Maintaining a Grade II* Listed Building - Y Felin in St Dogmaels

Y Felin (Welsh for ‘The Mill’) is one of the last working water mills in Wales producing traditional stoneground flour.

Collecting lime from our warehouse early one morning, local lime worker Jud (Just in lime) told us about his project to re-point the external walls of Y Felin. Y Felin is next to the ruins of the medieval Abbey in St Dogmaels (both are just a few miles from our Shop here in Cardigan). For this project Jud used NHL 2 Lime.

We caught up with second-generation miller Emma to discover more about the mill and the maintenance work on this Grade II* Listed Building. 

Hi Emma, please tell us more about when and how the Water Mill was renovated. 

“The water mill dates to the 12th Century and was a working mill until about 1926. Then it fell into a period of disrepair. My father Mike Hall renovated the mill back to its working state in 1981. This was a mammoth task to undertake. The mill hadn't worked for over 60 years. The pond had to be re-dug, a wheel had to be sourced for the mill, and all the woodwork had to be re-built. The original machinery and millstones had to be brought back to working order. No small feat.” 

So how did you get involved in the Mill? 

“My Dad milled at Y Felin for 40 years and then in January 2018 I returned home and was taught how to mill by the master miller himself. I continue to mill in exactly the same way as my father did and the numerous millers before him.” 

It’s a traditional Water Mill that’s totally powered by hydropower? 

“At Y Felin, we only use the power of the water wheel to turn our millstones which gently grind the grain into beautiful stone ground flour which retains all of the natural goodness of the whole wheat. We are completely sustainable using only renewable energy. Completely "green". 

“Our grain is equally important to us. I only work with four British farmers who work on small family-run farms. They work with me to ensure the grain is of the highest milling standard good for every type of baking need!”

Your flour is soo good. My Mum swears by your Welshcake mix, she won’t make Welshcakes without it! 

Anyway, back to the project. You decided that the external walls needed repointing… 

“Working with Jud and his team was a joy. Jud came to view Y Felin before carrying out the work. Together we decided what would be best for the building. Drawing on the wealth of Jud's experience, he was able to advise me on the best materials to use. He matched the original colour of the mortar, so the mill looks as beautiful now as it must have done back in the 12th century when it was first built. 

“Jud advised on what to do and how best to carry out the work so the day-to-day running of the mill was unaffected. 

“Jud had lime rendered the bottom floor of the mill in 2020 and the difference to the building was astounding. As Jud said it was as if new life had been breathed into it. It was the same once the front had been lime pointed. The natural beauty of the building just shines through.“ 

Photos: Before (left) and After (right) lime pointing.

The NHL 2 Lime that Jud used certainly does look fabulous. Matching the colour of lime pointing is an art for sure and one that it looks like Jud has mastered! 

What is next on the list for maintaining this beautiful Grade II* listed Water Mill? 

“I would love the whole of the inside of the building to be lime rendered so I will do this slowly over time as finances allow. Y Felin is a Grade II* listed building, so working sustainably is of paramount importance."

Thank you for your time Emma and good luck with your project! Y Felin is a beautiful building, and we are so blessed to have a traditional working water mill so nearby. 

Find out more about the Water Mill on the Y Felin website. If you happen to be in the Cardigan area, Emma runs guided tours of the Mill too. You can purchase the flour from stockists or the Mill when it is open.

Many thanks to Emma and Jud (Just in Lime) for their kind permission to use their photographs for his article.

We stock a wide range of lime products at our shop and warehouse in Cardigan and deliver nationwide.