Early Medieval Ireland and advanced engineering

The oldest tidal mill so far discovered in the world belongs to Monastery of Nendrum on Mahee Island on Strangford Lough in Co. Down.The first tidal mill was constructed there between 619 and 621AD making it older than the previously earliest known tidal mill at Little Island in Co. Cork which dates from about 630AD. The Cork mill is a A twin flume horizontal-wheeled tide mill.

As the name suggests tide mills or sea mills used the sea tides to fill an artificially created mill pond and when the tide receeded the enenrgy stored in the captured water was used to power the mill. Engineers estimate the mill wheels would probalby have been capable of developing between 7 and 8 horsepower.

Image: artists impression of a single flumed mill.