Who wants to be a mill owner?

A MILL for every mile of its length — that’s what’s said of the Kings River, in Kilkenny, a tributary of the Nore which runs through the county’s rich farmland.

Milling was a strong industry in the area, but now other uses have to be made of these large, stone buildings. One in particular, Hutchinson’s Mill on the river at Kells, is a case in point, and any residential/mixed development of this formidable, waterside building would get the approval of Kilkenny County Council.

So says its selling agent, Ed Donohoe of ERA Donohoe Properties, who is inviting offers in the region of €500,000 for the stone-built behemoth.

Running to 14,000 square feet, the Mill has a wonderful position on the King’s river in a town that is one of the most fashionable places to live right now. Also, the uber-exclusive Mount Juliet Golf Course is just two to three miles away and Kilkenny is a nine mile drive, making this a popular residential village for commuters to the Marble City.

Kilkenny with its statutes and medieval status as the capital of Anglo-Norman Ireland would be eclipsed, however, by the long history of the village of Kells.

Founded in 559 by Columcille, around the same time as the monasteries of Durrow and Derry, the Saint returned from exile here following the sack of his Scottish monastery at Iona, bringing with him the famous Book of Kells. The manuscript was completed in the 9th century and remained in the monastery at Kells until 1541 it made its final move to Trinity College in 1661.

The monastic settlement was within the sway of the Kings of Ossory, (from which the river gets its name), until the arrival of the first of the Norman Knights, Geoffrey FitzRobert, who settled in the area in 1193.

He endowed an Augustinian priory at Kells which flourished for centuries until Henry V111 ordered the dissolution of the monasteries in the 16th century.

Kells then settled down to a period of quiet prosperity as a market centre for its rich farming hinterland, and milling became a strong activity in the area.

Hutchinson’s Mill, built in the late 18th century, is right next to the ruins of the medieval priory and is a broad, five-storey building with frontage onto the river and mill race running underneath.

Set on an acre and a half site, the building has been partially renovated: the fourth floor with its massive exposed beams was overhauled by a local heritage group and was used for functions during Kilkenny Art Festival.

According to selling agent, Ed Donohoe of ERA Donohoe Properties, it has tremendous potential for further development and would be perfect for residential units, apartments, restaurant and craft centre, or even a mix of all three.

While it would need substantial investment, somebody with vision could reap high rewards here, he says.

Hutchinson’s Mill is for sale by tender with a guide price of €500,000 given.