Vannmøller

Vannmøller are milling installations powered by water wheels, used to convert grain into flour or to drive other mechanical processes. The term refers to both the building that houses the machinery and the wheel-based system that uses flowing water to turn a shaft and drive millstones or equivalent equipment. In Norwegian contexts, vannmøller are typically traditional mills positioned along rivers or streams.

Historically, vannmøller were common from the Middle Ages through the early modern era and played a central role in rural economies. They allowed farmers and communities to grind grain locally, reducing the need to transport supplies over long distances. The design varied with local watercourses and available head, leading to different wheel configurations and mill layouts. Many mills were integrated with related activities such as timber processing or textile finishing.

Technology and operation: Water is diverted from a stream to a wheel—overshot, breastshot, or undershot—causing rotation of a shaft connected to gears that drive the upper millstones. The lower stone remains stationary while grain is ground into flour between the stones. Some vannmøller were also used for sawing timber or other mechanical tasks. In contemporary times, many vannmøller are preserved as cultural heritage; some operate as demonstrations or small museums to illustrate historical use of renewable energy and rural industry.