Medieval watermill and associated water management.


A watermill is assumed to have been associated with the nearby Rushen Abbey from medieval times onwards. Even after the Reformation, it was recorded in 1660 that all tenants of what was formerly abbey demesne land had to have their corn ground at the abbey mill.


The Ordnance Survey 1:2500 First Edition mapping of 1868 shows a corn mill at this location, on the east bank of the Silver Burn, just a few metres upstream of the site of Rushen Abbey.


The mill was fed from two sources: the Crossag stream flowing from the north-east, and the Silver Burn itself, from the north. A leat was drawn off the latter from above a weir 40m upstream of the Monks' Bridge, which led 290m to the rear of the mill. The Crossag water could be diverted into this. The weir above the Monks' Bridge was destroyed in a flood in the early 20th century. The leat is still traceable for part of its length.


The tail race was culverted under the road and reappears just to the south for 50m before rejoining the river.