2004:0725 - BALLYSEEDY, Kerry

Archaeological works on the N21 (J11) Ballycarty–Tralee road improvement scheme were undertaken for Kerry County Council. Phase II of the works involved monitoring of topsoil-stripping along the length of the route under licence 03E1701 (Excavations 2003, No. 771). The basal foundations of a mill were recorded in the townland of Ballyseedy at the southern end of the link road. Partial reduction of sections of the millpond wall was required from Chainage 260 to Chainage 300. A geo-textile membrane, a layer of pea-gravel and a secondary layer of sandstone fill were laid over the remains.

According to the OS Name Books, Ballyseedy Mill was built in 1800 and was in use as a corn mill until about 1837. The mill was deliberately dismantled some time after 1837. The walls had been reduced to a general height of c. 0.4–0.5m. The mill buildings were located in the northern section of the site, bound by the third-class road to the west and an earthen embankment to the east. A millpond was located to the south of the mill buildings. It was fed from the south by a rising spring, which has been enclosed by a stone wall and paving. The millpond survived as a large marshy area measuring c. 50m north-south by 15m. It reached a maximum width of c. 22m east-west at the southern end. A section of the mill-race was recorded to the north of the millpond. The mill-race channel would have passed through the centre of the mill building under an arched opening. Preservation of the walls on the western side indicated that the mill-race within the mill buildings was at least 20m in length by 0.68m in width at the narrowest point. A partial plan of the mill building was recorded; it measured c. 22m north-south by 12m.

Ballycurreen Industrial Estate, Kinsale Road, Cork