millomania

An eccentric archaeological investigation - Heron Corn MillRef: Introductory study (EA3)

By Harry Palmer (2009)

Acknowledgements

This publication has been made as part of HarryPalmer’s commission for ‘Watching TV By Candlelight’arts and music festival at Heron Corn Mill, April 11th2009.Many Thanks to Heron Corn Mill, Audrey Steeley andDan Gibson, Bob Parkinson, Warren and Heron CornMill-Beetham Trust. Julia Gilbert.Regarding Mr Palmer’s guide tours of the mill:Performers Sandra Hall and Lee Griffiths (aka FrictionArts). Stewards Redhawk Logistica and Skylark.

www.harrypalmer.co.uk

Corn milling possesses a distinctive historical interest over every other manufacturingart known. Without doubt it is the oldest continuously conducted industry of the world.The earliest efforts of primeval man, in the peaceful arts, were directed to pounding,from such grain, nuts and berries as he possessed, a rude kind of meal; while,centuries later, if the irrigation water-driven wheel were one of the first power machinesdevised by human ingenuity, the water corn mill was its immediate successor. Whether by hand or by power, therefore, corn milling may claim to rank among the first fruits of man’s inventive ingenuity.No more essentially critical a revolution occurred when Rome abandoned slave andcattle labour for water power, than when, in recent years, water and wind gave placeto steam and electricity, and stones were abandoned in favour of rollers. And, since inmilling as in other matters, there is no finality, and improvements are still emanatingfrom the engineer with whom the future welfare of the trade mainly rests, the prospectahead is by no means one of apathy or rest: and the miller who shall keep level withthe times will not only be constrained to maintain the most perfect machinery for theproduction of flour, but to rely largely upon commercial knowledge and skill for dealingin the vast markets of the world which influence the present conditions of trade.

ODE TO HERON CORN MILL

Heron Corn Mill - ranking amongst the first fruits of man’s inventive ingenuity