Object number
54/723/1
Description
Mill bill for dressing the grinding surface of millstones. From a water mill Writtle, Essex. They would require redressing after 3 days of work.
A mill bill is a tool used for dressing the grinding surface of millstones. This is the metal bit from a mill bill, 8 inches long, and was used used at the water mill in Writtle, Essex. Tools such as this were in constant use, as according to the donor a pair of millstones would require redressing after 3 days of continuous work.
Physical description
3 mill bill bits: metal
Archival history
MERL ‘Associated information’ form – ‘Name of Object: // Age…: // Name and address of present owner: // Description of use to which it was put…:’These appear to have been the smallest size in use at the above water mill but all sizes were clamped into a wooden bat-like tool with a square hole in the end. Various sources indicate that the tempering of these tools was usually done in whale oil. // The donor informed me that with constant use a pair of millstones would require redressing after 3 days work and that it was usually a full-time job for one man.'
Object name
Material
Associated subject
External document
- L:\MERL\Objects\JISC 2012\60 series negatives\60_827.tif - High resolution image
