Holme mills history
Holme Mills has been home to the Jordan family since 1855. It is located on the River Ivel on the outskirts of the market town of Biggleswade in Bedfordshire. There has been a mill on the River Ivel here for over 1,000 years - it’s even mentioned in the Domesday Book where it was valued together with its sister mill at 47 shillings as part of the estate of Ralph de Lisle.
The first Mr W. Jordan (the present generation’s great grandfather) rented the mill from a Mr E. Powers in 1855. When it came up for auction in 1893, Mr Jordan jumped at the chance to buy it. At this time there were more than 400 mills in the county and flour milling was a competitive industry. But disaster struck in 1899 when the mill burnt down. However, the mill was re-built later that year with the original millstones being replaced by rollers and was highly acclaimed in ‘The Miller’ magazine of May 4th that year which commended Jordans’ determination to be in the vanguard of change and progress. The better roller system, which still works today, was undoubtedly a genuine improvement, being more efficient and yet allowing all the goodness in the wheat to be retained.
By 1914 the country was at war and there was a demand for mass production. Working “War Women” operated Holme Mills and regularly had to lift 240 lb bags of flour! Social change also conspired to undermine the nutritional value of our food. The elegant drawing rooms of the Edwardians favoured thin white slices with crusts removed. It was thought ‘more hygienic’ to serve white bread and some millers judged quality on how white or ‘pure’ the flour could be made.
As time went on, giant supermarket groups were forming and the emphasis was on volume – quality was bound to suffer and so did the small independent operator. The desire for increased profit margins determined the use of cheaper ingredients and harmful processing in the name of efficiency. There was rarely much thought given to dietary implications and it looked as if Holme Mills could go the same way as Bedfordshire’s other mills. But now the business was run by a determined John Jordan (Bill & David’s father), an ex BOAC pilot. By concentrating on animal feed products and the production of flour for selling under other brand names – he kept the mill in business until the creation of W. Jordan (Cereals) Ltd in 1982 ensured its continued success.