Grain Bin - Watermill Blog
10th February 2009

A new grain bin to catch the grindings from the upstream pair of stones was only one of several tasks tackled today.

Jim undertook that job, building up new sides from the original base, and working around the hurst timbers.

Martyn and Kim also did some woodwork, in their case it was the new cover for the light well.

They had the advantage of drawings to work from because this item was the subject of a Listed Building Consent application. By the end of the day the frame and deck were complete and just need covering with roofing felt.

Tony did some planting at the back of the Bird Barn, forming a laurel hedge alongside the driveway. He and Martyn then moved into the orchard to take cuttings from the old apple trees for grafting.

Jonathan, Headley and Finton all worked on the re-assembly of the beet shredder.

We could advertise this machine, and the chaff cutter, as "seen on TV".

The series "The Victorian Farmyard" has featured very similar machines, explaining their use in processing feed for the farm livestock, exactly as they were used here at Shelsley Walsh.

Theirs were not driven by a waterwheel though.

John and Colin constructed a post and rail fence above the tailrace, bolting the uprights to the wall of the bridge. A third post was eventually fixed to the wall beside the main steps so that we can hang chains across the entrance to the waterwheel pit.

Richard spent the morning playing with lengths of string, suspending one end of the grain shoe and adding the control string that lets the miller adjust the shoe from the floor below.

The arrangement seems a bit crude but is hopefully very similar to the original system.

With this control in place there is no reason why we can't try grinding some grain or meal, just to see what happens. Hopefully the new grain bin will soon be in use.

The weather was kind to us today, staying dry even if it was quite cold. The longer days are making themselves felt as well, so work continued later than has been the case.

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