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Report - - Ceulan Mill - Ceredigion - May 2012 | Industrial Sites | 28DaysLater.co.uk

Report - Ceulan Mill - Ceredigion - May 2012

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Explored with Oxygen Thief and Dweeb.

One of the best mills ive ever seen without a doubt. Infact one of the best places ive been full stop. Its defiantly up there with many of the other more 'compact' locations i rate highly.

Id seen this mill on various websites before and considered making the drive out to deepest Wales to take a look several times in the past. However plans always got shelved because i could never think of anything else over there to make the trip 'worth while' (i need not have worried, after seeing it in the flesh id drive there for an hour in this place any time!) Then Dweeb suggested we go see some Welsh slate mines and this went straight on my 'extra bits and bobs to check out list' As it happen we ended up going in more mills than mines and this place was the highlight of a great weeks chilled mooching.. Just like the old days!

The mill itself is amazing, pictures show it all. You wont find anything in there post 1960s and you would be forgiven for thinking it closed pre war! The top floor contained an array of household items that appeared to have been put in storage long in the past. From these had migrated a stuffed Heron, now rather worse for ware but EXACTLY what you want to see while exploring. EPIC :thumb

Ceulan Woollen Mill was one of 5 woollen mills in Tal-y-Bont and was situated on the banks of the river Ceulan (the other 4 were located on the Leri) It was built in 1847 by the Morris family and although the exact date that production/operation actually started is vague it was definitely working in 1860. Due to the success of the mill an extension was added in 1880.
The water wheel is still on the side of the mill, although, it is not in great shape and is barely visible. The iron hub of the wheel is marked J Edgar Dublin and has 12 wooden spokes. The iron rim is marked Ellis Foundry 1891. The wheel was an overshot although the wooden trough carrying the water to the top of the wheel is no longer in situ.
The wheel provided power for the factory and was the first provider of electricity to the houses of Tal-y-Bont which was the first rural village in Cardiganshire/Ceredigion to have any form of electricity. The clergy at Bethel Chapel decided to do away with the oil lamps and discussion was had about carbide lamps being used instead. Mr Morris announced he could provide electricity for the chapel, the houses and the main road. The parish council paid £10.00 per annum for street lighting and houses were charged 5 shillings (25p) for one 60W lamp which then cost a further seven shillings and sixpence for 3 months electricity supply. Mr Morris turned off the power at 10.30pm each night believing that was late enough for folk to be awake!
To meet the increasing demand for electricity a peloton wheel was purchased and placed at the other end of the factory to add to the power generated by the main wheel.

The factory produced cloth and flannel mainly for shirts for farmers and coal miners throughout mid and south Wales but production and profits suffered during the war. Although things picked up after the war ultimately it was unable to compete with the larger factories that were significantly bigger and were using (what was then) modern new machinery which was more efficient. After diversifying and turning part of the mill into a shop to sell the products directly to the public the mill eventually closed in 1962 although it still remains within the same family. A number of years ago the current owner tried to pass the property and machinery to the National Trust for preservation but as the owner was unable to provide some of the funding to restore/repair the mill the National Trust were unable to take the property.

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