Abbey House

Detached five-bay three-storey over basement flour mill with half-attic, dated 1807, on an L-shaped plan with three-bay three-storey return to north. In use as corn mill, 1948-9. Now in ruins. Pitched slate roofs on an L-shaped plan over timber construction now mostly collapsed with clay ridge tiles, rendered coping, and no rainwater goods surviving on dressed rubble limestone eaves. Part ivy-clad unpainted fine roughcast lime rendered wall to front (south) elevation over random rubble limestone construction with dressed rubble limestone quoins to corners, exposed random rubble limestone construction to remainder, and remains of waterwheel over mill race having iron mechanisms. Square-headed window openings with no sills, timber lintels (some concealed), and remains of timber fittings including eight-over-eight timber sash windows having wrought iron bars. Square-headed door opening with concealed timber lintel, and remains of timber fitting. Set back from line of road in shared grounds on bank of Little Arrigle River.

A substantial mill building representing an important element of the industrial legacy of County Kilkenny having supported much of the local agricultural economy since the early nineteenth century. Although having fallen into ruins following decommissioning after the mid twentieth century many of the original composition attributes survive in place including the regular, almost monotonous distribution of the openings: the remains of a waterwheel identify the technical or engineering significance of the site. Forming part of a neat self-contained group with an associated mill owner's house (12402834/KK-28-34) the resulting ensemble makes a pleasing visual statement on a bank overlooking the Little Arrigle River.