MILL OF THE BLACK MONKS

^RAVEN^ · Joined: 23 Nov 2007 Posts: 103 Location: BARNSLEY UK

History of the MILL OF BLACK MONKS...
Originally part of Monk Bretton Priory the Mill of the Black Monks dates back as far as the 11th Century, the priory now stands a ruined shell of its once former glory just a few hundred yards from the site of the Mill of the Black Monks. The Priory dates back to 1156 when it was founded by French Cluniac monks, however disputes arrose between this and Pontefracts order which ended in a renunciation of Cluny by Monk Bretton in 1280 which led to the Priorys continuance as a Benedictine Priory right up to the Dissolution.

In order to provide the Priory with running water the monks re-directed the course of the river Dearne, this is where the mill came into practice having now been built actually in the once river bed; this building was also used as an arms house and would often be a place for weary travellers to bed down for the night, as no one except the Monks were allowed in the Priory grounds the Monks would allow passers by to rest in the arms house as an alternative.

In more modern times the Mill stood empty for many years, boarded up and heading for ruin, finally the building was bought in order to renovate into a public house and restaurant, however having been built on the river bed planning permission was flatly refused due to safety aspects, over the years the building had been slowly sinking further into the silt bed and it was announced that the only way to safely renovate the building would be to raise it up and place it on a concrete raft, quite amazingly this massive undertaking took place and finally the mill was restored and opened up for business. One suprising discovery during the renovations was of a prehistoric dinosaur bone which was uneathed from the silt river bed!

Not suprisingly with all this history surrounding it The Mill of the Black Monks is house to many a spooky tale! a black figure has been reported walking through the grounds on occassion by many witnesses, the ladies loos also has had reports of varying phenomenon.

Visiting psychics have also commented on a presense in the restaurant seating area known as The Granary.....

Staff report unseen hands have touching them and white shapes have floating through the walls. Small objects such as ashtrays and glasses move of their own free will, and the figure of a ghostly monk standing in the shadows has manifested itself.

^RAVEN^

damaralenoire · Joined: 19 Oct 2008 Posts: 334 Location: South Wales UK

Bretton Priory as in Bretton Village,

I used to live in West Bretton cos i was a student at Bretton Hall Academy Performance and Cultural Industries

bitterbuck1 · Posted: Wed May 27, 2009 5:29 am Post subject:

Hi Raven.
You were definitely not disappointed were you.
What a night to remember!

Were you allowed to take in pictures during the
investigation?