The Doachs

Today's the day ........................ to catch salmon

Will came across this old postcard today, of the River Dee at Tongland - or Tongueland  as it was originally.  This would have been the view around the 1880s, a few hundred yards upstream from us, looking from the opposite bank across to the Tongland Mills with the Parish Church further up the bank.

The Parish Church is now a roofless ruin but some of the mill buildings are still there, as a private residence.  Back at the end of the 19th century, the Tongueland Mills would have been a busy place.  Old maps show the corn, wheat and barley mill, paper mill, carding mill and the miller's house.  The River Dee was tidal and it was possible for boats to come up as far as here, bringing the raw materials to be processed.  There were lots of natural pools formed in the rocky bed of the river - known as the 'Doachs' or 'Doughs' - and it was renowned as a great place to catch salmon. 

Everything changed in the 1930s however, with the coming of the Hydro-Electric Power Stations on the River Dee.  Dams were built to hold water in reservoirs that were used to supply the Power Stations - and the whole character of the river was altered.

Always so interesting though, to see how things were in the past ......................