"THE History and Development of Water Power in the Midlands" was the subject of our meeting given by Tim Booth, who has been researching mills in the area for the past 35 years and is currently chairman of the Midland Wind and Water Mills Group. It was the Romans who, in the years up to 400AD, introduced the water mill into England, using a vertical shaft to transfer power upwards to the millstone.

After the Romans left, very little development took place, although the Saxons built a mill at Tamworth in the 8th century.

Norman Summers of Tanworth-in-Arden commenced making water wheels to new and more efficient designs, using iron gears, and examples of these are to be found at Henley in Arden, Coleshill, Catherine de Barnes, Kings Norton, and at Newhall Mill in Sutton Coldfield, where Tim Booth himself works.

Mills were important not only for milling corn, but also in the textile and steel industries, forging spades and shovels, driving metal cutting equipment, boring gun barrels, polishing, needle making and paper making.

A number of local mills remain open and working to this day, including those at Wellesbourne and Hampton Lucy, and many more are open as museums. A detailed list of these should be available from your local library, or call 01785 253734.

The next meeting will be on January 27 when Simon Topman will talk about "The Birmingham Whistle".