From grindstone to mill

Hervoll farm by Jøllebekken and Hervoll Mill above, right.

At Lista grain crops have been grown for more than 6000 years. In the beginning the farmers would burn the grounds and sow seeds directly in the ashes. The mature grain was shorn with a flint sickle and dried. Grinding the grain was done using a grindstone.

Trygve Hervoll in front of Hervoll Mill.

In the Late Middle Ages mill came into use for grinding the grain into flour. The flat landscape of Lista contains few brooks to power a mill, but from Hervoll to Jølle runs Jøllebekken (Jølle-brook). It has enough fall to run water wheel and millstone.

The power from the water in Jøllebekken was in the early days used to a maximum. At most there were approximately 15 mills running along the small water way. Two mills have been conserved and stands at Hervoll. These small water mills are presumed to originate from the 18th century.

The mills of Hervoll were among the last village mills running in this country. Trygve Hervoll ground grain here until the middle of the 60ies.