The Heritage Centre is in the village of Parkmill, which takes its name from our water-powered corn mill. There may already have been a rudimentary water mill on the site of the Heritage Centre by the 12th century. Manorial records tell us that the De Breoses made it part of their estate, calling it the Lord’s Mill.

The Mill was used primarily to grind grain to make flour and animal feed. An important asset in the Manorial System, it gave the Lord of the Manor the means of producing food and charging farm tenants a toll for using it.

Later, the De Breoses built an extensive wall around part of the valley. Wild and domesticated animals were enclosed in a 500 acre area, stretching from here to Cetn Bryn (the large Hill running down the spine of the Peninsula).

The wall, made from local limestone, was about 3 foot (90cm) high with a deep ditch dug all around on the inside of the park. Wild game of deer and boar were driven towards and over the wall. Once inside, the ditch prevented then getting back out of the park. The site was planted with oak, beech and other trees that provided timber resources for the Lordship and a place for sport and training their troops in the art of warfare.

This was probably a very successtul park tor the De Breoses and we know they constructed a new manor house and hunting lodge inside the Park. The successor buildings are still with us and known today as Parc Le Breos House; now a country hotel in the woodland area behind the Heritage Centre. Parts of the wall can still be seen today in nearby village of Penmaen – another really interesting walk from the Heritage Centre.

By the 13th century this area was called the ‘Mill of the Park. Over the years the name was simplified to ‘Parkmill’, and the village we see today grew around the mill site.

The other important reason for this site being developed was also the availability of a water supply to work the Mill. The area has two main streams: one in Ilston Valley, the other though Parc Le Breos, called ‘Pennard Pill’. There are also many underground springs in the valley which feed into the river, providing a reliable flow of water. Local legend says that Pennard Pill has never been know to run dry and this must have been recognised by the Norman settlers when they decided to expand the use of the Mill.

Pennard Pill is in fact linked to an extensive underground water system with water coming trom a cave system underneath the valley. Apart trom all their solid castles, Norman engineers, were also very adept at developing practical buildings like mills. The water to drive the wheel was diverted into a specially built channel called a ‘leat that ensured the flow and amount of water needed could be delivered in a controlled manner.

Parkmill still has its fine mill leat completely intact as you will discover on your journey around the mill site. As you explore, our app will introduce you to many other fascinating uses that the mill site has been put to over its 1000 year history.