Water mill — unclassified in Unknown Townland

The precise location of a medieval watermill located to the W of John Street which was one of 3 watermills (DU018-020226-/0096-/0230-) known as St John's Mills (Clarke 2002, 26) in the possession of St John the Baptist's Hospital (DU018-020062-) has not been identified. Saint John's House was in possession of the watercourse (DU018-020374-/0739-) which powered 3 watermills located to the W and N of the religious house and is depicted on Speed's 1610 map of Dublin City. A section of this watercourse (DU018-020739-) was excavated in 1995 by Linzi Simpson underneath the NE corner of the National College of Art and Design on the S side of Oliver Bond Street and to the W of John Street. In 1457 the Dublin Assembly Roll recorded the granting to Saint John's House 'the cowrs [course] of the watyr, lyke as they had of old tyme, beryng therfor yerly xl.s.; and they to bryn har dede by the post semble. And yf thay wold noght pay the sayden xl.s., that then John [Staines plummer] shall have the sayd water for the terme of xl. wyntyr' (CARD Vol. 1, 295-6). A year later in 1458 the Dublin White Book recorded a leasing agreement between the Mayor of Dublin and and the Prior and brethren of the house of the Hospital of Saint John the Baptist which related to the watercourse and watermills (DU018-020226-/0096-/0230-) of St. John's. The conditions of the 40 yeare lease recorded the following conditions that; 'the Prior and his brethren the running water and its course from the small house called le watyrhouse, near Crokkers Barres [Gate], passing through the King's street called Saint Thomas strete and by the house of St. John the Baptist so far as the water-mill [DU018-020226-/0096-/230-] of that Hospital. The Prior and brethren may construct a fosse, from their mill [Mullinahack?] near their cemetery of the Hospital so far as the city ditch, on the south side of the bridge of Gormones [Ormonds] gate [DU018-020029-], and the water is to have free course to the Aniliffy [Liffey]. The Mayor and commonalty are, as of old, to be supervisors and of the water, to have right to easements such as washing and wringing, and to ensure that nothing noxious nor obstructive shall be cast into it. The Mayor and commonalty may also, in time of need, divert the water to fill the city ditch. Annual rent, forty shillings of silver' (CARD, Vol. 1, 171). In 1540 after the Dissolution of the Monasteries the Hospital of St. John Baptist outside the New Gate, Dublin was described as follows; 'The church and site. After the dissolution, the church was thrown down, and the stones, tiles, timber, glass, and iron were sold by William Brabazon under-treasurer of Ireland to divers persons of the city of Dublin, whose names, and the sums paid by them, are not known. Within the precincts, 3 watermills [DU018-020226-/0096-/230-] operating on a stream [DU018-020374-/0739-] drawn from the Odder; Nicholas Benet, per ind. p.t.a.; rent, 220 pecks of good wheat and malt, value (measure of 12 gallons, 12.d.), II.li. The lessee is exonerated from the twentieth due to the king and from the rent for water due to the city and from all other charges. Total, 13.li. 3.s. 4.d. Memorandum. The king by 1.p. 16 Sept. 1539 granted to farm to Edmund Redman the whole site etc., church, belfry and cemetery and the rest of all the premises, excepting the watermills, for 43.s. 4.d., the lessee to bear all charges' (White 1943, 55-6). In 1564 the Dublin Assembly Roll recorded an agreement by the 'said assemblie that Mr. Cristophor Sedgrave, alderman , shall have the course of the watere that runnethe to Sainct Johns millis for terme of thre score [and ] one yeres, in reversion, payenge yerlie to the thresourer of the cittie forty shillinges' (CARD Vol. 2, 35). See attached section of Speed's 1610 Map of Dublin City showing the watercourse running along St. Thomas Street between St. Catherine's Church and John's Lane West and 'The mill's' indicated with an X. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 27 June 2023