Cider Press Millstone - Le Portelet, Jersey, Channel Islands
Posted by: dtrebilc
N 49° 10.381 W 002° 10.422
30U E 560227 N 5447017
This cider press with a vertical mill stone is an example of a type of millstone that used to be common on the island of Jersey. It is in the beer garden in the grounds of the Portelet Inn at the village of Le Portelet.
Waymark Code: WMM4KG
Location: Jersey
Date Posted: 07/20/2014
Views: 1
The presses were used to crush apples during the making of cider.
The press had a large round central portion with a vertical pillar in the middle. Surrounding the inner circles is a narrow groove with the mill stone arranged vertically. The millstone which was milled on the narrow edge, was connected to the middle pillar by a wooden beam.
The beam projected through the vertical millstone to enable it to be driven by a horse. As the wheel was pulled around the groove it crushed the apples.
Like this example a number of these millstones have been preserved but turned into a garden ornament with flowers planted in them.
This
website gives details of how they worked.