It focuses not only on the structures themselves, but also on the people who acted as entrepreneurs, workers, and customers for the industry. Together they created one of the most recognizable and enduring features of medieval society. - ;The late medieval English milling industry epitomizes one of the most important technical achievements of early societies: the exploitation of wind, water and muscle power for augmenting human endeavours. Through a comput