This article was in the Newsletter 23rd January 2026.

SECRET CUMBRIA.

Secret Cumbria is a feature on BBC Radio Cumbria lunchtime programme. It is compiled by Andrew Carter and he visited the mill to record it just before Christmas. Alas the first two episodes were presented this Wednesday and Thursday and the other two will be next Wednesday and Thursday.  Sorry we couldn’t let you know earlier but we only found out on Monday. But don’t worry all the episodes will be placed on the Radios website for you to listen to at your leisure. We will post the link when we have it.

THE STONE BEARING.

The drive for the stones is taken off the spur wheel by the stone nut which sits on the stone spindle (the metal shaft) which passes through the bed stone and the runner stone sits on the top. The hole in the centre of the bed stone has to be packed tight around the spindle, so that grain and flour is not lost. Because this is tight a bearing has to be placed around the spindle and as with all bearings this needs lubrication for the best results.

Early bearings usually relied on part of the bearing casing being packed with grease which was slowly spread on to inside of the bearing. The problem with these are you have to separate the stones to access them. Later oilers were designed that could be kept topped up with oil without separating the stones.

The mill has both types of lubrication. The original sets of stones, the oat shelling, oat milling and one of the sets of French Burr stones are lubricated with the grease packing system. The extra set of French Burr stones that were added in the 1860s and the other set of French Burr Stones have oilers fitted.

THE OILER IS THE PIPE WITH THE SMALL CUP ON TOP IN FRONT OF THE PILLAR.

The bearing on the other set of the French Burr Stones hasn’t been looked at since the mill was restored. So, whilst we had the runner stone removed we decided to have a look. First the mace was removed. This is a large piece of cast iron that slips onto the top of the spindle and on which the rynd of the runner stone sits.

THE MACE

Below this are a couple of seals to stop flour and grain going down onto the bearing area. Once these are removed the eye of the bed stone is visible.

In the above photo you can see the stone spindle passing through what is a brass bearing, which is set in the wood packing. There is square hole in this opposite a gap in  the bearing. It is in to this that the grease is packed with a tape to act as a wick onto the spindle and lubricating the bearing.

Once packed it is just a matter of replacing all the pieces after a through clean.

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