Millstones Stanage Edge

These abandoned Millstones lie beneath Stanage Edge in the Derbyshire Dark Peak District.

Millstone production, along with lead mining was one of the main medieval industries of the Peak District and the two main centres of production were above Hathersage and Baslow. Production is believed to have started as early as the 14th century, reaching its peak in the late 16th and 17th centuries. It was a huge industry.

Traditionally the stones were quarried by individual stone masons, each making about 16 pairs per year up on the hillside near to where the stone was quarried. They would then be transported down the hill and taken away by road or river. Peak District Millstones found their way all over the UK.

It is thought that the market for Peak District millstones disappeared very suddenly mid-18th century when white bread became fashionable. The gritstone of which they were made turned flour a grey colour, whereas it was found that French millstones were capable of producing white flour.

Dozens of millstones in production in the Peak District couldn’t be sold and still lie today exactly where they were produced – up on the hills below the gritstone edges. Unlucky for the masons' who's livelihood depended upon the market for the stones but a wonderful bequest for the modern photographer to be able to capture the brooding intensity of the abandoned stones.

The Millstone is now the symbol of the Peak District National Park. Enter the park on a main road and that chances are that you will see a great millstone standing on a stone mount indicating that you are now entering the Peak District.