Graig Troserch and Troserch Mill.
Esmor Evans
The 'trough' or 'container' on the left as you approach the mill house was indeed intended to catch water filtered through and dripping from the rocks. I have drunk many cupfuls (cup provided by the inhabitants) of crystal clear and very cold water from 'ffynnon y felin' when passing for a walk in the woods or to bathe in the river. It was very refreshing after walking from the village on a hot summers day.
Going along the track past the house, there is a deep ditch on the right hand side (probably now overgrown) which ran as far as a point in the river about opposite to the entrance to the mine workings. My father-in-law, the late Aneurin Rees, referred to this as 'gored y felin'. 'Cored' (the 'c' has been mutated to 'g') means 'weir'. There was presumably a weir to raise the
water-level near the point where it entered the ditch, thus enabling the flowing water to turn the water-wheel when the sluice at the mill end was opened.
Aneurin Rees also spoke of 'Cae'r Pandy' – field of the Fulling Mill, an indication that Troserch Mill was not always a corn mill. I believe this was the field outside the wood's boundary, just below
the footbridge, and is now part of Tireglwys farm.
SEE ALSO:
CLOTH MANUFACTURE IN THE MEDIEVAL LORDSHIP OF KIDWELLY
... prudently sought permission for his enterprise and in 1441 was
granted the lease of a suitable site, probably at the existing
Troserch mill (SN 544033). ...
Much has been written about the comparatively recent baptisms in the Morlais river: these had no connection with Salem Baptist Church, which has its own baptismal well built under the pulpit floor. The old Baptist chapel was on the Allt and it is recorded that some members were baptised in the river Morlais by the Rev. John Rees, who lived in Troserch Mill and was stated in various censuses to be a stonemason, a miller and a Baptist minister. He was minister of Carmel, Pontlliw, for many years, to where he used to ride from Troserch Mill, as well as to other churches, on his horse Ringer.
His eldest son was John Benjamin Rees, who's bardic name was 'Morleisfab', Aneurin Rees, already mentioned herein, was his youngest son. Aneurin used to tell the story that his father was caught fishing by the water bailiff and was fined. His reaction was to weave a basket which he placed under the mill wheel, only accessible when he closed the sluice and stopped the wheel, when he
was able to raise the basket – and the fish contained therein! Anybody interested in John Rees' family can find particulars in the website at www.esmorevans.com.
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