Mill of Ayreland facts for kids
The Mill of Ayreland is an old watermill in Mainland Orkney, Scotland. It used the power of water from the Burn of Ayreland. This stream flows northwest and empties into the Clestrain Sound. The mill is located about five kilometers south of Stenness.
A Look Back: History of the Mill
Ancient Neighbors: Nearby Historic Sites
The Mill of Ayreland is found just a few miles south of some very important ancient sites. To the north, you can find the famous Standing Stones of Stenness and the Ring of Brodgar. These are huge stone circles built by people long, long ago in the Neolithic period. About three miles to the northeast is Maeshowe, an ancient burial mound from the Iron Age. These places show that people have lived and built amazing things in this area for thousands of years.
How the Mill Worked
The Burn of Ayreland has been providing water power to the Mill of Ayreland since the Late Middle Ages. A watermill like this uses the force of flowing water to turn a wheel. This wheel then powers machinery inside the mill. Mills were very important for grinding grain into flour. This particular mill was still working in the late 1880s. Today, the building has been changed and now serves as a country inn.
