Cabril Mill:
On the left bank of the ribeira dos mil nome, I will call it ribeira do cabril, since everyone calls it what they want by the different maps I have seen, better known as ribeira do Carvoeiro, located about 400m downstream from pego negro, is the mill of cabril.
It had two sets of millstones and two casters, one usually for corn and rye and the other for wheat, both powered by water, conducted through a levada from a weir located only 70m upstream, a levada dug in the rock or improvised with local stone walls, that conducted the water and distributed it through a system of wooden sluices to the casters, or rejected it in the watercourse, depending on the need.
Besides the stones (mos), it was composed of the mill where the grain was deposited, the hub where the water tapered to the caster, the pejadouro that cut the water from the caster, the calha was a wheel that regulated the entry of grain into the stone, and the plates around the stones called cambeiras, which forced the flour out at the opening.
It also had some support constructions for people and animals to stay overnight.
It is unknown who built it and exactly at what time. Possibly in the late 19th century by families from Vilar da lapa (nicknamed "Motas" owners of the land) and several others from Vale da Mua. It had several owners and users each with their "quinhão" (share of time to grind).
It still worked in the mid 80's, ended with the extinction of the last milharais of Vale do Cabril, etc..
As far as we could ascertain, the last known owners of the mill were: Vilar Lapa: Maria Mota, Delfim. Vale do grou: António Mota, Zé Mota and Luis Mota. Vale da Mua: Ti Adelino, Ti Zé Maria, Belmiro de Matos, Ti Zé Serrinho, and my esteemed grandfather Severino Martins Pinheiro with whom I still had the pleasure of going there to grind cereal "on horseback" on his stallion that snaked up the narrow and steep trail loaded but almost without help, he knew exactly where to put his paws on every cm!
Near the entrance there is a drinking water spring with unprecedented quality, which helped to refresh those who ventured to the path in those parts, something frequent especially in summer in walks of the inhabitants of Vale da Mua and other villages, stage of pic nic / fishing, etc ...
It has in front of it an interesting escarpment, with the classic colors of the rocky walls of the area and sometimes a shelter for birds of prey among other animals. Correct me if I'm wrong but it still had a roof in 2017, which eventually collapsed with the late July fire!
Text: Luciano Mendes on @CentroCulturaleSocialValedaMua
Creditos : Agostinho Pinheiro