Conversation between James Brew, Harry Kinrade and Charles Craine about milling
Audio Player:
Date(s): 1971-1979
Creator(s): Manx Museum
Scope & Content: Conversation between James Brew of Sulby, Harry Kinrade of Geary Cottage on Jurby Road, and Charles Craine of Ramsey about milling. Harry and Charles interject to both ask questions and to add their own insights.
They talk about Mr Brew’s work with his father, also a millwright; the Dumbell’s Bank crash; his father’s building of the first mill on the island to use a steam winnower at Bootleyvelt, Maughold; Mr Brew’s work on the Kella mill at Sulby, which was owned by his brother Tommy, and at Greeba and Glen Helen; his emigration to South Africa; working on railway construction, including on the Kafue Railway Bridge near Victoria Falls; his return to the island and building his house; constructing the wheel at the Glen Wyllin mill; Tommy Brew’s construction of cogs for mill wheels; Mr Craine’s talks with Tommy Gawne, the St Jude’s blacksmith, about four mills that Mr Brew’s father put up; 'flat shakers' and pegs used in steam mills; Mr Brew’s work at Ballaragh with his brother David; threshing done by horse mills; Mr Brew’s involvement in windmills, including at Baldromma, Maughold, with his brother Stephen.
Mr Craine tells a humorous anecdote of Ballawhane Mill, Andreas; discussion of Adam Hampton and whether he was Ballawhane’s sheckter (English: executor); crofters in Sulby threshing with a board that they could pass between them; steam mills replacing horse mills; the burning down of the Claddagh mill; costs and materials of Mr Brew’s cottage; the first traction engine on the island; the pulling of mills from one place to another with horses; the burning of wood in the steam mills during a coal strike thought to have been in 1923; and Mr Craine tells an anecdote from Ballaglass mill.
The original sound recording sounds 'speeded up' with the speed and pitch increasing before the recording ends abruptly. The content however is still listenable.
Administration / Biographical History: This recording was made for the Manx Folk Life Survey. Charles Craine (1911-1979) was a Manx Folk Life Survey recorder.
Language: English
Extent: 32 min. 26 sec.
Item name: magnetic tape
Collection: Sound Archive
Level: ITEM
ID number: SA 0079
Access conditions: All reasonable attempt has been made by Manx National Heritage to trace and request permission (where needed) from the copyright holder(s) in this sound recording. If however you think you are a rights holder then please contact Manx National Heritage.
Subject tags : #UOSH