THE STUBB MILL OF BYXELKROK

On the windswept island of Öland, the wind was a constant companion. At Tokenäs near Byxelkrok stood the windmill, always turned into the wind, ready to grind grain from the surrounding farms.

During the 18th and 19th centuries, there were more than 2,000 windmills on Öland – more than anywhere else in the country. Almost every farm had its own mill. The stubb mill was the most common type on Öland. There were also burr mills (mills used for grinding limestone) and stone mills built from limestone.

Farmers came to the mill by horse and cart, loaded with sacks of rye and barley. When the wind picked up, the mill's sails would turn, and inside the mill the grain was ground into flour. The work followed nature's rhythm – sometimes people had to wait a long time for the right wind.

Flour became an important local product and was transported to Byxelkrok Harbour. From there it was shipped along the coast and across the Baltic Sea.

The mills were more than just workplaces. They were meeting places in the landscape – where people gathered, talked, and watched the changing weather.

The illustration is an interpretation based on historical records and local traditions.