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Lewis, Dell Mill
Distillery (19th Century), Grain Mill (19th Century), Watermill (19th Century)
Site Name Lewis, Dell Mill
Classification Distillery (19th Century), Grain Mill (19th Century), Watermill (19th Century)
Alternative Name(s) Ness Mill; Muileann Nis; Muileann Dhail
Canmore ID 71909
Site Number NB46SE 20
NGR NB 49119 61376
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/71909
- Council Western Isles
- Parish Barvas
- Former Region Western Isles Islands Area
- Former District Western Isles
- Former County Ross And Cromarty
South Dell
Muileann Dhail (Dell Mill), mid-19th century Part of an enclosed quadrangle beside the River Dell, one of the island's few substantial farm complexes that were usually operated by mainland farmers. The intact mill in the eastern range extends north, incorporating a large, all-iron internal water wheel. The lade is a rubble and cement aqueduct, unusually powering both threshing machine and millstones. This is a more sophisticated version of the many water-powered mills that once operated in Lewis; for comparison see the recently restored old mill and kiln at Shawbost.
Taken from "Western Seaboard: An Illustrated Architectural Guide", by Mary Miers, 2008. Published by the Rutland Press http://www.rias.org.uk
NB46SE 20 4912 6138
The Object Name Book (OS) descibes the mill as 'A stone building on the eastern bank of the Amhuinn Dhail (Abhainn Dhail). It is two stories high slated and in bad repair. It was ereceted by the former proprietor of Lewis and used during his time as a Distillery. A portion of it is now used as a corn mill'.
Name Book 1853
(Location cited as NB 492 613). Muileann Nis, Dell, mid 19th century. A 2-storey rubble building, part of a farm steading, with a large all-iron internal wheel which drove a threshing mill from a gear ring on the off side, and the millstones from the axle.
J R Hume 1977.
A mill, comprising two roofed buildings and a small unroofed building is depicted on the 1st edition of the OS 6-inch map (Island of Lewis, Ross-shire 1853, sheet 10). One roofed building is shown on the current edition of the OS 1:10000 map (1992).
Information from RCAHMS (AKK) 23 June 1997.
A mill lade and sluice is depicted S of the mill on the current OS 1:2500 scale digital map.
Information from RCAHMS (DE), July 2005
EXTERNAL REFERENCE:
Scottish Record Office.
Specification for a Mill House at Ness.
1822 GD 46/17/61
farm steading which contains large all-iron internal water wheel, to power threshing mill. Block possibly not all one build; principally 3 linked long rectangular-plan ranges, 2 (mill in that nearest north) sharing common gable, that nearest south fronted by third range and integrated at either end by short linking ranges. All rubble-built, slated roofs. Single storey with lofts.(Historic Scotland)
