Below is a video of milling taking place, courtesy of Edward Jones, one of the milling team.
Fresh grain is about to be poured into the storage bin (hopper). Note how the square shaft (quant) is knocking against the wooden ‘shoe’, and the vibration causes the grain to flow into the centre (eye) of the revolving millstone.
This process is called ‘chattering’. The ‘shoe’ is held taught against the rotating ‘quant’ by a rope connected to a wooden leaf spring.
The brass bell rings when the grain in the ‘hopper’ has nearly run out, giving the miller about 5+ minutes to add more grain.
COME ON A MILL TOUR AND SEE THIS AREA CLOSE UP AND HEAR ALL ABOUT THE PROCESS
(Because of noise and dust the millstone is not normally turning when visitors are in the mill)
