Spout Floor

From High Salvington Mill Trust

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This floor is where the miller normally works in order to control the mill and the stones. This is also where the meal spouts come down from the stones on the floor above.

Crown Tree

The top of the post connects to the crown tree via a cast iron bearing called a Samson Head, which supports the whole weight of the buck. The crown tree is solid oak, weighed 2 tons when new, and cost £1200, when it was replaced in 1982.

Tentering System

The tentering gear which is operated from here allows the miller to manually alter the gap (nip) between the stones, if the quality of the flour meal requires adjustment. The tentering gear is operated by a system of levers and a screw adjustment.

Side Girts

The horizontal timbers that hold together the sides of the Buck are called Side Girts. At least one side girt was replaced in 1960.

Breast Meal Beam

The Breast Meal Beam was replaced in May 1982.

Brayer Beam

The Brayer Beam was repaired in January 1985 and fitted the next month.

Stone Governors

The stone governors automatically adjust the nip as the wind force changes, to maintain the flour quality at varying wind speeds.

Governor Bracket with Flint Pebble Bearing

Towards the front of the stone floor there is a governor bracket with a flint pebble bearing, including the remains of one uncovered during the restoration. The flint pebble is covered in tallow and takes most of the wear, but there is also some sideways movement that leads to wear of the bracket. When this is too worn it can be replaced with a fresh oak block.

Isted Measuring Utensils

In one corner of the spout floor, are a set of measuring utensils donated by and previously used Isted. Isteds operated a seed merchant and dried good stores, originally in Montague Street and later on, in the then new Guildbourne Centre.

Grain Chute Angle Adjuster

Grain Chute Angle Adjuster

Nearby, set half-way up the front wall of the spout floor, is a grain chute angle adjuster. This is a attached to a cord that feeds through a hole in the ceiling made by the Stone Floor boards and to one end of the chute that feeds grain from the hopper to the eye of the stone. The other end is pivoted. Adjusting the angle at which the chute is tilted will alter the flow rate of grain from the hopper.