B.C. Archives (A_02940) A Gristmill was built in 1853 on Admirals Road. Kenneth McKenzie had a contract to supply 'Biscuit and Soft Bread' to the Royal Navy from 1856 - 1884.

Diarist and farmhand, Robert Melrose reports on the work of the Flour or Gristmill in its first year of operation.

1853


In 1856 M. Rowland is the Miller. On Sept 27 he ground 7 bushels of wheat and 20 bushels on Feb. 5, 1857.
The flour was made from wheat grown at Craigflower. The Wheat Varieties listed in McKenzie's daybooks are Talavera Wheat, Essex and Chevalier Wheat. These wheats are not grown in Canada today, but were very popular in England and Russia in the mid 19th century. B.C. Archives

Finely ground flour was called 'superfine', 2nd grade was 'fine', 3rd was 'fine middlings' and the coarsest grade was called 'middlings'.

Classroom Activity: Do internet and library research on historic Gristmills. Visit this neat bit of information put on the WWW by Fremont Elementary School:

http://www.ocm.cnyric.org/history/esm/fremont/walcott/gstmil/gstmil.htm

Call or write Agriculture Canada 1-800-667-3355 to obtain information on the most commonly grown wheat variety in Canada today.

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Last updated January 30, 1998
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