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Dressed millstone grit millstone - Stainsby Mill 19th / early 20th century.	19th century millstone & delph - Wildmoorstones (Burbage)	Domed millstone, Froggat Edge	Chert composite ("French") millstone, Cauldwells Mill	Heage mill

A millers view of millstones: Whitemill

20th Century	"Peaks" have been used locally to grind animal feed and elsewhere for industrial uses such as grinding pigments, cork  and glass (prior to recycling). Grit stones were exported routinely to wood pulp mills prior to 1914 , but the business reduced through the first half of the 20th century, with major interruptions for the two world wars. The last wood pulp stones were exported to Norway in the 1960's from Stoke Quarry at Grindleford.  The limited use of gritstone for grinding metal (most natural grindstones were made from finer sandstones) ceased, because of legislation to reduce dangerous dusts in the period before WW1.
late 19th Century	Demand for flour milling declined rapidly. Steel or chilled iron (very hard, light coloured) rollers, driven by steam engines, transformed productivity in the milling industry following their introduction in the 1880's - not only could they process feedstock  faster, they were easier to control, left no residue in the flour and were more suited to the hard grains imported from North America.  Mills using millstones could not compete except when they were subsidised by great estates or found some niche market. On the other hand, industrial demand increased steadily. Many stones were exported to Canada and Scandinavia for use in pulping wood for paper making; a major operation existed in Darley Dale.  Gritstones were also used for heavy metal grinding operations, such as the backs of 2 man saws, and for pulverising  materials, such as tree bark for tanning, cork for lino or cocoa beans for chocolate.
Mid 19th Century	Demand rose as industries such as glass and paint manufacture used Peaks to grind hard materials.   Animal feed was often ground in local wind & water  mills using Peaks. Hard grain imported from North America  was found to be difficult to mill using millstones driven by water or wind.
Early 19th Century	The general economic depression which followed the end of the Napoleonic wars, along with the resumption of imports of flour and stones from Europe led to a collapse in the grit millstone trade.  Millstones were also used before and after this period as edge runners for purposes as varied as crushing lead ore prior to smelting and  extracting the juice from cider apples.  A local variant produced on the west side of the Peak District were   "Mow Cop" stones: gritstone composites made with sections quarried at Mow Cop and used in nearby mills.  Click here to see images
18th Century	A fashion for white bread reduced demand milled by gritstone stones.  Composite stones, using pieces of chert embedded in a hard cement, were preferred because, in spite of  being much more costly, they produced a whiter flour and were slower to wear.   Composite stones were known as "French" stones because the original (and best) composites were assembled using blocks of chert quarried near Paris.  They were assembled in Derby and London, but no doubt their makers were happy to let foreigners take the blame for the reduced demand for traditional millstones.
Pre 18th Century	Peak stones were traded nationally, and had few competitors.  They were typically hauled to Bawtry by sled and wagon, then transferred to barges or ships on the River Idle.  They were often landed and re-shipped at Hull.  A key destination was Kings Lynn, where the Corporation acted as a broker or wholesaler, especially at the time of the February "mart" (fair).

Peak District FAQ's (Frequently Asked Questions)

Abandoned pulp stones below Surprise View - probably 20th century. A casual count found 154.  NB These are not millstones, in spite  of the claims of dozens of books!	Edge runner used to crush lead ore at the Odin Mine, Castleton - mid 19th century	Beveled millstone (unique design!), Stainsby Mill, nr Hardwick Hall. Operated until the early 20th century.