The Mills Archive Trust

Who we are

Our mission: We protect, preserve and promote milling history for people to learn from and enjoy.

Our vision: We are working to create a world in which the role of milling and all its contributors – from ancient times and up to present day – are understood, valued and recognised as integral to people’s histories and lives today.

The Mills Archive is a permanent repository for the historical and contemporary records of mills, milling and renewable power sources. Using the records, the Trust tells stories about human ingenuity and resilience in processing materials, creating products and feeding communities

It has rescued over 2 million documents and images. It is an Aladdin's cave filled with memories and free to users. The collections show the rich and diverse crafts, buildings, machinery, equipment and people involved with mills in the UK and around the world.

The Trust believes in the cultural and educational values of mills and historic power sources and wish to turn that into practical support. The team extends a warm welcome to family, local, national and international historians, as well as to those who want to find out more about the history of milling, the use of renewable energy and how milling feeds the world.