The Other Mill

Pretty much everyone in the village knows about Melingriffith, Griffith’s Mill on the bank of the River Taff. It seems that it had been there since time immemorial, but the earliest mention is in 1158 when it was described as ‘burnt down’, destroyed by Welsh insurgents fighting the Norman incomers

But there were other mills locally too. There were at least two mills in Tongwynlais, a large mill sited on the river and another on the fast-flowing stream near Castell Coch, and also one in Llandaff North

There was a second mill in Whitchurch too, just behind the Common called Y Felin Fach, the Little Mill. There’s nothing left of the mill now except giving its name to the housing estate built on the site

There must be early references to the mill, but the earliest information found so far is from the Tithe Map of 1840. This notes that the tenant was Edward Williams and that the land was owned by Lord Dynevor, the mill must have been older, as the Taff Vale Railway constructed in the 1830’s divided the mill building and pond from its garden to the south. The mill had been strategically located to take advantage of the natural embankment so that probably a large overshot water wheel could drive the mill stones. A long mill stream had been constructed in a big curve, taking water from the Whitchurch Brook across fields to the mill and then to discharge into the River Taff further south. At the mill, a generous millpond had been constructed for times when the stream couldn’t provide sufficient water to drive the wheel

There were no proper roads back then, so access to the mill was via a simple track off the Merthyr Road (near Island Cottage) so that corn could be delivered from nearby farms

In the census of 1841, Edward Williams (the tenant) did not occupy the mill, rather he was the farmer of Pentre Farm, with his wife Cecile and 4 servants. The mill was occupied by Elizabeth Harding (a widow aged 38 described as a miller) with her 5 children and a lodger. Probably her husband would have been the miller and died a few years earlier. The family might have lived in the mill, but there was a second building adjacent which might have been a separate cottage

So how old would the mill have been? Possibly a few hundred years earlier than the buildings shown on the Tithe map, and perhaps older still. The line of the millstream on the maps seems a natural part of the old field system

A 17th century mill would traditionally have been constructed of local stone with a thatched roof and an enormous mill wheel. The technology for grinding corn was well known and, even the large mill wheel could have been constructed locally

Most of the fields around were arable, growing wheat (for bread), barley (mainly for beer) and oats for animal fodder. Whilst the population of Whitchurch was still quite small at that time, the numbers of farm animals needing fodder was large. So, a second mill in the village would have been quite sustainable. As the population of Whitchurch grew, the demand would only have increased

So, when did the mill finish, and when was it demolished? What became of Elizabeth Harding and her family? Does anyone know any more?

Terry Chard who lives very locally has provided a little insight. In the 1960’s, some of the stone buildings were still there, although quite ruinous, but a wonderful playground for the local children

In fact, Terry has provided a copy of the painting below showing Little Mill in the 1940’s, painted by the son of wartime refugees who were living in Llandaff North at the time. I’m sure Terry can add to the story, but can anyone else help?

 

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