SWX721 - Medieval and post-medieval millstones from the Old Malthouse, Abbotsbury, Dorset; Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society

Petrological analysis of the millstones recovered during excavations at the 'old malthouse' St. Peter's Abbey, Abbotsbury suggest that they derive from the paris basin in France, Germany and from Wales. The French stones of a siliceous rock were more expensive to import but produced a fine white flour. The Welsh stones of Old Red Sandstone were used for milling animal fodder. A third type of stone was excavated, a basaltic lava from Neidermendig in Germany. These were shipped from Cologne which led to their common name of 'Cullen'. This rock may derive from the post-medieval use of the water mill.