Rock Mills (in Ruins)

On S bank of River Funshion, in grounds of Rockmill Lodge. Rectangular ruined mill, built in two sections; interior empty shell, no machinery. Earlier section, of which only N end wall now stands (9.18m E-W), had wheel-pit alongside N wall; 5-storey gable-ended extension to N (int.: 6.1m N-S; 7.8m E-W) straddles wheel-pit (Wth 5.13m) which was accommodated by two semicircular arched openings (Wth c. 2m) on W wall (headrace), and a single segmental-arched (brick) opening on E wall (tailrace). Walls flanking wheel-pit have rectangular opes, with iron surround, through which power was transferred from wheel. Later section has lintelled window opes; the date '1800' is crudely carved into a door surround, leading into area of wheel pit. Wheel-pit contained a poncelot wheel described as a 'large 15ft x 12ft undershot wheel with sloping valve' (FFIAS, 5); position of wheel indicated by curved bed of mill race with cast-iron shrouding on both sides. Connected to mill on N side by archway is long 2-storey gable-ended building (int.: c. 20m E-W; 5.3m N-S). Built against rock face, a short distance SW of mill, is collapsed rectangular grain-drying kiln (13.5m N-S; 6.5m E-W); fragments of brick furnace and ceramic kiln-tiles are strewn about. West of mill is ruin of 2-storey 4-bay residential house- occupied until 1960s. Mill built by Richard Aldworth and Rev. Delaney in 1776, then enlarged by C. D. Oliver c. 1820 who installed a new iron waterwheel (Grove White 1905-25, vol. 4, 180). According to Lewis (1837, vol. 2, 420), was capable of producing nearly 12,000 sacks of flour annually. Mill was idle by 1850s but subsequently revived (B. Power, The Avondhu, 14 Aug. 1997). It had various owners until early 1900s when it fell into ruin; in 1903 mill race converted to auxiliary salmon hatchery (Grove White ibid.). 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