Welsh Journals

Melin Cwmbychan (SH 849027 or 173 SH 845031) Melin Cwmbychan was situated on the Twymyn near Commins Coch and was probably erected in 1609 by Sir Thomas Myddelton for the use of the people of Noddfa township together with a cottage for the miller and land encroached from the waste in the lordship of Cyfeiliog. It was regarded as an appurtenance of the capital messuage of Cwmbychan and was first leased to Edward Pugh of that place but soon came into the hands of Francis Herbert of Dolguog and Bromfield who leased the mill to Rowland ap Richard of Darowen in 1648 (MR 1911, 64; NLW, Powis Castle 10246, 12601, 12602, 12604). The lease mentions two water grist mills appurtenant to Cwmbychan but this may mean two pairs of stones under one roof. On the tithe map of 1846, there are no field names along the Twymyn by Cwmbychan to suggest the former existence of a mill, but a small stone cottage above Briwnant has an old pool above it and pieces of millstone have been dug up there. Alternatively Melin Penybontpren in Commins Coch was only a short distance downstream and in 1846 was in the ownership of John Jones of Cwmbychan Mawr (T 1846). The latter mill seems to have disappeared with the coming of the railway. Pandy Commins Coch (SH 846028) This mill was ruinous and gutted in 1968 and is remembered now only as a place-name. Pandy Glantwymyn (SH 834039) Described in 1763 as 'an old timber house and mill with slate cover in tolerable repair' this pandy was in the township of Gwern-y-bwlch and was in the tenancy of David Jones. A map in the Wynnstay Cyfeiliog Survey shows the pandy and leat with tenter racks in adjacent enclosures (NLW, Wynnstay Cyfeiliog Survey 1763 map vol. 1). The mill may have been demolished in 1861 when the railway was constructed along the bank of the Twymyn there. Bandy Bach (SH 816074) This place-name appears on the tithe map on Nant joch, a tributary of Afon Ceirig (T1837). 'andy Ceirig (SH 817064) Uso known as Ceirig Walk Mill this pandy is named n maps of 1763 and 1836 (NLW, Wynnstay Cyfeiliog urvey 1763, map vol. 1; OS lin 1836). It stood on fon Ceirig at Dolfor in the township of Glynceirig. Felin Ceirig, Mathafarn (SH 811053) In 1763 when the tenant was Morris Hugh, Felin Ceirig was described as 'a small stone house with slate cover, the kiln built with timber and thatched, the mill built with stone and slate cover, one wheel and a pair of stones, in good repair and plenty of water, but the custom much decreased of late years' (NLW, Wynnstay Cyfeiliog Survey 1763, map vol. 1). It appeared on OS lin 1836 as 'Felin' on Afon Ceirig above its confluence with Afon Graig Ddu. It was also mentioned as 'Felin Gerrig' in 1833 when it was included in an account of the chief rents due to the Honourable Frederick West of Ruthin, heir to a moiety of the Chirk Castle estate (NLW, Powis Castle 16557). The field-name Cae'r Felin on OS lin 1836 might best be interpreted as 'the field at the head of the mill stream'. Pandy Brynmelin (SH 808053) Bryn Melin is mentioned as the dwelling of Edward ap Richard in 1722 and in the will of Rice Pritchard in 1747 (C.G., Montgomeryshire Collections 15 (1882), 228; W.V. Lloyd, Montgomeryshire Collections 36 (1912), 106). The tithe map shows a pandy and pool and Cae Dintir as part of Tyddyn y Pandy nearby (T1837). Felin Eithin or 175 Melin Bychan, Mathafarn (SH 806047) Now converted into a house, Felin Eithin stood on Afon Ceirig below its confluence with Afon Graig Ddu. In the Wynnstay Survey of 1763 it appears as 'Felin Ithin' (NLW, Wynnstay Cyfeiliog Survey 1763, map vol. 1) and on OS lin 1836 it is called 'Melin Bychan'. Cil y Winllan Mill (SN 826996) 176 This was reported as a mill site in 1978 (CPAT 1978). No mill appears here on the tithe map nor on OS 6in 1891. Felin Talywern (SH 824005) 177 There is a reference to this mill in a lease dated 1 July 1635 when Sir Thomas Myddelton of Chirk Castle granted Francis Herbert of Dolguog a property called 'Tyddyn Kayr Velin, Escir Gadog otherwise Escairgadwedd' in the parish ofDarowen (NLW, Powis Castle 12604). It appears on the tithe map in the ownership of Sir John Edwards and in the occupation of William Ellis (T 1846). In 1968 it was described as derelict (DHJ 1968). It has now been restored as a house with millstone features. The position of the pool