Koili (2nd mill)

Mill Description

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The mill is built on sloping and rocky ground and is surrounded by steep slopes with bushes and sparse trees. Water for the operation of the mill was collected from the river Mavrokolympos. The water channel and the watertower are both preserved in good condition. The water channel is long, stone-built and runs on the upper part of a stout wall. It ends at the corner of the rectangular, almost square upper part of the watertower, not in the middle, as observed in the majority of watermills. The stone-built watertower is very tall and its masonry is similar to that of the water channel. Its structure is elaborate and impressive and consists mainly of black stones, mixed with limestone. The watertower widens downwards, forming three tiers on its three sides. The pool at the top of the watertower has a circular opening in the center. In the upper part of the façade there is a built-in slab with a carved cross and the abbreviation IC XR NI CA. The rooms that housed the grinding mechanism have been destroyed, however the whole complex was rebuilt between 1993-1999. It includes stone-built rectangular rooms (makrynaria) with a flat roof (doma). The equipment of the mill has been preserved and is showcased. The mill belonged to the Monastery of Agios Neophytos and was rented to private individuals. According to oral information provided by papa-Georgios Mylonas, born in 1948, his grandfather, Constantinos Mylonas, born in 1900, has been one of the mill’s tenants. In 1946 the monastery published in the newspaper Paphos an advertisement for the sale of the mill by auction, which reads as follows: “We would like to inform you than on Sunday, November 17th, 1946, between 10-12am, the watermill of the monastery, located in the village of Koili and having the name Mavrokolympos will be sold by the Holy Monastery of Ayios Neophytos through a public auction. The mill will be given to the highest bidder if the price seems advantageous. With regards, the Holy Monastery of Ayios Neofytos,.” According to information, the mill was sold in 1956 for 40 pounds to Nikolas Theodorou Poiitis while the next owner was Nikolas, the son of Charalampos Theorodou, who still owns the mill. E. Egoumenidou & E. Kalliri

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