Work and Labour

Image: The Snuff Mill, Golden Valley, near Tickenhill, Bewdley (early 20th century) [Image from: Bewdley Museum]

2. Work and Labour

Snuff was made by pulverising “cured” tobacco leaves, which had been allowed to ferment in their own juices for several years. Initially, snuff was ground by using a mortar and pestle or hand-operated grinders. As demand rocketed in the 18th century, power-operated mills were introduced. Snuff-grinding was largely a rural industry. Mills were located in areas where the force of water could be used to drive wheels which could translate energy into powering grinding machines. The photograph shows the Mill with a sluice gate to the right which could control the level of water in the mill dam.