After the major sub-tidal works, undertaken
by
the
New
Forest
District
Council
(as owners) from late 2012 through most of
2013, there were still a few maintenance
items to catch up on, as stated in a number
of Reports to the Eling Experience, by David
Plunkett
Eling started regular milling production in
October but was hampered by the poor seating
of the repaired sluice gate and wrong
seating of the sluice gate cill. Away from
these difficulties we were producing good
wholemeal flour for public sale. Continued
monitoring, following a break in the grease
line to the footstep bearing, revealed that
wear to the bearing under the vertical
mainshaft had increased and no adjustment
was available, as the four adjustment bolts
had seized on the cast iron “Armfield
Arch.” So the helpful local engineering
company, GHL Engineering, discussed with me
a programme of works and method statement.
This led to an estimate which was accepted
by Totton & Eling Town Council as managers
of the Mill. GHL, having no expertise in
jacking up over two tons of cast iron main
mill gearing, left this to Dave Hibbert and
myself to levitate. We did this, with a
rising tide, in about four hours with the
aid of five ‘Acrow props’, a length of chain
and some timber packing. I planned with GHL
to take out the Armfield Arch at the same
time as
an
NFDC inspection.
GHL rigged up a one tonne chain block and
pulled up the Armfield Arch (with bearing)
just as the rising tide reached an inch from
the top of my wellies. So with a few heaves
and grunts, it went into the back of their
pickup truck, to the workshop about half a
mile away.
While I was hoping GHL would press on with
the bearing works, I was surprised to hear
that it was ready to go back about a week
later and before their Christmas shut-down.
A check with the Eling
Experience revealed that milling was planned
to commence on the 8th January and an
official visit by Heritage Lottery Funding
officers was planed for the 10th January.
Delay was
not an option, so at 8.30 am on the 23rd
December, two engineers from GHL with Dave
Hibbert and self, met, lowered the ironwork,
reset in place, adjusted and lowered the
main shaft into place on the bearing once
more. Coupled up and pressurised the grease
line Done - all in just over two hours. I
was back home in Fleet before 11.30 am in
time to get washed and change, much to the
relief of Ros who had booked a meal for us,
with friends, at a local hotel for1.00 pm
My grateful thanks
are passed to Dave Hibbert and GHL
Engineering.
