The history of milling in Alderney can be traced back many centuries. The earliest known reference appears in a manuscript history of the Diocese of Coutances dating from around 1236. The present mill pre-dates 1792, which was the date of expansion to present size. The Bonne Terre Watermill served the needs of the local farming community for many years. The Alderney Society recorded that farmers would bring their corn to the mill several times a year, transporting it by horse and cart. The grain was tipped into a chute on the upper floor and fed down to the grinding stones, where it was processed into flour and animal feed.