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13th Century Mill uncovered in Margam 19/7/2000
Parts of a medieval mill have been unearthed by Hyder's water business, Dwr Cymru Welsh Water, as part of a project to construct a pipeline for a new housing development near Margam.
The corn mill at Llanmihangel farm is believed to be part of a monastic grange of Margam Abbey dating from the 13th Century.
During the excavation several large stone steps, walls, a mill water channel and roofing materials including ceramic tiles were uncovered.
Montgomery Watson, who were commissioned as civil engineers to carry out the project in turn employed Channel Archaeology to undertake an appraisal of the pipeline route before work started, as a number of scheduled ancient sites of archaeological interest were identified in the locality.
"It is Welsh Water policy to consult with interested bodies on all capital projects, and the sophisticated GISAMAP IT system allows our Conservation team to check the location of every Scheduled Ancient Monument and Site of Special Scientific Interest in our area," said Jeff Morgan, Divisional Conservation Manager for Welsh Water.
As a result of the appraisal, Channel Archaeology were asked to work with Montgomery Watson and contractor David Lewis Civil Engineering to monitor the works and excavate any finds along the proposed route of the pipeline.
"It is logical that a mill would be attached to this grange, to grind the corn stored in the tithe barn which still stands as a ruin among the modern farm buildings," said Mike Ponsford of Channel Archaeology.
"In addition, we think the mill may have been used later as a forge because there are fragments of slag in some of the layers uncovered. The water system would have been used by the smith to drive a bellows to raise the temperature for working wrought iron," he added.
Montgomery Watson also carried out their own research into the history of the hedgerows and walls along the route of the pipeline which are believed to have been built by the monks of Margam Abbey and formed the boundary of the ancient borough of Kenfig.
The pipeline was diverted slightly to ensure it did not disturb the newly discovered ruins and hedgerows, and the project has been praised by the local authority for its sensitive approach to the environment.
"Neath and Port Talbot County Borough Council is extremely pleased that the conservation of these important hedgerows was considered, and as a result the pipeline route was altered slightly to avoid any damage to them," said Suzanne Waldron, the council's Environment Quality Officer.
For further information contact Hyder’s media relations team on 029 2050 0600
email media@hyder.com
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