Abbey Mill (in ruins) — Lorrha

Situated on NE angle of the claustral range of the 13th century Dominican Friary (TN004-010001-). The building was part of the monastic complex. Listed in 1335 as belonging to the lands of William de Burgo which consisted of the grange and the mill of the town of Lother (Cal. inq. post mortem, 373). The building itself survives to a height of three storeys, with a slight base batter. It is constructed of randomly coursed limestone rubble which is badly spalled. An arched opening of roughly cut voussoirs mid-way along the N and S wall at ground level allowed a stream/mill-race to run through the building, turning the mill-wheel. At ground level a modern doorway has been inserted in the W face and there is a crude, blocked ope in the E wall. The first and second floors were entered through pointed doorways from an external stair or structure on the W wall, no trace of which is visible beneath the heavy ivy cover. The first floor was lit by two windows in the N wall and a flat-headed window in the E and S wall. The second floor was lit by at least four windows, including ogee-headed double-lights. There are the remains of a fireplace in the N wall. The upper storeys of the mill were used for accommodation, probably accessed from the domestic range of buildings off the cloister. The above description is derived from 'The Archaeological Inventory of County Tipperary. Vol. 1 - North Tipperary' compiled by Jean Farrelly and Caimin O'Brien (Dublin: Stationery Office, 2002). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload/revision: 22 September 2008