The wagon was moved to site last Saturday so we loaded up with a fire bucket and extinguisher, books, photographs, tools, drinking water and bird nesting boxes which were taken to the mill. The wagon doors give a view of the water wheel and the kitchen window looks out over fields.
There were 9 volunteers today. David put books from the Heritage Centre about waterways on the bookshelf and pictures of the restoration on the display panels with historic documents and maps. Graeme connected an external gas cylinder to the stove.
Dennis made bird boxes which were put up in trees around the site both sides of the river by Dennis and Adam. While on the opposite side they noticed the box of cards on the notice board was empty so Graham threw a bag of cards across the river so they could refill the box. We passed the ladder to them over the pier as it was too big to take with them. On their way back they found a branch to use as a Kingfisher stick.
Eddie and Debra cleaned old bricks and stacked them by the end wall ready for the brickwork next Saturday. John and Graeme dug out earth near the wall and found a small sheet metal sluice gate, a bone and piece of clinker.
We had lunch in the wagon, tested the stove by making tea, and used the built in seating for 8 of us. Debra bought wild flower seeds which we will plant in front of the wagon, Graham measured the area for grass seed, its 63 m2 and we have just enough wildflower seed for this.
In the afternoon the Kingfisher branch was fixed to the large wooden post in the river, this should encourage Kingfishers and Wagtails to sit on it where we can see them. Adam spread out sand to dry, then filled the fire bucket with it and put it in the wagon with the extinguisher.
Dennis and Adam worked near the cistern where a metal rod with threaded end was found, it looks similar to a gear lever. We could not see where the other end of the rod goes, so Adam went into the cistern to look and take pictures but we could not find the other end. There is about 20cm of water in the cistern. Finds from this area were a key, lead slate hook and Debra found a large metal staple in a spoil heap.
Graham recorded all the finds of the day. The large metal plate found two weeks ago was sprayed with zinc to preserve it, this was labelled and put in the container with the rest of the finds. Back at The Maltings Dennis and John stayed on to continue working on the swing bridge they started last week. This will be used for open days so people can cross from the footpath to the mill.
Graham Bartlett Interactive Plan Volunteer Previous Next Previous Next