Scutching is the stage in linen manufacturing that spans agriculture and industry. A scutcher received flax stems from the farmer and by holding the stems against a rapidly revolving beech-wood paddle removed the husks to leave the valuable flax fibres. Scutchers tended to be community based and served a relatively small area. Most were farmers themselves who had additional land/labour/power.
This database lists 376 scutchers from throughout Ireland along with their parish or townland of origin. The location of mills closely mirrors the growth of flax.
Compiled by William Hull.
