Description:Between November 1946 and December 1947 Mr T.J. Bayliss (a student at the nearby teacher training college, Nelson Hall), conducted an environmental study on Standon Mill as part of his course. In June 1968 he was kind enough to donate this project to the mill. The old photographs he used for the project were taken by Dr. Godfrey Malkin during the 30’s and 40’s. The Malkin family owned the mill at this time.
The following text features extracts from the project.
The equipment is made up of a roller mill, an American hammer-mill, an oat and barley roller and a “Eurika” Horizontal Oat Clipper. The power for all this machinery is provided by the Baker & Scholes 65 h.p. diesel engine.
The Work of the Mill:
The main work of the mill at this time is to produce cattle foods. The busy season is between September and May. The actual operation of the mill keeps three men fully employed throughout the year, as well as two lorries with their drivers. Each day an average of 30 tons of produce passes in and out of the mill.
The following imported fodders are handled by Standon Mill, where they are mixed according to weekly instructions issued by the Ministry of Food: Ground Nuts, Maize, Palm Kernel Cake, Locust Beans, Linseed Cake, Fish Meal, Sunflower Seed Cake. The above are mixed by a special mixer with a worm screw which can accommodate 35 cwt. of cattle food at one mixing. A special calf food made up of powdered milk and additions of vitamins, is also held in stock by the mill.
Under the aegis of the Ministry of Food the miller collects wheat and other grains from farmers in the district and these are transported to large flour mills in Liverpool and Birkenhead; where they are mixed with Canadian and other wheat to produce standard flour. On their return journeys the vehicles bring from the ports imported animal foodstuffs. These cattle foods are ground and mixed at Standon Mill.
The business of the mill is conducted by the energetic Managing Director, Mr Ben Morris, who gives his attention to customers within a circle of 50 miles radius of Standon. There are customers outside this area, a notable exception being a gentleman at Aberystwyth.