The Stone Loft
Millstones
There were once four pairs of millstones in this loft, two of which still remain and one of which has recently been brought back into operation. The grain is ground into flour between two stones; the upper stone turns whilst the stone beneath it is fixed to the floor. The grain comes out of a storage silo suspended from the ceiling above and passes between the stones through a hole in the middle of the upper stone.
Stone dressing
There are grooves between the stones to ensure that the flour is not only finely ground but also to direct it towards the edge of the stones. The grooves are applied to the stone by the miller himself and have to be reworked on a regular basis. The stones then have to be dressed using a special 'mill bill'. A system of pivots and cogs transfers the turning movement of the sail axle to the millstones below.
A system of pivots and cogs transfers the turning movement of the sail axle to the millstones below.
Click on the drawing of the windmill on the left to go to another floor.
