Water mill - unclassified

The National Monuments Service's description

The precise location of the two watermills built by the Crown at Athlone in the first half of the 13th century has not been identified (Murtagh 1994, 12). In the early 13th century two watermills appear to have been located on the west side of Athlone along the banks of the River Shannon and probably located in an area between the castle (WM029-042002-) and St Peter and Paul's Priory (WM029-042003-). The two watermills were built by the Crown on lands owned by the monks of St Peter and Paul's Priory (WM029-042003-) for in 1235 the Crown recorded that ‘the monks of Adlon [Athlone] have been wont to receive at the Exchequer, Dublin, an annuity of 10 marks for the vill (WM029-042----), castle (WM029-042002-), mill and fishery (WM029-042081-) towards Connaught, which John [de Grey] Bishop of Norwich, when [justiciary], constructed in their land, the K. commands the justiciary to cause the monks to have this annuity’ (Cal. doc. Ire., 341). In 1281-2 the Crown made a payment to Henry le Marescal, in part payment of 28 marks for 4 millstones bought of him for the K.’s use, whereof 2 were sent to Athlone’ (Cal. doc. Ire., 411). These mills were located close to the fisheries or fish weirs (WM029-042081-) which had been built by the monks of St Peter and Paul's Priory (WM029-042003-). The construction of the two watermills at Athlone by the Anglo-Normans in the 13th century had a detrimental effect on the fisheries which previously belonged to the monks of St Peter and Paul's priory (WM029-042003-). In 1284 King Edward I, commanded the justiciary of Ireland ‘not to injure the Prior and convent of St. Peter of Athlone (WM029-042003-) regarding the pool (WM029-042081-) which they were wont anciently to have. The justiciary had constructed 2 mills upon the pool (WM029-042081-) for the K.’s use, and the prior and convent had consequently taken nothing in the pool’ (Cal. doc. Ire., 564). In 1290 the treasurer of Ireland paid ‘Gilbert, monk of Athlone (WM029-042003-), 40s. of silver for the losses which the monks had sustained for 3 years in their pools (WM029-042081-) of Athlone by the construction of the K.’s mills there’ (Cal. doc. Ire., 325). In 1292 the exchequer received payment of £12 5s. from ‘Peter Tuyt, of issues of pools (WM029-042081-) of Athlone’ and 34s. 5½d. for the ‘farm of the burgh of Athlone’ and 100s. for the ‘prisage of beer of the burgh of Athlone’ and 1 mark ‘for the mills of Athlone’ (Cal. doc. Ire., 504). The following year in 1293 the exchequer received payment of £7 from ‘Stephen Ailmer of issues of pools [gurgites] (WM029-042081-) of Athlone’ , 17s 2¼d. rent of the burgh (WM029-042----) of Athlone, 10s. rent for the land of Clocheran, 20s. for the mills of Athlone, and 4s. for rent of 8 acres of land of the demesne of the K. near the castle (WM029-042002-)’ (Cal. doc. Ire., 9).

Compiled by: Rachel Barrett and Caimin O'Brien

Date of upload: 4 November 2013

References

Murtagh, H. (ed.) 1994 Athlone. Irish Historic Towns Atlas, No. 6. Dublin. Royal Irish Academy.

Cal. doc. Ire. - Calendar of documents relating to Ireland 1171-1307, ed. H.S. Sweetman (5 vols., London, 1875-86).