A Guide to Alford Windmill Alford Windmill has six floors. The ground floor receives sacks of grain brought to the Mill for grinding. It also houses the dressing machine which enables the Mill to produce a full range of flours as well as wholemeal. The first floor is the meal floor, for the storage of flour at busy times. The second floor is the grinding floor where the millstones are regulated and set to work. A pair of governors adjusts the pressure on the stones according to varying wind speeds, ensuring a consistent quality of flour. The doors lead on to the balcony, from which the operating chains for the brake and shutters are controlled. The third floor is the stone floor, with four pairs of stones driven by a huge wheel - the Spur Wheel. One pair grinding organic wheat to make wholemeal flour whilst another pair grind maize and rye flours. These stones are Derbyshire Greys, quarried in one piece. The other two sets are French stones and grind wheat for dressing into the white flour in the dressing machine. These stones are very hard and are made in sections. The fourth and fifth floors are for grain storage with hoppers ready for shooting grain onto the stones. The sacks of grain are hauled to the top of the mill by means of a wind driven sack hoist. |
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