Newmills corn and flax mills

Not to far from Letterkenny (County Donegal) are the Newmills corn and flax mills. Located on the Churchill Road beside Newmills bridge, the flax and corn mills have been located on this site since the early nineteenth century providing jobs to many locals. 
The pay was good, but came with risks. The equipment was dangerous, the air was filled with small particles from the processes making work at the mills high risk.

A 1 km long millrace provides enough power to power two separate millwheels. One of these is one of Ireland's largest working waterwheels and is used to grind oats and barley, where a smaller wheel powers the equipment in the flax mill. 

One of the only industrial monuments under care by OPW, the mills are worth a visit. When you visit the mills, go for the guided tour as it is the only way of getting into the mill buildings and admire the working equipment.

In 1892, Patrick Gallagher bought the mill complex including a forge on the opposite side of the road as well as a farm. The business stayed in operation until the 1980's. During those years, Patrick Gallagher made extensive improvements to the business installing a new waterwheel and improving the machinery.  

Corn Mill:

​The corn mill is a three storey building that could be operated by just one man , "the miller". Using an ingenious combination of hoists, belts and pulleys powered by the water wheel, the moving of grain from one level to the other was easy and efficient.

The grain was first dried by spreading it on the drying floor, a perforated metal floor that was heated by the kiln on the lower ground floor. Rather than the local turf, mulled coal was used for this process. Reason for this is that the turf gave the oats an unpleasant flavour.
After the drying process, the grain was shelled by the shelling stones, a process to remove the husk from the kernel. After this process, it was  ground into oatmeal by the heavy milling stones. The meal was then moved to the top floor where it went through a cleaning and sieving process.

the mill was busy right from harvest time up to April or May from the following year.

Flax Mill:

During the second World War, Patrick took advantage of the flax industry revival when the British Government offered grants to increase the production of flax to guarantuee the supply of linen. 
Where the corn mill could be operated by one person, the flax mill required multiple operators. 

Newmills steadily expanded to include a public house, a scutcher’s cottage and a forge. By the early 1900s Newmills was also exporting food – the earliest supplies of butter, bacon and eggs for Sir Thomas Lipton’s nascent grocery empire in Glasgow came from there.

If you are interested in visiting the mill complex, visit the OPW website to plan your visit (Link). It's amazing entry to this great tourist attraction is currently free.
The Office of Public Works has recently purchased the mill owner’s residence, bar/grocery store and out offices at the Newmills Complex as well.