Dunster mill leat

The leat or millstream leaves the river Avill south of Dunster at the Whirlpool or Hurlypool. The head weir was mentioned by 1519 and was maintained by the owners or occupiers of up to eleven mills in the early 18th century. Many people were responsible for cleaning and maintaining the leat. It is a long leat and runs alongside West Street and Mill Lane largely confined in stone or concrete channels.

Most mills along its route would probably have had undershot wheels but because the leat's fall is less that that of the river by the time the leat reaches the present mills it is high enough to drive two overshot wheels.