The original is a very faded black and white image and may date from before 1890. The two men have not been identified positively. The one on the left is probably Alfred Abraham and the other may be one of his brothers, either Clement or Sidney.
Printed note on reverse reads: '3. Saxtead Green Post Mill, Suffolk. Middle floor of buck showing grinding stone casings, great spur wheel, wallower and lower part of brake wheel.'
This photograph is thought to have been taken by Rex Wailes who carried out extensive surveys of the mills in England in the 1920s-40s on behalf of the Ministry of Works and its agent organisations responsible for cataloguing and preserving ancient buildings. He became the foremost authority on mills.
Each pair of millstones had an alarm bell to signal when its hopper required refilling. A leather strap fixed to a cord and buried in the grain held the bell away from a dog on the upright shaft. When the level of grain dropped the strap was released and the bell moved towards the shaft to be nudged by the dog and sound the alarm. Photograph is thought to be by Rex Wailes.
Found with five other negatives in an envelope which states that the images were taken near High Wycombe. Architecturally the mill appears to be from the West Country, however (assuming this shows the same mill as ASHL-GPN-CW-073).
Found with five other negatives in an envelope which states that the images were taken near High Wycombe. Architecturally the mill appears to be from the West Country, however (assuming this shows the same mill as ASHL-GPN-CW-073).