Mill - fulling

The National Monuments Service's description

The precise location of a fulling mill in the town of Kilbeggan has not been identified. Kilbeggan town (WM038-017----) is situated on the River Brosna in the low-lying countryside of south Westmeath. In 1618 an inquisition into the estate of the deceased of Oliver Lord Lambert listed a water mill and a fulling mill which were powered by the River Brosna (Anon 1826, 56). It is possible that the mills may have formed part of the monastic estate of the Cistercian abbey of Kilbeggan that was granted to Sir Oliver Lambert in 1606 (Erck 1846, 268). It is not clear if there were two separate mills at Kilbeggan on the River Brosna consisting of a watermill (WM038-017008-) and a fulling mill. The 1656-59 Down Survey map of Moycashel Barony depicts one watermill standing on the E bank of the River Brosna a short distance to the N of the settlement at Kilbeggan (NLI Ms. 723-724). A corn mill depicted on the 1837 ed. OS 6-inch map stands roughly in the same location as that of the watermill depicted on the 1656-59 Down Survey map. This corn mill may have been built on the site of the earlier watermill or possibly incorporates fabric of the earlier mill in the masonry of the present mill.

Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien

Date of upload: 22 July 2015