the flax was cut and 'weighted' down under water bu large stones. This place where the water was held was called a 'lint-hole' something like a man made canal only the water was not flowing, the flax remained there until it was almost rotted (the smell was like something had died) it was removed from the water and spread out on the grass to dry and #bleach' in the sun (the place where it was spread out was commonly known as a 'Bleach Green') from there it was transported to a Scutch Mill.
Very common in the north of Ireland and most villages with a Mill had one or more but all small farms that grew the flax had an area which was known as 'bleach green'
End of history lesson . . . oh! except, the work was back breaking but in the 1940's you would be paid 6d a bunch (a large armful) if you wanted to make real money though, you became a 'scutcher' dirty, smelly work, infact the smell never washed out and like garlic, when you would sweat folk knew what you worked at BUT very good wages for the hard work!
Eoín