History of Miller's Cottage
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In the Machars, as elsewhere, every burgh and village
would have its own mill, from mediaeval times onwards.
Portyerrock is mentioned
in local records in 1569, although its existing buildings date from the
nineteenth century. Like most Machars mills, it used waterpower.
The local
rhyme runs:
Whithorn is a pretty place
It stands upon a hill
And through
it runs the river Ket
Which drives Port Yerrock Mill.
The pictures are of Portyerrock Mill and the Miller's Cottage, taken in the 1890's. The valuation roll of 1887 shows that James Hunter was the miller.
As dairying increased
in dominance and arable farming grew less prosperous at the end of the
nineteenth century, consequently milling declined.


