Melin y bont

Site overview

Melin y bont is a Grade II listed former corn mill at the south-west end of Bryn Du in the community of Llanfaelog. It is unique on Anglesey for combining wind and water power in the same building. The present dual-powered mill was built in 1825 on the site of an earlier watermill, with a 16-foot breastshot waterwheel on the lower floor and wind-powered machinery above.

The gearing meant that the sails turned clockwise, unlike other Anglesey windmills. The sails were removed in 1930, but the mill continued to work by water power for several years. A fire in 1973 gutted the tower and damaged the machinery.

Cadw grant-aided restoration in 2004, and the work was completed in 2008 when the mill opened as holiday accommodation.

Map

Map markers and directions links are provided for location reference only and do not indicate public access or permission to enter a site.

No site photograph is currently available. Images will be added as field visits are carried out.

History

Melin y bont stands at the south-west end of Bryn Du, beside the Afon Drudwy. It is also known as Melin Isaf, the lower mill of Llanfaelog, distinguishing it from nearby Melin Maelgwyn or Melin Uchaf, the upper mill.

The site had a longer water-powered history before the present structure was built. A watermill stood here in medieval times, and the site was marked on Lewis Morris's 1726 map of the Bodorgan estate. The present dual-powered building was built in 1825. It is a full-height five-storey circular tower of rubble masonry, partly rendered, with two ground floors because of its sloping site. The lower floor housed a 16-foot breastshot waterwheel, while the upper part operated as a windmill. Both the waterwheel and the sails were connected to a vertical shaft that drove the millstones, and clutches allowed the miller to choose between water and wind power. This arrangement meant that the sails turned clockwise, unlike other windmills on Anglesey.

The mill was worked by several generations of millers. Baptism records show Robert Owens, miller of Melin y Bont, and his wife Mary having children in Llangwyfan parish between 1796 and 1807, before the present dual-powered structure. By the 1840s the mill had been taken over by their son Owen Owens, assisted by David Williams. By 1851 Thomas Williams from Aberffraw was living and working there. Richard Williams ran the mill in 1861, and after his death in 1867 it passed to his nephew David Williams. David remained miller until his death in 1907 and was followed by his son John.

The mill operated under its dual-power system until 1930, when the sails were removed. It continued to work by water power for several more years. In 1973 a fire gutted the tower, destroying the wooden floors and leaving the damaged machinery at the base. The millpond later became filled in and dry. In 2004 Cadw awarded a £40,000 grant towards restoration, recognising the site's unique dual-power system and its surviving machinery. The work was completed in 2008, when the restored mill opened as holiday rental accommodation. The restored building remains owned and run by the Bodorgan Estate.

Timeline

1726

Earlier watermill mapped

Lewis Morris's 1726 map of the Bodorgan estate marked a watermill on the site.

1825

Dual-powered mill built

The present structure was built as a combined wind-and-water corn mill with a 16-foot breastshot waterwheel and wind-powered machinery in the same tower.

1840–1849

Owen Owens millership

Owen Owens had taken over the mill by the 1840s and was assisted by David Williams.

1851

Thomas Williams at mill

By 1851 Thomas Williams from Aberffraw was living and working at Melin y bont.

1861–1867

Richard Williams operation

Richard Williams was running the mill in 1861 and continued until his death in 1867.

1867–1907

David Williams millership

After Richard Williams died, the mill passed to his nephew David Williams, who remained miller until his death in 1907.

1930

Sails removed

The sails were removed in 1930, ending the wind-powered part of the mill's operation.

1930–1939

Water-powered operation continued

The mill continued to work by water power for several years after the sails were removed.

1973

Mill gutted by fire

A fire gutted the tower, destroyed the wooden floors, and damaged the internal machinery.

1998

Listed building designation

Melin y bont was designated as a Grade II listed building.

2004

Cadw restoration grant

Cadw awarded a £40,000 grant towards restoration, recognising the mill's dual-power system and surviving machinery.

2008

Opened as holiday accommodation

Restoration was completed and the mill opened as holiday rental accommodation.

Melin y bont Bryn Du · Isle of Anglesey · Wales