At the end of each Open Day, after the visitors have left, there remains the task of cleaning the mill, including the millstones. First the grain hopper and the supporting 'horse' are removed, then the grain 'shoe' and the iron 'damsel' are lifted away. The wooden casing, or 'tun', surrounding the millstones can then be lifted clear of the stones and moved aside. The meal around the bottom or 'bed' stone is vacuumed away while the curved arms of the stone crane are fitted into two holes at the edge of the upper or 'runner' stone. Then the slow process of lifting the heavy stone can begin! When high enough, the stone is swung away to one side to expose the 'bed' stone. Any unmilled grain is removed from the centre of this stone before both stones and the adjacent areas are vacuumed clean of grain and meal.

After the 'runner' stone has been swung back and lowered into position, the remainder of the items are replaced, ready for use on the next Open Day.

The picture shows the 'runner' stone supported by the stone crane, and beneath it, the 'bed' stone, set into the Stone Floor.

(click on the 'runner' or 'bed' stone pictures for more details)
(note - file sizes are about 75 Kb)