Mill in ruins — Gurteen (dorrha Par.)

In the 17th century the ruins of a fulling mill and a corn mill (TN005-004----) were described as standing on the side of Pallas River to the SW of the church in the townland of Gurteen on the lands of John Kennedy of Gurteen, who is described as an Irish Papist (Simington 1934, vol. 2, 321). The Civil Survey of 1654-56 recorded, 'Upon the sd lands are two decayed mills vizt., a fulling mill & a corne mill standing on a little brooke running through the sd lands onely useful in winter' (Simington 1934, vol. 2, 321). The 1838 edition of the OS 6-inch map shows a 'Mill in ruins' in this location and these ruins may have been located on or in close proximity to the site of the medieval mill as shown on the 17th century Down Survey map of Lower Ormond Barony (Hib. Reg.). The mill is clearly shown standing on the W bank of the Pallas River opposite Pallas Castle on the Down Survey map of Dorrha and Bunacum parishes (NLI, MS. 721). The medieval church of Dorrha (TN005-005001-) lies 220m to the NE, with Pallas Castle (TN005-006001-) 105m to the SE. 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. Compiled and revised by Caimin O'Brien Date of upload/revision: 12 October 2020