What did a millers do in medieval times?

Answer 1

In England a miller's first obligation was to pay an annual sum to the king, as all mills were owned by the king and given a rentable value.

The miller was able to pay this amount because he charged everyone in the area to grind their cereal crop into flour. All mills were included in the Domesday Book survey of 1086, since they generated considerable revenue for the king's coffers.

The tiny watermill at the village of Whitelackington in Somerset, for example, was valued at 15 shillings or 180 silver pennies per year, a considerable amount at that time.

All mills were originally powered by water, but from the late 12th century onwards windmills began to be introduced to England from France. The mill mechanism was generally on the ground floor, with floors above with hoppers and hoists to feed the grain downwards into the millstones. In a watermill the miller had to ensure an even and constant flow of water, which was regulated by a series of dams and gates; the miller also had to ensure that the waterwheel, millstones and wooden mechanism were always in working order.

Answer 2

Mill