The Traditional Corn Millers Guild was founded in March 1987 at the instigation of James Waterfield, then of Bardwell Mill, but later at Maud Foster Windmill, Boston, Lincs, and Martin Watts, who was the Miller at Crowdy mill in Devon. They felt that millers needed a body where things of mutual interest could be discussed and which would promote the craft of traditional milling.

The initial meeting was on a snowy day at the picturesque Mapledurham Mill on the River Thames. Soon the membership had risen to 24 mills, spread geographically from Devon to the north of Scotland and a couple in Ireland and in size from the little mill of St Dogmaels to Blacklands Mill in Wiltshire that at the time worked around the clock producing stone-ground flour on sub-contract for Spillers. Soon afterwards, Desna Greenhow of Otterton Mill compiled a recipe book that was published by the Guild, and we sold attractive jute bags to our member mills for sale to their visitors.

Members of the Guild continue to meet twice a year, and to correspond in between times and to deal with matters of common interest, such as the availability of grain; and has recently interacted with government agencies on various topics, and has been exploring ways of training millers.

OBJECTIVES as outlined in our Constitution

The objectives of the Guild are to:-

• Provide for mutual support within the membership
• Uphold the skills and crafts associated with traditional milling
• Create a forum for debate on matters of mutual interest
• Improve awareness of, and promote, traditionally milled products
• Be a representative body to influence and lobby regulators and legislators
• Encourage greater understanding of natural power
• Support the training of potential traditional millers

MEMBERSHIP

To become a Full Member of the Guild the Mill must:-

• Use wind or water as a significant source of power
• Use millstones running horizontally
• Be in regular use milling cereals, and not merely to demonstrate how the mill works
• Be able to demonstrate through Inspection that the milling enterprise meets the Guild’s agreed standards for membership
• Have policies and procedures in place to ensure the safe operation of the mill and demonstrate the mill meets all relevant food safety regulations; such policies to include a current HACCP plan and a comprehensive Health and Safety Policy.

For Mills that which have not yet passed the criteria above but are working towards it we offer an Associate Membership. Associate members do not have voting rights and so will pay a reduced annual subscription but they will have access to the support of the guild including the members section on the website.

If anyone is interested in becoming a Full or Associate member please email our Secretary Lesley Jones at tradmillers@gmail.com