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lifeforce mill
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cavan mills historical
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Lifeforce Mill
The Mill Rock
Cavan
Cavan
Phone: +353 (0)49 62722
Fax:
Upon arrival each visitor is shown how to bake a loaf of Brown Bread. Each person's loaf is then put on the oven while a tour of the mill takes place.
The actual tour gives a comprehensive understanding of how the mill works from the receiving of the grain to the cleaning, drying, sieving, grinding and eventual bagging of the finished product (flour).
The few subtle changes in the day-to-day running of the mill from Victorian modern times are explained, as are the workings of the various machines and artefacts including the last working 1846 MacAdam water turbine which still drives the mill today.
We also explain the work involved in the 5-year restoration of the mill which, when purchased in 1990, had lain idle for some 50 years including the transportation and erection of an entire Victorian cutstone building (from Drogheda to Cavan). The building now houses the Bakery facility and coffee shop.
Throughout the restoration, the progress was documented and filmed by noted film-maker Eamon de Buitlear. This has resulted in a 25 minute file on the Mill called 'A Window on Time - The Re-awakening of the Lifeforce Mill'.
Photo Gallery
Description
Location
Mill Tours
Lifeforce Mill
Lifeforce Mill
Photo Gallery
Click on the thumbnail to view the larger photo
Description
A PROUD TRADITION:
In the heart of County Cavan, in the centre of Cavan town, you will find the Lifeforce Mill where we take great pride in the production of wholly natural products. The flow of the Kennypottle River is harnessed to drive the enormous stone wheels which grind the very finest Irish Wheat into Lifeforce Stoneground Wholemeal Flour.
Our flour is special. Modern roller mills operate at a very high speed and generate heat which damages the wheat germ and causes it to be unevenly distributed throughout the flour. This robs the flour of many valuable vitamins and minerals.
By contrast Lifeforce Stoneground Wholemeal Flour is made by giant cool stones which preserve all that is good in the wheat. MILLING on this site can be traced back to medieval times when there was a flour mill here as part of a 14th Century Franciscan Monastery, the ruins of which can still be seen.
The current mill building was erected in 1846 and throughout 100 years of almost daily use it served as a focal point in the life of Cavan town. Sadly the mill declined as a result of changes in farming, milling technology and local business. When the mill finally closed its doors in the 1950's everything remained as it was and time did not touch the inside of the mill for almost four decades, by which time many Cavan people had forgotten about its existence.
Now the mill is fully restored to its former glory and enjoys a new lease of life producing Lifeforce Stoneground Wholemeal Flour as well as welcoming visitors. All the original machinery, including what is believed to be the only working Mc Adam Water Turbine has been painstakingly restored and returned to use. Designed at the beginning of the Industrial Revolution by Belfast Engineer Robert McAdam, this Turbine was installed at the mill instead of the slower and less efficient water wheel.
At times of low water level, when there is insufficient water pressure to drive the Turbine, power is supplied by "Big John" a 1907 Hornsby, Single Cylinder four stroke, hot bulb Kerosene Engine which produces 2.5 HP.
Location
Located in Cavan town centre.
Mill Tours
The mill is open to visitors from May to September and at other times for groups by appointment. On arrival visitors are first invited to bake a loaf of bread from our own Stoneground Wholemeal Flour using natural ingredients - buttermilk, flour & salt - which is then oven baked as you go on the guided tour where you will see the workings of the mill. On completion of the tour (35 - 40 mins.) you collect your own loaf of freshly baked wholemeal brown bread hot out of the ovens of our coffee shop.
The coffee shop is located in a stone building which is a new addition to the mill site. It was originally located some 50 miles (80 kms) away in the Boyne Valley and was to be demolished for a road widening project.
Transported and re-erected stone by stone it has been saved for posterity and in it's new home adjoining the mill, it provides the perfect setting for the coffee shop and bakery.
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