 
FWP Matthews Ltd is one of the leading independent flour millers in the UK for conventional and organic flour. The mill is owned and run by Paul and Graham Matthews the great, great grandsons of the founder Frederick William Powell Matthews.
Steeped in tradition, FWP Matthews Ltd represents an important part of the local industrial heritage.
Situated on the edge of the beautiful Cotswold hills in the village of Shipton under Wychwood this traditional mill produces a wide range of quality organic and conventional flours. We still use the original building that was completed in 1912. We source as much wheat locally as possible and then carefully blend with other wheats to produce flour of the highest quality. In addition to our range of Cotswold flours we also offer a wide range of premium French flours from Moul Bie. We deliver nationwide in our own liveried lorries in bags from 1kg through to 25 tonne tankers loads. We hold a British Retail Consortium A grade certificate and are certified by the Soil Association, as well as being a member of the National Association of Master Bakers. We have a strong environmental ethos and currently operate our vehicles on B50 as well as recycling as much waste as possible (see environment tab opposite for more details). We have recently invested in a new warehouse and office facilities. These were officially opened by HRH The Princess Royal in February 2009.
The company's history dates back to the 1860s when Marmaduke Matthews started a small business selling seeds from his barn in Fifield, Oxfordshire. With the death of Marmaduke, his son, Frederick expanded the business selling wheat and barley from the site near Shipton Station. Frederick, with his son, Frederick William Powell, (after whom the company was named see picture above), came to realise that it would make economic sense to mill locally grown wheat rather than importing it by rail. Sadly Frederick did not live to see the completion of the mill and it was passed to FWP Matthews. Built in 1911-12, by local builder Alfred Groves, the mill has changed little in appearance since its early days and still presents an imposing presence.
In the early years the company concentrated on milling biscuit flour using the soft wheat grown locally in the Cotswold hills. Customers were mainly Huntley and Palmers in Reading, Peek Frean in Bermonddsey and Jacobs in Dublin. Their flour was transported by rail in eight dedicated vans which were marked 'To be returned to Shipton Station'. The 25 yard journey from the mill to the rail siding was made by horse and cart each pulling 8 sacks (1 ton) of flour. In the mid sixties the market for biscuit flour decreased and the mill concentrated on milling bread flour for independent bakers. From the late 1990's the company focused on milling top quality flours from the best quality grain available. By 1992 FWP Matthews Ltd became certified by the Soil Association to mill organic flour. Buying local grain and supporting the community is still of prime importance to the company.
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