OVER 150 YEARS OF HISTORY -
THE JORDANS FAMILY HISTORY STARTS HERE >>>
At Holme with the Jordans
This is the fascinating story about the people and the events behind the last working flour mill in Bedfordshire; a story of innovation and survival as Holme Mills continues to keep our food heritage alive to this day.
Our family has had a connection with the Mill at Holme, a hamlet in Bedfordshire tucked away on the River lvel, for over 150 years. As the Sixth William Jordan to have had a hand in its running, we thought it was about time that our family history and the mill story were captured.
The Williams below me did an excellent job of being enterprising and adapting with the times. keeping the mill operational through good times and bad. My generation moved the family firm away from milling flour to create our own range of breakfast cereals and cereal bars. However, it seemed a fitting tribute to keep one of the last working roller mills in the country. A fine example of Victorian technology preserved for future generations to see.
The Jordans family celebrate 150 years (Christmas 2005)
In April 2013, The Jordans Trust, a charitable trust founded to renovate the mill, opened Jordans Mill, a brand new visitor centre and cafe on the banks of the River lvel. Alongside the original Mill
building. The Mill can now be seen again in all its working glory through special guided tours. Later in the year the Mill Garden was opened to the public to demonstrate Biggleswade‘s rich heritage of
market gardening as well as seed and cereal production.
Many thanks to our visitors for their valuable contribution that make this all possible. All profits are reinvested in the Site.
1865 William (1st) dies in a carting accident on Wilden Hill in Bedford
1914-1918 (WW1) William (4th) already a member of the Bedfordshire Yeomanry, goes to fight the war in France with many of his friends
1938 The Allen Deisel Engine’ is installed. This started the mill more safely and was more reliable than its predecessor, the Tangye Gas Engine - which was flammable and dangerous
1942 William (5th) joins the ATA (Air Transport Auxiliary) delivering new planes to the RAF during WWII
1950 The first Jordans branding appears in the form of adverts and shelf talkers
1960 The first automated flour packing machine is installed
1980 Original Crunchy breakfast cereal is selling 80 tons per week
2000 A new state-of-the-art factory is opened to manufacture breakfast cereals - producing nearly one million packs of cereal per week!
1886 Dan Albone forms the Ivel Cycle Company in Biggleswade
1894 Holme Mills suffers fire damage. The mill is rebuilt and some of the traditional millstones are replaced with a roller system
1909 William (4th) buys Sandy Mill, which he turns into a feed mill. He makes rations for pigs, poultry and horses as well as selling hay, straw and chaff
1914-1918 Women run the Mill during the First World War. Known as the 'Flour Girls' they had to lift 240lb bags of flour
1920 With the war over, the 20's is a time to enjoy the simpler things in life... like a cool dip in the River Ivel
1938 84 year old William (3rd) is fined £1 for 'nipping' round the wrong side of a 'keep left' sign in his hurry to catch a train. He drove his first car at two to three miles per hour with one of his employees walking in front with a red flag
1949 A Notice letter is sent to all employees informing them of change of ownership of W. Jordan & Son
1959 William (5th) changes the roof line at Holme Mills to a flat roof in order to install augers. This meant that grain could be transported to the top floor by machine. (Watercolour painted Noller in the 1960's)
1960 Flour bags designed by William (5th) and William (6th)(right).
1973 The original 'Crunchy G' is born-and so is the ‘Wholefood Revelution’
1994 A successor to the Crunchy Bar, the Frusili Bar is a lower calorie, softer textured alternative
2005 The Mill is closed for production and in 2009 Bill and David set up the Jordan Trust in order to preserve the old mill and its surroundings
