Mill — unclassified in Ardagh

The precise location of a medieval mill in the borough of Ardagh has not been identified. The Urban Survey of Limerick recorded the following about Ardagh which contained the following monuments, a medieval mill, a castle (LI028-164----), a parish church (LI028-103002-) dedicated to St. Molua, a graveyard (LI028-103003-) and holy well (LI028-103004-) dedicated to St. Molua. 'Ardagh is situated in west Limerick off the Limerick to Tralee road to the north west of Newcastle West. It is difficult to explain why the Anglo-Normans should have picked this location for development as a borough unless it was a pre-existing settlement site. The history of the Anglo-Norman settlement is itself obscure but it seems clear that a borough was established here in the thirteenth century. Revenues from its hundred court amounted to 6s 8d in 1298-9 (Sweetman 1875-86, iv, 257) and it was one of a number of boroughs which paid a subsidy of 40s to the crown in 1300 (Mills 1905, 304). It is likely that the Anglo-Norman settlement was never substantial and it was probably never anything more than a village or hamlet. The medieval borough was probably sited on the present village which has a linear, T-shaped, pattern with burgage plots fronting onto the street. None of the houses are pre-1700 in date. There was a mill here worth 10s in 1298-9 (Sweetman 1875-86, iv, 257) but its exact site is unknown' (Bradley et. al. 1989, vol. 1, 48). In 1452 the Rental of Connello recorded that the mill of Ardagh (D. Molendino de Ardath) was valued at 33s. 4d. (Begley 1906, 328). The above description of this monument is taken from 'The Urban Archaeological Survey of County Limerick' compiled by John Bradley, Andrew Halpin and Heather A. King (Office of Public Works, 1985). Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 25 September 2018