Welsh Journals

The mill lies just within the boundaries of the manor of Barry. The wood is shown on the 1622 manorial map, and was then called 'Barrey Wood'[l]. No mill is shown on this map, nor is one indicated on any of the later 18th and early 19th century estate maps relating to the area[2]. Neither is there any reference to a mill in Barry manor in any post-medieval records. In 1622 the tenants of Barry and the adjacent manors of Fonmon, Llancadle, and Penmark ground their grain at the lord's mill at Cowcliff in Penmark[3]. After the Seys purchase of 1660, when Barry was separated from Penmark, deeds occasionally specify suit of mill in the event of a mill being built[4]. It is thus clear from the documentary evidence that the site had been long abandoned, and had completely disappeared by the early 17th century. There seems no doubt that the remains are of medieval date, and represent the water corn-mill belonging to the manor of Barry. The majority of water mills throughout the country, although of medieval origin, continued in use until the last century so that their surviving earthworks are likely to be the result of successive post-medieval or recent alterations or rebuilding. The survival of a medieval mill-site unaltered by later occupation is rare[5]. H. J. Thomas [1] Card. MS 4.672. [2] G.R.O. D/DF vol. 26, D/DF 3105; Card. MS 41164. [3] Margaret Davies, 'Field Patterns in the Vale of Glamorgan', Trans. Cardiff Nats. Soc, LXXXIV (1954-55), 11. [4] E.g. G.R.O. Fonmon Deed no. 703. [5] Among the few excavated mill sites are four examples in the vicinity of Monmouth. All had continuous occupation from the 13th to the late 17th or 18th century: C.B.A. Newsletter, Archaeology in Wales, No. 2 (1962) p. 16; No. 4 (1964) p.21; and No. 6 (1966) p.22.