News Archive - The Winnower
The Winnower has been relocated to the corner of the Stone Floor since the Aspirator was moved up to the Garner. Made in about 1880 by the Gloucester based firm
of S. A. & H. Kell, it still retains the original Wedgwood
Blue and Salmon Pink paintwork.
It is operated by cranking the handle at the side of the machine. This is geared to turn a large wooden 'fan' that produces a strong current of air. The wheat grain for cleaning is either fed down from the Aspirator or tipped direct into the hopper on the top of the winnower. It
then feeds through the machine at a controlled rate.
(move pointer onto picture to view rear of winnower)
As the grain falls through the air current, chaff or other light material is blown from the rear of the machine, and the grain drops onto a series of wire sieves. These are shaken as the handle is cranked, the first two removing larger items, such as unthreshed wheat ears, pieces of straw, or poppy heads, but allowing the grain through. The third, with a smaller mesh, removes any small grain or weed seeds but retains the larger grain. The cleaned grain discharges from hatches on the sides of the machine and is transferred to either the millstones for milling or the combined milling machine for kibbling.