Mill

On the S slopes of Bray Head. A collapsed masonry wall, at the SE side of a mound (diam. c. 20m; H 1m) of rushes and mosses, was interpreted as being the remnants of a possible millpond (Hayden 1997). Upslope from the wall there is a mass of waterlain silt (T 1m) with vegetable debris which appears to have accumulated in standing-water. In 1995 a section was cut across the feature and, although the results were inconclusive as little stonework survived, a radiocarbon date of AD 1410-1791 cal. was returned from the silt at the base of the section (ibid.). A boggy spring flows from the mound. Large stones, probably fallen masonry, are on the downslope side of the wall. A narrow trench, interpreted as being a possible tailrace (Mitchell et al. n.d.), is located in the field immediately to the E. There was no surface spread of silt, indicating that clear water, and not hill-wash, flowed down the trench. The evidence of a millpond here suggests that there was a mill at or near this location at one time. The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Kerry. Volume I: South-West Kerry' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 2009). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload: 30 May 2011