This is well known place, among mill enthusists anyway, because it contains one the few remaining fulling stocks which is not in a museum.
More details at Factory-isaf, Abercegir: Fulling mill wheel and machinery, Glantwymyn, Powys.
The remains of the woollen factory are currently part of a working stables guarded by large but friendly dogs.
Since I was in the area anyway I just asked the present owner if I could have a look - pictures are phone.
Fulling is process in which woven wool is pummelled in a bath of various fluids to tighten and condition the weave, a necessary step before further processing into blankets etc.
The machinery was powered by a large waterwheel at the northern end of the structure on the map shown below.
Part of the mill has been demolished leaving only a short northern section (waterwheel plus stocks) and the southern section (now stables).
Starting with a Pelton wheel which was used to generate electricity, this is immediately behind the main water wheel and discharges into the wheel pit.
The pit in which it lives is currently cluttered with stuff so it was hard to see much.
The waterwheel is a big backshot affair with a takeoff going through the wall.
One the other side of the wall the power was distributed to the rest of the factory and down to the fulling stocks.
The setup is best illustrated by these drawings, reproduced with permission from Aberciger
The device that pummelled the cloth is a pair of big swinging mallets, alternatively raised and let drop by cams on a rotating wheel.
I had to do a bit of tidying up and weeding here as things were a bit overgrown.
Some iron tubs nearby - there apparently used to be more equipment associated with dyeing in the southern part of the mill (now stables) but this has been moved elsewhere.
As mentioned at the beginning fulling equipment in the wild is quite rare - every undocumented ‘pandy’ or factory I’ve looked for has been empty, except for Glan Bargod.
This is a complete wreck but did have some fulling remains, albeit not of the big mallet sort Report - - Glan Bargod Woollen Factory Remains (Carmarthenshire, Wales, Apr, 2019) | Industrial Sites.
More details at Factory-isaf, Abercegir: Fulling mill wheel and machinery, Glantwymyn, Powys.
The remains of the woollen factory are currently part of a working stables guarded by large but friendly dogs.
Since I was in the area anyway I just asked the present owner if I could have a look - pictures are phone.
Fulling is process in which woven wool is pummelled in a bath of various fluids to tighten and condition the weave, a necessary step before further processing into blankets etc.
The machinery was powered by a large waterwheel at the northern end of the structure on the map shown below.
Part of the mill has been demolished leaving only a short northern section (waterwheel plus stocks) and the southern section (now stables).
Starting with a Pelton wheel which was used to generate electricity, this is immediately behind the main water wheel and discharges into the wheel pit.
The pit in which it lives is currently cluttered with stuff so it was hard to see much.
The waterwheel is a big backshot affair with a takeoff going through the wall.
One the other side of the wall the power was distributed to the rest of the factory and down to the fulling stocks.
The setup is best illustrated by these drawings, reproduced with permission from Aberciger
The device that pummelled the cloth is a pair of big swinging mallets, alternatively raised and let drop by cams on a rotating wheel.
I had to do a bit of tidying up and weeding here as things were a bit overgrown.
Some iron tubs nearby - there apparently used to be more equipment associated with dyeing in the southern part of the mill (now stables) but this has been moved elsewhere.
As mentioned at the beginning fulling equipment in the wild is quite rare - every undocumented ‘pandy’ or factory I’ve looked for has been empty, except for Glan Bargod.
This is a complete wreck but did have some fulling remains, albeit not of the big mallet sort Report - - Glan Bargod Woollen Factory Remains (Carmarthenshire, Wales, Apr, 2019) | Industrial Sites.
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