Rock Mill Llandysul
The mill in September 2007
Rock Mill Llandysul is located in Ceredigion
Rock Mill Llandysul
Location of Rock Mill Llandysul
Built1890s
LocationCapel Dewi, Llandysul, Ceredigion, Wales
Coordinates52°03′25″N 4°15′41″W / 52.056881°N 4.261433°W / 52.056881; -4.261433
IndustryWoollen industry in Wales
ProductsBlankets, throws, rugs, shawls
Addresswww.rockmillwales.co.uk

Rock Mill Llandysul (Welsh: Melin Wlân), in Capel Dewi, Llandysul, Ceredigion, is the last woollen mill in Wales to be powered by a water wheel.

Location

The Mill lies in the narrow valley of Afon Clettwr, a tributary of the River Teifi, on a minor road about 0.5 kilometres (0.31 mi) south east of the church of St David in Capel Dewi.[1] Capel Dewi is about 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) east-north-east of Llandysul.[2] Water is carried to the wheel along a short leat from a weir on the river.[1]

History

During the Industrial Revolution the Teifi Valley became the centre of the Woollen industry in Wales, employing thousands of weavers, spinners, dyers, knitters, drapers and tailors.[3] The river and its tributaries powered dozens of mills, and sheep in the surrounding grassland supplied fleeces to be made into woollen products.[4] Rock Mill was built in the 1890s by the great grandfather of the present owner.[1] The two-storey mill is built of stone, with flagstone floors and low ceilings.[3] The mill has been operated continuously by the same family since its foundation as a spinning and weaving mill. Few changes have been made in that period.[1] The mill is now the only commercial woollen mill powered by water that is still operating in Wales.[5]

Today

The mill is powered by the original double cast-iron overshot water wheel made by the "Bridgend" foundry of Cardigan. The wheel is 12 feet (3.7 m) in diameter and 7 feet (2.1 m) wide. It drives line shafting through the mill which supplies a direct drive to the carding and spinning machines, and drives an electrical generator that powers two looms.[1] The mill is open to visitors from Spring to Autumn, and has a shop where textiles are sold.[1] The mill makes blankets with traditional "tapestry" (double-woven) designs.[6] Other woven or knitted products made from yarn produced in the mill include throws, rugs and shawls.[2]

Notes

    1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Rock Mill / Melin Wlân – Welsh Mills.
    2. 1 2 Rock Mill, Capel Dewi – Teifi Rivers Trust.
    3. 1 2 About Rock Mill – Rock Mill.
    4. ↑ Llandysul – List Wales.
    5. ↑ Wool and water mills – Discover Ceredigion.
    6. ↑ Petro 2016.
    Wikimedia Commons has media related to Rock Mill Llandysul.

    Sources

    • About Rock Mill, Rock Mill, retrieved 30 March 2016
    • "Llandysul", List Wales, retrieved 30 March 2016
    • Petro, Pamela (2016), "Welsh sheep rule the catwalk" (blog), americas.visitwales.com, Welsh government, retrieved 30 March 2016
    • Rock Mill, Capel Dewi, Teifi Rivers Trust, retrieved 30 March 2016
    • Rock Mill / Melin Wlân, Capel Dewi, Welsh Mills, retrieved 30 March 2016
    • "Wool and water mills", Discover Ceredigion, Ceredigion County Council, retrieved 30 March 2016
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