St Davids Cathedral Mill Leat

Cadw's description

Summary description and reason for designation

The following provides a general description of the Scheduled Ancient Monument.

The monument consists of a leat, an artificial water channel usually leading to a mill, probably dating to 18th or 19th century. the St Davids Cathedral mill leat begins within the Cathedral Close where it runs off the River Alun and under a vaulted square tower attached to the Close Wall showing that its origins are late 13th century or earlier. The monument described here begins on the west side of the modern road and continues for c 580m to the former sluice just to the east of the mill, Felin Isaf. The leat averages 4m wide and is flat bottomed. The northern or outer bank stands 1.2m high and is revetted with drystone. At its eastern end this bank is up to 2m broad and separates the leat and river. The leat was maintained until the middle of the century when the mill stopped operating.

The monument is of national importance for its potential to enhance our knowledge of 18th or 19th century inductrial practices. It retains significant archaeological potential, with a strong probability of the presence of associated archaeological features and deposits. The structure itself may be expected to contain archaeological information concerning chronology and building techniques. A leat may be part of a larger cluster of monuments and their importance can further enhanced by their group value.

The scheduled area comprises the remains described and areas around them within which related evidence may be expected to survive.