Page 88 - GAHS Journal Volume 9

WICKLOW'S INDUSTRIAL HISTORY

escaping starvation and disease. In response, Guardian-
assisted emigration was reserved only for those who had
received indoor relief for over two years.

Energy sources

The industrial development has relied on a suitable energy
source to drive the machines that mechanise and increase
production capabilities.

Peat

Peat or turf from the bog was one of the primary fuel
sources generally procured within the parish. Samuel
Lewis mentions some parishes where the local bog was
worked out and he also mentions that the turf along the
coastal region was impregnated with salt that made the
flame very blue and of low heat value until it had been
liquefied with fresh water and allowed to dry when it
became a superior fuel.

Water Mills

In Prehistoric times grinding was done with hand tools,
initially by pounding with stones, then by grinding as with
quern stones. In later historic times, I understand, the
earliest European water mill was made to a design
brought from China in about 1AD. I have mentioned the
remains of a horizontal mill in Timore townland, this is
presumed to date from 1000AD and details are included
in Canon Robert Jennings article in the second edition of
this journal. [10]

Later vertical water driven mills were used where the head
of water was available, and several sites have been

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