Thirlage

Thirlage, an old Servitude (q.v.), or rather service, enjoyed by the proprietor of a mill over the neighbouring lands 'thirled' to it, whereby the possessors (and tenants) of the lands were bound to have their grain ground at that mill, and to pay as 'multure' or duty a certain proportion of the grain ground, varying from a thirtieth to a twelfth of the corn ground. The possessors of the restricted lands were called suckeners; the multure paid by those who were not bound, but used the mill, was out-sucken multure. Since 1799 this class of local burdens has almost entirely disappeared by commutation, voluntary renunciation, or private agreement. Such a servitude or easement was rare in England.