Note 3 — (RE-PRINTED BY DESIRE.)

As the name Vellandruchar means wheel-mill, the mill which was formerly in this place was probably one of the oldest in the West. At no great distance from Vellandruchar is the site of another ancient mill called Vellansager. This name is equally suggestive, as denoting that the serging or bolting apparatus was not then common in the mills. These old mills were situated in the lower part of Burrien, on the stream which divides that parish from Paul. According to tradition, a sanguinary battle was fought on the moors a little above Vellandruchar, between Arthur and the Danes, when they say the mill was worked with blood, and that arrow, spear and axe-heads, with the remains of other weapons, have frequently been found in the bog-turf (peat soil) which is cut for fuel from Vellandruchar Moors. These moors were also said to be so much infested with adders, in old time, that cattle could not be turned into them in Summer, until one day an adder got into a pot of milk, which a man who was cutting turf on the moor brought with him to drink. The man placed a turf on the mouth of the pot, and stopped the adder in it. In a short time the imprisoned adder made a peculiar noise, which attracted other adders round the pot. These, in turn, seemed to call others, until from all parts of the moors the adders were seen directing their course straight to the interesting captive. The men cutting turf on the moors were all obliged to flee the low grounds. Towards night, when they ventured into the moor, they found that a mass of adders, as large as an ordinary hay-cock, had interlaced themselves into a solid heap over and round the pot. The people then formed a ring of dry furze, and other fuel they found ready cut, around the mass of adders, now apparently torpid. When many scores of trusses of furze were collected, fire was placed at the same instant to several parts of the ring of furze. They say that the noise made by the burning adders was frightful, and that a great number of milpreaves were found in the ashes.

This story of the adders is also told about Trevethow Moors, the ground now called the Hay Meadow, and many other places. ↑