real time web analytics
Report - - Gafnan Mill (Anglesey, Oct, 2019) | Industrial Sites | 28DaysLater.co.uk

Report - Gafnan Mill (Anglesey, Oct, 2019)

Hide this ad by donating or subscribing !

urbanchemist

28DL Regular User
Regular User
This little water-powered corn mill was built in the early 1800s, with machinery dating from ca. 1840. It’s owned by the national Trust, but not open to the public.
https://britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/300024416-corn-mill-at-felin-gafnan-cylch-y-garn#.Xa3BnJNKjnQ
Water to power the wheel originally came from a diversion of the river Gafnan, but this has since been rerouted through the Cestyll gardens next door.
Pictures are a mixture of phone and camera.

Approaching from the gardens, the water wheel is in poor shape.

48938052091_407af371da_b.jpg



48938052046_2fc514b37b_b.jpg



48938240397_e4603829cb_b.jpg


Ground floor - there’s no machinery for grading flour left except for the remains of some sieves on the right - the bits of wood on the left may be parts of the original sieve boxes.

48938051946_5a2dba18b4_b.jpg


The machine on the floor in the centre is a belt-driven chaff cutter (by Bentall, ca.1900 chaff is cut forage, usually straw or hay, added to bulk out animal feed).
The trough should be sticking out horizontally - straw loaded in the trough was dragged by the toothed rollers into the rotating blades.

48937507588_a72e2bba5b_b.jpg


At the rear is the usual arrangement of big cogs driven through the wall by the water wheel.
Wooden teeth meshing with cast iron gears was quite common, primarily because it gave smooth running.
The extension of iron teeth above the spur wheel (big wheel at the top in the first picture) to mesh with the smaller wheel with wooden teeth is apparently quite unusual.

48938240287_8cccc65868_b.jpg



48937507458_98f0bcf7f5_b.jpg



48938051691_875161ecca_b.jpg


This small wheel drives the drum above the chaff cutter….

48937507368_788093aabc_b.jpg


…which was connected with a belt to another drum in the ceiling of the upstairs room which worked the sack hoist - the actual hoist mechanism has gone.

48938051571_5dd39a57cc_b.jpg


Grinding stones driven from below, with guard heron.

48938051506_0720f9ab31_b.jpg



48938240047_5145994203_b.jpg


Final view, with the now-decommissioned Wylfa nuclear power station in the background - the decision whether to build another nuclear plant next door is imminent.
Of course it would be much cooler to use water power - anyone who has sailed down the Menai Strait will know all about the tides and currents in this part of the world.

48937507183_16b70e596a_h.jpg
 

tigger

mog
Regular User
Another great set of photos!

So much for 'maintained' by the National Trust!.

Out of interest where you there today....I was very close

Much as I like mills and the machinery I especially like the last photo of the old (not that that mill is actually old) and the new (not that Wylfa is!).
 

pfazz

28DL Member
28DL Member
It would be great if someone could do a report from inside Wylfa power station whilst it is being decommissioned. Not a chance I'm afraid.
 

Calamity Jane

i see beauty in the unloved, places & things
Regular User
Beautiful little gem, and really photogenic. I love a mill. Surprising what you can photograph even though its national trust. Ive found some national trust sites not to be very good at protection nor security . Those wheels are something special :thumb
 

urbanchemist

28DL Regular User
Regular User
Out of interest where you there today....I was very close

Much as I like mills and the machinery I especially like the last photo of the old (not that that mill is actually old) and the new (not that Wylfa is!).
Nope - couple of weeks ago.
 

Yorrick

A fellow of infinite jest
28DL Full Member
What is it with these mills and Herons

Probably to keep real herons out of the mill wheel. Herons are territorial and (mostly) solitary. If they see another heron, even on a windowsill, they won't try and fish there.
 

Who has read this thread (Total: 163) View details

Top