mill (water), CORWILLIN

Detached seven-bay four-storey mill, built c.1790 as beetling mill, converted to corn mill and fourth storey added c.1850, southernmost bay to front elevation projecting and formerly accommodating internal water-wheel, latter now removed. Pitched slate roof, catslide over projecting bay, with rectangular roof-lights to both pitches. Coursed snecked rubble stone walls, with cut-stone quoins. Rectangular cast-iron wall-tie plates. Square-headed window openings, some with timber battened shutters, some having remains of timber-framed bipartite windows, one cast-iron multi-pane window to rear elevation. Square-headed blocked window openings to both gables, blocked with red brick. Segmental-arch opening to first floor rear elevation, having red brick voussoirs and masonry sill, with twentieth-century concrete trough formerly used for water supply to wheel. Segmental-arch door openings with red brick voussoirs to south gable and to advanced bay, having brick voussoirs to projecting bay, with timber battened doors. Square-headed door opening to first floor front elevation with timber battened door. Square-headed and segmental-headed door openings to front elevation, both with timber battened doors. Set at roadside, with miller's house to north and outbuildings to north-west to perimeter of site. Three-bay two-storey house, built c.1870, having pitched slate roof, rubble stone walls, and square-headed openings with replacement uPVC windows and doors. Multiple-bay single-storey outbuilding with pitched corrugated-iron roof, rubble stone walls and square-headed openings. Mill stream to north-west site boundary.

Originally built as a beetling mill, and noted as such on the 1835 Ordnance Survey map, this site was later converted to use as a corn mill. Beetling was the final stage in the linen process, and involved beating the fabric with hammers to reduce porousness and give a smooth surface. The linen industry contributed to the prosperity of the Aughnamullen area in the nineteenth century, and this is one of several mills once owned by the Jackson family. Noted as a disused corn mill on the 1908 ordinance survey map, it is nonetheless a reminder of the thriving linen industry, and its large form makes it an imposing figure on the road. It is enhanced and contextualised by the mill stream and nearby, later, miller's house, and has recently benefited from being appropriately re-roofed. The projecting bay to the front accommodated an internal water-wheel.