How a Watermill like the mill at Millpoint worked.

 

 

A watermill for grain works by using the power of water to turn a millstone, which grinds the grain into flour. The millstone is a large, heavy stone that is typically made of granite or sandstone. It is mounted vertically on a shaft that is turned by the waterwheel.

The waterwheel is a large wheel that is mounted on a horizontal shaft. It has paddles or buckets that are attached to the rim of the wheel. As the water flows over the waterwheel, it turns the wheel and the millstone.

The grain is fed into the millstone through a chute. The millstone crushes the grain between the top and bottom stones. The ground flour then falls through a screen and into a bag or bin.

There are three main types of watermills: overshot, undershot, and breastshot.

• Overshot watermills: The water enters the waterwheel at the top and flows down over the paddles, turning the wheel. Overshot watermills are the most efficient type of watermill, but they require a relatively large drop in the water level.
  
• Undershot watermills: The water enters the waterwheel at the bottom and flows under the paddles, turning the wheel. Undershot watermills are less efficient than overshot watermills, but they can be used in locations where there is a smaller drop in the water level.
• Breastshot watermills: The water enters the waterwheel at the middle and flows over and under the paddles, turning the wheel. Breastshot watermills are a compromise between overshot and undershot watermills, and they can be used in a variety of locations.

Watermills were widely used throughout history to grind grain into flour. They were a major source of energy for many centuries, and they played an important role in the development of agriculture and industry. Today, watermills are still used in some parts of the world, but they have been largely replaced by modern milling technology.

Here is a diagram of how a watermill for grain works:

1. Water flows from the source (river, pond, etc.) into the headrace.
2. The headrace is a channel that directs the water towards the waterwheel.
3. The waterwheel is a large wheel with paddles or buckets attached to its rim.
4. The water turns the waterwheel, which turns the millstone shaft.
5. The millstone shaft turns the top millstone.
6. The bottom millstone is fixed in place.
7. Grain is fed into the millstones through a chute.
8. The millstones crush the grain between them.
9. The ground flour falls through a screen and into a bag or bin.

Watermills are a simple but effective way to grind grain into flour. They are also a renewable source of energy, which makes them a sustainable option for milling grain.