Windmills

The following pictures are of the INSIDES of the windmills. We got a close up look at how the windmills work - and when I say close - I mean CLOSE! We are standing right next to this huge wheel (that weighs 4 ton) and is crushing chalk blocks into fine powder. It was amazing!
Note the mill worker and his wooden shoes! He would scoop up some chunks and toss them onto the crusher - he knew just where to toss them under the wheel.

The wheels appear to be stopped here - but they are not - they are moving at a very steady high speed. All propelled by the wind. And it was a windy day - so they were going round and round and round.Heading up the steep ladder to the top part of the windmill. Imagine Kimber climbing these stairs with a backpack on her back and a kid (Silas) in the carrier on her front!Up top. The upper part of the windmill is made of thatch - you can sort of tell in the picture. Looking down the main beam. All the innards -were made of wood - it was soo cool - but a bit creaky...one couldn't help but wonder if something was going to suddenly crack!Looking up - this is the main shaft coming from the external blades/sails.

The wooden gears - this is all built back in the late 1600's - and still working!!
More gears - all spinning!!
This last one is of the linseed oil mill. They crush the flax seeds, then heat the flax flour, then pound/press out the oil. This windmill was LOUD and SMOKEY....due to the fires, and hammers. No chimmny - all the smoke just went out the top.