WORKERS at Osney Mill in Oxford made sure that families had bread on their tables.

The flour they produced was supplied to small bakeries within a 30-mile radius of the city.

Four generations of the Munsey family have worked as millers.

Their association with Oxford began in 1895 when William Henry Munsey came to the city after his farming business in Cambridge was devastated by foot-and-mouth disease.

He worked initially as a forage manager, but in 1898, went into partnership with Archer Cowley and took over Osney Mill.

The partnership did not last long, and in 1911, the business became WH Munsey Ltd.

William was helped by his two sons – Ellis was in charge of flour milling, while Keith traded as a corn merchant.

The mill continued to flourish during and after the First World War, then, in 1927, landowners Christ Church delivered an ultimatum – buy the site or get out.

The Munseys borrowed the money from the bank, then, the following year, William died.

The two sons continued to develop the business and, during the Second World War, enjoyed one of their busiest periods.

The destruction of big mills in London, Southampton, Liverpool and Hull by enemy bombs put pressure on small mills to increase production.

Osney Mill ran 24 hours a day, week in, week out, to meet demand.

After the war, disaster struck – the mill was destroyed by fire in 1945.

It was decided not to rebuild at Osney but to buy a mill in Wantage, which produced flour for biscuits.

Alterations were made so that it could also produce flour for bread, and to recover the customers the family had temporarily lost to other mills following the fire.

The mill enjoyed a prosperous period, supplying leading companies like Cadbury’s, Farleys, Mars, United Biscuits and the Co-op.

Today, in the hands of the founder’s grandson, Bill, and great-grandson, Paul, the firm trades off the A417 at Wantage as Wessex Flour Mill and supplies more than 150 bakers and 500 farm shops and independent food stores.

It also exports its products to places as far flung as Dubai, Hong Kong, Hungary, Spain and St Helena.

It won three gold awards from the Guild of Fine Food in both 2008 and 2009.

The family link with Osney, however, continues. Bill Munsey, Ellis Munsey’s nephew, still lives at Osney Mill House, in Mill Street.

  • For details of the firm today, see the Wessex Mill website or call 01235 768991.