Wellbrook Beetling Mill is one of the last water powered beetling mills in the UK.
It is now owned by the National Trust.
Wellbrook Beetling Mill was part of a large bleach works originally built in 1764 by Hugh and Sam Faulkner from Cookstown. Seven beetling machines are powered by a breastshot water wheel. The machinery is in working order and can be seen in action!
The mill takes its power from the fast flowing Ballinderry River. A short distance from the road you can see the mill race and the flume – the wooden trough carried on piers of Coal island brick – which takes the water for 15 metres to hit and drive the water wheel on the gable of the building. The wheel is 5 metres wide and 1.4 metres deep, trade mainly of wood. with can iron shaft and surround which bears the name of the Armagh Foundry. The lever to open the sluice gate to start and stop the wheel is inside the mill itself.
Beetling is the process of finishing linen cloth. Beetling was first introduced to Ireland by Hamilton Maxwell in 1725.
The current mill was built in the 1830s by the Gunning family and it closed in 1961.
There were four beetling mills in this area, however this mill is the only one to remain and work.
Check out the National Trust website for all your visiting info – HERE!
20 Wellbrook Rd, Cookstown, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland, BT80 9RY
Wellbrook Beetling Mill is one of the last water powered beetling mills in the UK.
It is now owned by the National Trust.
Wellbrook Beetling Mill was part of a large bleach works originally built in 1764 by Hugh and Sam Faulkner from Cookstown. Seven beetling machines are powered by a breastshot water wheel. The machinery is in working order and can be seen in action!
The mill takes its power from the fast flowing Ballinderry River. A short distance from the road you can see the mill race and the flume – the wooden trough carried on piers of Coal island brick – which takes the water for 15 metres to hit and drive the water wheel on the gable of the building. The wheel is 5 metres wide and 1.4 metres deep, trade mainly of wood. with can iron shaft and surround which bears the name of the Armagh Foundry. The lever to open the sluice gate to start and stop the wheel is inside the mill itself.
Beetling is the process of finishing linen cloth. Beetling was first introduced to Ireland by Hamilton Maxwell in 1725.
The current mill was built in the 1830s by the Gunning family and it closed in 1961.
There were four beetling mills in this area, however this mill is the only one to remain and work.
Check out the National Trust website for all your visiting info – HERE!
20 Wellbrook Rd, Cookstown, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland, BT80 9RY
