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Horizontal
Water Mill |
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Mill Stone at Kilmokea
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A mill stone and a
wooden flume were found in Kilmokea in the 1960's during
drainage work. These were part of a Horizontal Water
Mill which were used in Ireland from about the 7th
century. They were one of the first automatic machines
used here. They are called Horizontal Mills because the
wooden wheel which provided the power was layed flat in
the water. Most mills in Wexford are of the vertical
type or upright like Foulksmills and Castlebridge.The
mill was probably used by all the local people in the
community as grain growing was always part of Irish
farming. It was an easier way to grind the corn than
using the quern stone as much more could be ground with
the mill.
The stone found was the upper millstone and measures
68cm (27inches) in diameter. It has circular grooves
from the centre outwards. |
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Elm Flume at Kilmokea
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| The flume has been carbon
dated to around 1279.As there was once a monastery here
in Kilmokea it's possible that the mill was used by the
monks.The water came from the stream and was directed by
the flume on to the mill wheel.As the flow of water
increases the wheel turns faster and its axle then
turned the upper millstone. Below this stone was the
lower stone which didn't turn.The grain was fed in from
the hopper and ground between the two stones. |
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The Hopper with the
millstones(Heritage Park,Wexford)
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| Before the
corn was ground it had to be dried but there is no
evidence of a Corn-drying Kiln in the area. |
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return to Local History |
