Water mill - horizontal-wheeled

The National Monuments Service's description

In narrow steep-sided glen containing stream which originally flowed W to join Sullane River. Excavated prior to flooding for Lee Valley Hydro-electric Scheme (Fahy 1956a, 13-57); flood waters now come to within 20m of wheel house. Exposed walls of wheel-house survive; site traditionally known as holy well (9290). Excavation revealed dam, crossing floor of glen, c. 55 yards E of wheel-house, which originally consisted of an earthen, dry-stone revetted bank (ibid., 16), cut through by narrow drystone revetted water-channel (L 14ft; Wth 1ft 4in). Below dam artificial head-race (L 150ft; Wth 2ft 6in; D 2ft 10in), dug into gravel bed of glen, carried water to upper end of sloping wooden flume, buried inground immediately behind wheel-house. Wooden flume (L 8ft), rectangular in section and originally roofed with stone slabs, had lower end set into rectangular opening (Wth 2ft 4in; H 1ft 10in) in rear of wheel-house.
Partially sunken wheel-house rectangular in plan (7ft x 12ft), open to W. Side walls (T 8ft; H 12ft 3in) of random-rubble dry-stone construction using large sandstone slabs; rear (E) wall 'built of four slabs standing, one on the other, on edge' (ibid., 18); five oaken planks formed floor. Remains of wooden water-wheel (401/2 in) found in wheel-house consisted of wooden hub which once had 23 paddles attached (fragments of 11 were found)(ibid., 22). Four millstones uncovered on site, three runners tones and one bedstone. Tail race (Wth 12ft; D 4ft) to W of wheel-house cut into natural gravel bed of glen. Tentatively dated to 17th century by Fahy (ibid.); Rynne (1992, 57) suggested early-medieval date. Site of possible corn-drying kiln (9312) excavated nearby to S. Levelled moated site (CO071-090001-) overlooking glen c. 30m NNW of wheel-house.

The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Cork. Volume 3: Mid Cork' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1997). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.

Date of upload/revision: 14 January 2009