As it was such a beautiful warm sunny day we thought we would see if we could find Ivinghoe Watermill and Pitstone Windmill. Our thoughts were that they may just be visible from the road if trees weren’t obscuring them. On arrival we were delighted to find that the ‘Ford End’ Watermill was open for a special Apple Day. This little mill was built in 1616 on the site of an earlier 13c mill. It was in use until 1963, then volunteers began it’s restoration. The waterwheel is an overshot type, where the water runs into the top of the wheel from the leat, turning it anti-clockwise.
The sacks of corn were being hoisted up to the top bin floor and feeding down through the grindstones here on the middle floor. Just outside the mill entrance the bakers were busy making and baking wholemeal and apple loaves for sale.
The freshly ground warm flour was being caught, bagged, weighed and labelled ready for sale. There was a display of stencils for marking the sacks and a Winnowing Machine that was made in Gloucester by Kell, Meats and Co.
On the top floor children could have a go at grinding with hand-turned quern stones and learn about all the different grains. On the right is the top part of an early conglomerate Puddingstone Quern with a wooden handle. Anyway after sampling the delicious bread with real butter, we bought a loaf and some wholemeal flour. They have their own website if you are interested, www.fordendwatermill.co.uk
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