Bodedern Woolen Mill – Pandy Llywenan

Known as Pandy Llywenan on the Isle of Anglesey (Ynys Môn) in North Wales.

Although I give the location of this mill as Bodedern, in fact, it is not actually in Bodedern and is actually closer to the hamlet of Pen Llyn. I find it difficult to believe that this fulling mill was not part and parcel of the woollen mill just 300 yards away, especially in view of only the premises known as ‘Factory Llywenan’ being mentioned in the census. That apart, Pandy Llywenan is an extremely well-preserved fulling mill whose buildings will little have changed since they were built – apart from most of the windows having been replaced.

The power for the wheel was drawn from the nearby Llyn (Lake) Llywenan, via a stream that first powered the nearby Factory (the name used for a woollen mill) Llywenan. After reaching the mill premises via a burrow alongside the long drive, the water was allowed to build up in the nearby mill pond before it was released to drive the mill.

What immediately struck me is the disproportionate size of the water wheel relative to the building, and I can only guess that this was the largest wheel that could be driven from the water available.

One more thing I should say is that the mill is privately owned by friends of mine, and they ask that you respect their privacy as they do not want visitors back and fore.

O.S. Co-ordinates: SH342819.