Mill At Bateman's

Kipling harnessed the river Dudwell for use generating electricity, but the 17th century mill on the property has been restored now to its original use. It was in full operation when we visited on a beautiful Saturday afternoon. I have never seen a working mill and enjoyed this one so much I even did a brief video for Penelope.

It's quite simple, really; water stored in the
pond is diverted to turn the really big wheel

Which, through a succession of wheels and gears (all of
them of wood)(and not very simple, really) turns the millstones

The unground grain goes in here

And comes out, all ground up, flour, here, on the floor below;
and that's how they make bread; wait, no, that's the baker;
anyhow, the major take-away is to always disengage the
clutch when there is no grain being ground: with no grain,
the stones get into serious friction, which can cause fires,
which are especially unwanted in flour mills

And, of course, there were blooming rhodos all over the
place, this on the path from the mill back to the house