Plassey Mill

Map Reference: R608585 (1608, 1585)



Plassey Mill was built on the banks of the river Shannon by Major Hodges Maunsell in 1824.Where the mill is located there is a 10 foot drop in water level, this made the mill one of the most productive in the region. Later it was operated by the successful miller Reuben Harvey. In 1857 control passed to Richard Russell. The Russells then modernised the mill making it the greatest water mill on the Shannon. It had fallen derelict by the end of the 19th century and nearly all of the mill save the corner tower was demolished in 1957.



The mill is located right beside the University of Limerick. This makes it a popular drinking spot. The mill is littered with bottles, cans and graffiti. All that remains of the mill is the 6 story tower and a few small ruins at ground level. The tower is entered through a half bricked up archway. This drops you into the centre of the tower.



The spiral staircase starts here and brings you all the way to the top. The staircase is in remarkably good condition, only missing one step the whole way up. The tower is fronted by 6 arched windows, one on each floor.



There are also several recesses cut into the wall on the way up, perhaps for lighting.



View from the top of the mill



Some of the lower ruins of the mill



The mill race