New Abbey, Sweetheart Abbey, Possible Monastic Mill
Watermill (Period Unassigned)(Possible)
Site Name New Abbey, Sweetheart Abbey, Possible Monastic Mill
Classification Watermill (Period Unassigned)(Possible)
Alternative Name(s) New Abbey, North Bridge
Canmore ID 158800
Site Number NX96NE 9.05
NGR NX 9623 6627
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/158800
- Council Dumfries And Galloway
- Parish New Abbey
- Former Region Dumfries And Galloway
- Former District Nithsdale
- Former County Kirkcudbrightshire
NX96NE 9.05 9623 6627
NX 962 662 A watching brief was carried out during 1997 and 1998 on the construction of a new sewage pumping station near the North Bridge, New Abbey, and associated sewers through the village. The programme of works included some disturbance of the Scheduled area adjacent to the Corn Mill, thought to be on or near the site of the monastic mill, and further E the new sewers extended some 70m within the abbey precinct.
A clay-bonded granite-built footing for the N pier of the W gateway of the abbey precinct was encountered beneath the southbound carriageway of the A710, demonstrating the gateway to have been approximately 5.2m wide.
The SE corner of a substantial structure, with walls in excess of 1m thick built of granite, was encountered below the grass verge of the southbound carriageway of the A710, 15m NNE of the existing Corn Mill. The interior of the structure lies beneath the modern road and was not exposed. No dating evidence for it was found, but its position adjacent to the New Abbey Pow makes it a candidate for the monastic mill.
Sponsor: West of Scotland Water Authority.
M L Brann 1998.
