Felin Isaf, Oat Drying House

Scope and Content

The Oat Drying House was built in 1850. The Kiln is found on the Ground Floor and was fired with charcoal which tends to flavour the oats. The heat from the Kiln rose upwards to the second storey, the floor of which was composed of pierced carth tiles. The oats would be spread on this floor and turned. Once dried, the oats were taken to the main mill for processing.

The present mill buildings date from around 1680 but it is believed that a mill has stood on the site for a great deal longer. The Mill consists of a Clover Mill and a Flour Mill and was restored in 1979 by the owners, Mostyn Estates. It was sold again and has stopped producing flour. The Mill was one of the main tourist attractions of the Conwy Valley.

It was opened to the public in 1980 as a working Mill after Mostyn Estates had renovated Felin Isaf or the Low Mill. Flour that was produced there was used locally for the making of bread.

The Drying House, the earliest Mill, the Clover Mill and the actual floor are still in existence and also the Mill Cottage, the right hand part of which was added in 1986 by the new owners Dot and Derek Eddyson.

Original Index No. I-0050.