© 2009 Webmaster Tony Simmons
Registered Charity Number 1111029
V11.185
The original timber sawmill is at right angles to the museum building and is office accommodation. Power to turn the machinery was delivered from under the workshop floor by means of pulleys and belts long ago removed from the undercroft. But visitors may still see
where the line shafting and belting ran and many are still in operation driving exhibits.
Power for the Mill was taken from the water wheel unless the River Evenlode was running too low to turn the wheel. When this happened the beam engine was used until 1912 as the source of power. The machinery was converted to be electrically driven in the 1950s.
Power for the Mill was taken from the water wheel unless the River Evenlode was running too low to turn the wheel. When this happened the beam engine was used until 1912 as the source of power. The machinery was converted to be electrically driven in the 1950s.
Carpenters, pattern makers and wood turners also worked in the building and some of their machinery that was belt driven from the line shafting can be seen.
In the workshop visitors can see the line shafting driving the whetstone used for sharpening edge tools and also the forge blower. Upstairs a belt driven wood turning lathe may been seen in action.
In the workshop visitors can see the line shafting driving the whetstone used for sharpening edge tools and also the forge blower. Upstairs a belt driven wood turning lathe may been seen in action.
Water for the adjacent workers’ cottages was also provided by a piston pump driven from a shaft above the water wheel.
Typical shaft bearing
