The Best Guide for the Sudbury Area

HELP REQUIRED ‘DAUBING’ THE WATER MILL, near Sudbury, 2nd July

Author: Corrine Cox

Published: 1st July 2016 08:54

SVCA

HELP REQUIRED ‘DAUBING’ THE WATER MILL, near Sudbury

About eighteen months ago, some of us helped ‘pug the clay and daub the walls’ of the medieval bread oven and hovel, which Gestingthorpe History Group had constructed at Goldingham Hall.

Since then Chris Moulton, has been building a ‘half scale’ working replica of an Anglo-Saxon watermill, beside the Belchamp Brook.

The basic timber structure of the mill has now been completed and the next job is to make and apply daub to the walls.

The Group are planning to start this work on Saturday, July 2nd. They would be delighted if a small number of SVCA members would also like to join them, get muddy, help make the daub and render the walls.

The mill is situated in a remote and deliberately discreet woodland location. Could volunteers therefore please meet at Hill Farm, at either 9.30 a.m. or 1.30 p.m. prior to driving down to the mill.

Old Clothes and Wellington Boots ESSENTIAL!

This is an opportunity to undertake real ‘experimental archaeology’, enabling us to get a better understanding of the lives, work and craftsmanship of those who lived here before us!

Space is limited, so if you would like to be involved please contact Ashley on ashleyxcooper@yahoo.co.uk.  Telephine 01787 460641. Please indicate whether you will be coming in the morning or afternoon.

N.B. All the clay and chalk used in the daubing process derives from Gestingthorpe and Bulmer. So too, does all of the wood used in the building, together with the hazel ‘wattles’ in the walls.

To harness as much water as possible, and operate the mill in the simplest way, the mill has a horizontal water wheel.

The Group are especially keen to establish how much water was required to grind corn on a small stream, as Gestingthorpe is recorded as having a watermill in 1066.

The post code of  Hill Farm, Gestingthorpe, is CO9 3BL

 

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