Cutting the grills and concrete

Message to Keith Parfitt:

Many thanks for the ‘rapid response’ and also for sharing our enthusiasm. To me, no matter what age our findings turn out to be, it’s still very exciting and we stand to learn a lot more about Crabble Mill(s) …. or whatever they are.

Two new findings:

Firstly, we’ve now managed to cut-out the old metal grill and hammer-out the concrete lintel in the tailrace where it externalises from the building. Fascinating! We’ve found some more wood at a much higher level (though not uncovered it yet), about 400mm higher (my simplistic physics tells me that water trends down hill, not upwards!!!)

Secondly, another joist (with fixings) which spans the tailrace watercourse, but this is well outside the building and is closer to the surface. I’ve taken some measurements. One of the interesting things here is that whilst it’s probably only just beneath the mean water level, it is has a slate facing on the upstream side which would indicate to me some form of small intentional water retention ‘device’. Not much of this is making very much sense at the moment. Will find out more tomorrow ……

Curious-er and curious-er!