The Flour Mills of Trevor

The parish of Trevor, near Llangollen, takes in the small village of Pontcysyllte and it is this area that we find what remains of three old flour mills:

Trevor Mill is situated on the outskirts of Trevor, close to Plas yn Pentre House and the River Dee. Built in 1848 it fell into disuse many years ago and has now been converted into a private dwelling.

The old water wheel can still be seen alongside. Flour from this mill was conveyed to the Shropshire Union Canal, which is just above and there loaded on to barges alongside Millers Bridge.

When the mill was in production, there was a small wooden building alongside the canal where the flour was stored to await the arrival of a barge; this no longer exists apart from the concrete base upon which it stood.

Lyn Madoc Mill also a flourmill is said to be older than Trevor Mill. Originally called Venture Mill it was built about the year 1833 and lies directly alongside the river. Although the water wheel has long since gone, its foundations can still be seen.

The mill ceased working during the latter days of the nineteenth century but in the outbreak of the First World War it was used as a factory for the manufacture of shell cases.

After the end of the war it became a tinsmith's shop and in 1924, when it closed down, the mill fell into disuse.

Adjoining it was a house called Llys Madoc, where during the time of baptisms in the Dee, candidates who had been immersed were welcomed with hot drinks and given facilities for drying and a change of clothes. These baptisms ceased in 1944. The house and the old mill have now been incorporated into a dwelling house.

Talent Mill, which has now disappeared, was probably the oldest of the three mills, possibly dating to about 1843.

It was near Dolydd turning alongside the pathway, which leads to the Aqueduct. As this mill had no convenient water supply to turn its grinding stones, this power was supplied by a donkey walking in a circle, and tethered to a contraption geared to machinery inside the building.

The mill fell into disuse about the end of the century and all that remains of the building, which was owned by a local lady, are a few fragments of its walls.

Near the mill there existed, many years ago, the parish oven, where parishioners who made their own bread, took it to be baked. Again, time has obliterated all traces of it, and below the canal are the ruins of another local industry, a malt house. At one time this served the wants of both local and outside breweries.

These three mills, along with Pontcysyllte Foundry and the ruined Malt House, made up all of that area's industries.

We are indebted to Mr H.C. Diggory for providing all the information used.