Coolbane Mills (Corn) — Coolbane (duhallow By., Tullylease Par.)

On N-facing slope, overlooking Allow River, c. 2km NW of Freemount. Millrace taken by weir from Allow River c. 1.4km to W. Complex consists of three mills built to N and NW of 4-bay 2-storey gable-ended late-18th/early-19th-century house. Mills constructed of random-rubble sandstone. On lower ground below yard, to N of house, is disused corn mill ('Grist mill' on 1842 OS 6-inch map). This is rectangular 3-storey structure (int.: 15.73m E-W; 4.49m N-S), 4-bays wide: lintelled opes; gable-ended; built into N-facing slope. Wheel-pit (Wth 1.7m; D 2.5m) alongside W gable contains cast-iron breastshot suspension waterwheel (diam. 6.03m) with 16 slim iron arms, cast-iron shrouding and wooden buckets. Pinion shaft, terminating at pit-wheel, within mill transferred power to line shaft, and powered at least two pairs of millstones on 1st floor (access to this area not gained). Segments of French burr millstone lie outside. Low gabled projection on N side contains remains of grain-drying kiln, with ceramic kiln-tiles collapsed into furnace area. Attached to NW corner of house is mill, of mid-/late-19th-century, now used as store. Rectangular 3-storey, gable-ended structure (int. 10.6m E-W; 6.59m N-S), 3 bays wide; chimney on E gable. Building secured by three tie-braces between 1st and 2nd floor. Upper portion of W gable is plastered, and has date '1917' on it. Lean-to addition at S end of gable. Wheel-pit alongside W gable housed breastshot suspension waterwheel, probably worked alongside and eventually replaced by small inward-flowing turbine in adjacent wheel-pit which is enclosed by wheel house. Turbine transferred power to pulley-wheeled line shaft on 1st floor. According to owner, turbine went out of use with introduction of oil-powered Stamford stone mill which survives within mill. Tail race passes through channel under road to feed Grist mill's wheel-pit, and along E wall of third mill (see below). Third mill is situated across road, to N of previously described mill, and SW of Grist mill. This is rectangular (5.95m N-S; 6.28m E-W) 2-storey structure. Wheel-pit (Wth 3m; D 3m) alongside W wall is lined by ashlar limestone. Wheel-pit, fed by millrace taken from main millrace c. 70m to W, housed breastshot waterwheel. Millrace also flowed along E side of mill where there is a second wheel-pit. Interior converted to grain-drying kiln with central furnace (1.6m E-W; 1.47m N-S); ceramic kiln-tiles overhead supported on iron beams with wooden floor immediately underneath. Mill built into slope with 1st-floor door in S wall at external ground level. Stone stairs on W side gives access to upper levels. Central door ope in W elevation. Owned by the O'Shaughnessys, a branch of the family which owned Dripsey Woollen Mills (9751). The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Cork. Volume 4: North Cork' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 2000). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload/revision: 14 January 2009