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In Skerries, there are two windmills and a watermill
– a unique collection of mills and one of Ireland’s
foremost industrial heritage centres. The story
of stone-ground milling in Skerries can be traced
to the early 16th century when the lands belonged
to the Priory of Holmpatrick, an Augustinian monastic
foundation. Milling continued in Skerries until
the early years of the 20th century and a bakery
which existed by 1840, was producing breads and
confectionery until the mid 1980’s.
Following a ten year restoration project undertaken
by the County Council, F.Á.S. and the local community,
the centre is open to the public throughout the
year. The mills with associated mill pond, mill
races and wet lands are now a focal point for
Skerries Town Park and the site commands wonderful
views of the coast and off-shore islands. Visitors
begin their guided tour of the site in the four-storey
watermill building; they can try their skills
at grinding; observe the waterwheel at work and
walk through the corn field to visit one of the
windmills. The watermill also houses a café, craft
shop and exhibition space which can be accessed
independently.
The mills in Skerries were used for grinding
corn: wheat, oats and barley - wind power complementing
water power, particularly in times of drought.
At the dissolution of the monasteries under Henry
VIII in 1538, the Canons Regular of St Augustin
of Holmpatrick owned c.1000 acres of land in the
vicinity of present-day Skerries and counted a
watermill among their possessions. A lease of
1578 tells us that one windmill had already been
built on Chanon or Shallock Hill by the last quarter
of the 16th century. The second windmill, known
as The Great Windmill of Skerries was probably
built towards the end of the 18th century when
the former had fallen into disrepair. Stormy weather
in the mid- 1840's badly damaged this mill but
it was rebuilt in a five-sail version and became
a popular symbol in holiday posters for Skerries.
Artists Alexander Williams and Harry Kernoff also
made it a subject of their paintings.
There are three sets of grinding stones in the
Skerries watermill, powered by an overshot waterwheel.
A large mill-pond controlled by a series of sluice-gates
feeds the water to the mill. The four floors or
lofts are served by two bag-hoists; winnowers
and a blower are located above the stone floor
and below the hoppers in the top loft. The Skerries
windmills are both tower-mills, where the cap
or top of the mill is turned to the wind. The
older of the two mills rises to 12.2 metres and
is perched on the site of a prehistoric fort,
the highest point in the town. The cap is thatched
and turned into the wind from inside by a hand
lever. The Great Windmill of Skerries commands
magnificent views of the coast and surrounding
countryside. 15 metres in height with a 20 metre
diametre of sail, this mill contains two sets
of grinding stones and the cap is pulled into
the wind by a tail-pole. The mills enclose a four-acre
mill field where the annual crop is grown.
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