Sunday 13/9/26  Emma and David went to the mill to start preparing for the open days next weekend, they took the petrol strimmer and strimmed along the river bank near our bridge, around the tunnel exit and several other areas. Emma weeded the trench and brick floors and cleared behind the water wheel at river level. David also filled the Gator with diesel and checked the oil and water.

Thursday 17/9/26  We loaded the mower into the trailer, we were fully loaded as we had the gazebo and chairs to take back after Emma borrowed them for her barbecue. On the way we cut overhanging brambles and branches with my hedgecutters.

More cosmos are flowering in the garden in front of the building, Anne Marie dug out weeds and tidied it, viola and coreopsis are still flowering, then Anne Marie weeded the lupin bed next to the wall, bistort are the only flowers there now.

Emma weeded the hammer mill, then went down onto the floor in front of the water wheel and removed weeds from the bricks. There were weeds in the water next to the floor so I went in and pulled them out, as I had my Wellington boots on today, I also cut down nettles growing there.

It rained soon after we arrived, so the grass was wet, but I managed to cut the main lawn by clearing the cutters regularly, I also cut the shorter grass between the wagon and river. 

I brought peanuts and bird seed today ready for winter which Eddie unloaded and transferred into our tubs, he then filled the bird feeders. We were advised not to put out seed or peanuts in summer due to bird diseases, so we only put out suet balls. Eddie tightened screws in the bird table stand as it was wobbly.

The grass all over the site was very long, so Eddie cut the rest of it including the lawn next to the meadow and the top bank from the bridge to the water wheel.

We had lunch in the railway wagon and Emma spotted roe deer out of the window in the field, which has been harvested, there was a doe and two fawns walking along. Anne Marie brought Norfolk Shortbread for us all which we enjoyed with our tea.

The glass panel showing part of of the brick floor was dirty with grass cuttings on it, so we removed it, I cleaned the glass with water and Eddie poured boiling water on weeds under it and weeded around the edges. We replaced the panel and it looks good.

The model mill will be on display at the open days so Emma left early to collect it. Eddie and I loaded the mower into the trailer and took it back to the maltings, we put the mower away then fitted seats back in the trailer ready for transporting visitors at the open days. Its easier to get the seats in and out now as we fitted captive nuts which Fred gave us. There was gravel in the trailer which Eddie swept out.

The riverside signs are now two years old, Emma re-designed and printed them, she laminated them this morning, so our last job was assembling them and stapling them to notice boards ready to be put out on Saturday morning.

19 & 20 September 2026 We had our Heritage Open Days where we open to the public over the weekend. See the HOD page for pictures and details.

Graham Bartlett

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