Water mill - unclassified

The National Monuments Service's description

'Old Mill' now levelled which stood on E side of stream 60m W of Robertstown church and graveyard with Robertstown Castle (LI010-013----) 130m to N. A single arched bridge with flat heading opening for tail race of 'Old Mill' stands 20m to N. The 1840 OS six-inch map shows a rectangular structure in this location that is named 'Old Mill'. No structure is shown in this location on later editions of the OS map and there is no evident trace of such a structure on the ground. The 'Old Mill' stood on the E side of a stream which marked the townland boundary between Sroolane North and Robertstown.
Westropp (1906-7, 242) gives the following details about Robertstown mill; '1608 Ballyrobert C[astle] conveyed by Jas. Wakeman to Sir Ric. Wingfield, of Smithstown, with a water mill, Carricke O'Ruderi, Ardenere, and part of estate of Teige mac Clansie, slain in rebellion (Rev. Exch., 1613-18, p. 1; 1623, p. 17; Inq. Chan., 6b), who held it with Cragg, 1638 (Inq. Chan., C.S., p. 94, &c). 1655 C[astle]. of Robertstown, Carrigenrudderi, mill, &c.'
The 1654-56 Civil Survey of Limerick recorded that Sir Edward Wingfield was the owner of the lands of Robertstown and Garrintober which contained 'a ruined castle [LI010-013----] with two Mill seates' (Simington 1938, 327). The 'Old Mill' may have been one of the two mill sites described in the Civil Survey.

Compiled by: Denis Power

Revised by: Caimin O'Brien

Date of revised upload: 13 May 2020

References

Simington, R.C. (ed.) 1938 The civil survey, AD 1654-1656. Vol. IV: county of Limerick, with a section of Clanmaurice barony Co. Kerry. Dublin. Irish Manuscripts Commission.

Westropp, T.J. 1906-7 The ancient castles of the county of Limerick. Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy 26, 54-264.