What is a medieval millrace?

Answer 1

A Medieval mill is where the grain flour was made from corn or wheat. It was hydroelectrically powered and produced the grain for the lord of the manor who would then decide to sell it with a high tax or to keep it in storage for his estate.

Answer 2

A mill race, otherwise known as a leat, is a means of regulating the amount and speed of the water hitting the mill wheel. This was important because too much water arriving with too much force would either damage the wheel or the millstones inside the mill. There was also a danger of storms bringing debris from trees into the wheel, which would be equally damaging.

The leat or race was normally a channel specially constructed off a river or large stream, often with dams, sluice gates, ponds and weirs to regulate the flow of water and prevent debris getting into the wheel.