The Miller's Workshop and Store
A Miller's Workshop has been reconstructed in the lower level of the garner floor. You can look down on it from the central walkway of the garner floor, where the walkway leads to the Emergency Exit door.
Many of the items on display in this area would have been used by the past millers of New Hall Mill. They have been brought here from around the Mill, including the mill workshop, and the old cowsheds and stable block before their renovation. Other items have been donated by visitors. We frequently hear visitors commenting, "We used to have one of those".
Millers had to be adept at many skills besides milling in order to keep the mill running and the millers at New Hall Mill were no exception. When the waterwheel shaft broke, the miller simply 'set-to' and repaired it himself, and it is still working many years later.
A paraffin oil heater and lamp on top of a cupboard flank an iron ladle used when melting lead. A fretwork support hangs over the edge of the bench surrounded by a mixture of tools and other items. Grease guns lay on the bench next to an unreturned railway sack, and pieces of leather belting, a hank of rope and a tilley lamp hang from the roof beams.
The miller was obviously also a cobbler, using portions of leather belting and a cobblers last for repairs. On the floor under the bench are a chick feeder, a watering can and a drinking fountain from the cowshed where a chicken's nesting box was found. A 'dolly tub' and 'dolly' are in the foreground, in front of an upholsterers workbox displaying the contents with a foot bellows to one side. Standing by the wall are a honey extractor drum, a double-ended saw, a wide fork, with a scythe and various oddments hanging from the rack above. On the bench are a primus stove, an earthenware hot-water bottle, some scales and a hand cranked plate grinding mill for grinding wheat.
Various tools are scattered around the workbench while above, hanging from the roof, is a old belt strainer, used when fitting new belts, and a roll of leather belting. On the right wall, saws hang from a rack; another rests in the wooden frame below, set up ready for sharpening. Elsewhere are wooden planes, drill braces and bits, a paraffin blowlamp, soldering irons and G-clamps. Against the left wall are a hand-cranked pillar drill and a board with wrenches.
In the picture below, the 'stone nut' in the middle of the workbench has had several wooden teeth removed to repair a stone nut that suffered a number of broken teeth.
