W & H Marriage & Sons Ltd

Producing superior quality flour since 1824

Marriage's select the best possible grains for consistent flour quality, sourcing wheat from local Essex farmers where possible, including family farms near Chelmer Mills. Marriage’s supply home bakers, as well as bakeries, caterers and manufacturers.

Over the years, new innovations have been introduced by the family. But while the majority of the company’s flour is now produced using more modern methods, it does continue to make some of its flour in the traditional way.

The stone ground varieties are still milled by grinding the whole grain between horizontal Victorian millstones made of French Burr stones. These stones are re-sharpened every three months to prevent them from running smooth and not grinding properly. This is a highly skilled job which is still done by hand using time-honoured techniques, which have remained unchanged since the earliest days of milling

The way in which samples of the grain are tested before being milled has also evolved. Traditionally, as the grain arrived at the mill, it would have been bitten to test the quality. Now there is an on-site laboratory to ensure all the wheat used meets the high standards the company, and the region’s bakers, expect.

Organic food & farming

Marriage's have produced organic certified flour varieties for nearly 30 years, and Sampson David Marriage, the father of current Director George Marriage, took an active interest in organic wheat and flour production before it became high profile. George Marriage helped establish the Organic Food Federation and was its Chairman for several years. Marriage’s has been active in organic industry research projects, across the agricultural, milling and baking industries, including the Better Organic Bread Project.

Reducing waste 

During the wheat milling process, a co-product is bran, which is turned into animal feed at Chelmer Mills to minimize waste. 

Marriage’s flour is packed into bags and sacks that have been produced in the UK, using paper sourced from renewable Scandinavian forests. Marriage's use recycled boxes to send out their home baking flour too.

To find out more about Marriage's Flour: www.flour.co.uk. 

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