Bread
baking giant,
Hovis, has announced that it will be using 100% British flour instead of
importing Canadian wheat flour, according to a press release.
One only has to hope they cease using the vast percentages of soya flour
with which, in common with all the commercial bread bakeries, they substitute
wheat flour in their recipes. The
resultant soft, floppy item masquerading as white, wholewheat or brown bread is
misleading and an insult to wheat and traditional bread production. The National Farmers’ Union
says “The company's decision to use only home-grown flour across its range
follows a five-year project to establish a group of 600 domestic farmers growing
its preferred red wheat variety, which has historically been produced mostly in
Canada.”
Watermills
have featured significantly on property programmes such as
“Escape to the Country”
over the last six months. An
astonishing one seen on
“To Build or Not to Build”
recently was
Pottens Mill
near Heathfield.
The owner, John Mew, built himself a small castle on the site complete
with a drawbridge over a moat which itself is extended into a large lake
providing a nature reserve . It’s not
clear whether the mill was totally demolished or absorbed into the medieval mix
of house and castle turret. An
orthodontist and former Formula I racing driver, Mr. Mew makes for fascinating
reading in the June 2008 edition of Homebuilding and Renovating Magazine on the
internet. Just search John Mew rather
than Pottens Mill.
Bretherton Windmill in Lancashire was converted to
residential use on another home-build programme.
If
you fancy visiting a Hampshire Mill over the Christmas period beware - not all
are open.
Eling Tide Mill
will be
closed from December 13th until mid January. City Mill
Winchester
will be
open. Hockley Mill
at Twyford
will open
on
New Year’s Day and you will be able to take advantage of a free
King Alfred Bus ride there.
