Origin of Millstones

[amulet]

How do the millstones end up in the valley beneath Stanage Edge, Derbyshire. Also, who do the sheep that roam there, belong to?

[Nick.Detroit]

The millstones were made there, but abandoned because of cheaper imports from France .... (so I believe)

[Tatty Rollox]

... some of the millstones can be seen at http://tinyurl.com/nlrpt . As well as the French cheaper imports theory another view is that when white bread became fashionable Peak District stones were not wanted because they turned the flour an unpalatable grey colour. There is a Millstone Inn high above Hathersage (great fun to be had there) and Little John is buried in Hathersage church. As for the sheep, I must leave that to someone else ...

[Nick.Detroit]

Are the millstones a ''protected monument', who owns them?

[Tatty Rollox]

.... Stanadge Edge is within the Peak District National Park and all public land within it and everything upon the public land is, I understand, owned by that authority jointly with National Heritage. Flocks of sheep are grazed there by licence from the Peak District National Park to individual shepherds. At http://tinyurl.com/l36yu is a sheep in front of Stanage Edge ......