Milanović (1987) states that in Popovo Polje, the Ponor-mills were mostly destroyed during the sealing of the Trebišnjica riverbed with concrete or shotcrete. This was as a direct result of the karst engineering work undertaken for the Hidroelektrane na Trebišnjici Co. He further states that some of the preserved mills are non-functional. In the case of the surviving three mills at Dobromani, we can confirm that their functionality has certainly been affected, though the structural fabric in each case is remarkably intact. We are of the opinion that these three mills were built by the same builder.

4.1.1.   The Drapića Ponor-mill and ancilliary structures.

Photo DPM 9...is a view of the Drapića Ponor-mill and ancilliary buildings in the background.
(Photo :  B.Lewarne, 14 Aug 2000.)

Photo DPM 10...indicates a more detailed view of the Drapića Ponor-mill and the outcropping limestone geology.
(Photo :  B. Lewarne, 13 Aug 2000.)

This is probably the most photographed of the the two units, being conveniently observed from the nearby highway. Its name is the Drapića Mill (Drapića mlin.) The cylindrical outer stone wall is in good condition on the outside. Its top is in need of plant removal and re-mortaring. We have great concern that the tree and bush growth on the inside of the structure may seriously weaken it.

Photos DPM 11. & 12...above show details of the exterior circumference of the outer cylinderical stone wall - the coffer dam.
The protruding stones are immediately above the water gate and indicate where the screw mechanism would have been located
for raising and lowering the water gate.
(Photos :  B. Lewarne, 13 Aug 2000.)

The inner spiral stone staircase contiguous with the inside of the cylindrical stone wall, is also suffering badly from the destructive effects of plant growth. which is dislodging large stones.

Photos DPM 13. & 14.  above show the position and condition of the spiral stone staircase on the inside of and
contiguous with the outer cylindrical stone wall.  Note the profusion of plant growth.
(Photos :  B. Lewarne, 13 Aug 2000.)

Photo DPM 15...above shows in greater detail the damage caused to the masonry of the spiral stone
staircase by excessive root development of the trees and bushes growing inside the ponor-mill.
(Photo :  B. Lewarne, 13 Aug 2000.)

 
The mill house at the bottom of the spiral stone staircase has totally lost its roof timbers and tiles, although the walls are in place. Nothing remains of the door and door-frame. Inside the mill house is a profusion of bush growth. Beneath this may lie many roof tiles and other relics. The interface between the mill house roof and the surrounding structure is still obvious.
At this point, returning again to the cylindrical stone wall, the lower part of this structure on the inside next to the mill house but above the archway forming the mill stone platform and roof of the turbine chamber, is also in a reasonable  structural condition. The wall here is integral with the limestone bedrock and takes the form of an arched alcove. The arch supports the top of the cylindrical stone wall at this point.

Photos DPM 16. & 17.  above show details of this structure and the condition of the underside of the upper archway.
The figure is standing on the lower archway which forms the mill stone platform.
(Photos :  M. Hardman, 14 Aug 2000)

The lower stone archway forming both the mill stone platform above and the roof of the turbine chamber below, is intact, with minimal disturbance from plant growth. The vertical drive shaft spindle from the turbine below the mill stone platform, is visible in the top of the shaft connecting orifice.

The turbine chamber below is in a remarkably good structural condition, although the turbine chamber access cover, probably originally made of wood, has gone. The floor of the chamber is covered with loose rocks and we now see much bedrock limestone. The water turbine itself is in the middle of the chamber. It is in a totally non-functional condition. Its wooden turbine blades and vertical drive shaft are in a very poor condition, as is the turbine drive shaft bearing underneath.
Returning to the surface again and the outside of the cylindrical stone wall, the flow regulation inlet gate and the gate control mechanism for raising (opening) and lowering (closing) the water gate, are all missing. There is the mere remnant of a metal fixture at the top of the outer cylindrical wall above the inlet orifice.

The water inlet orifice and water inlet channel are in a very good state of preservation - at least as far as direct and indirect inspection will permit us to see. The upper and middle sections of this channel are integrally constructed within the stonework of the ponor-mill. However, at its lower end, it is made of wood. This is still intact, although the watertightness of this short length of channel and its joint with the stone section, is questionable.

Leading off from the turbine chamber are two separate access portals to the ponor-caves below and beyond. One portal leads off south. The other portal leads off westwards and a few metres along this boulder-strewn passageway we are met with yet another water-inlet channel coming in from above and constructed integrally within the stonework of the mill.
It obviously did not feed a water turbine and the reason for its existence has not yet been determined. A detailed description of both sets of ponor-cave passages is given further on in this text.

The ancilliary buildings were not thoroughly investigated at the time of this survey. There are at least two structures associated with the Drapića Ponor-mill. They are roofless and only the outer stone walls survive.

Photo DPM 18. .above shows an interior view of the main ancilliary building associated with the Drapića Ponor-mill.
(Photo :  M. Hardman, 14 Aug 2000.)

The mill dam has been destroyed during the redevelopment of the Trebišnjica riverbed for the HET hydroelectric scheme. Vestiges of its position survive next to and downstream of the mill structure. The dam would probably have have been outcropping limestone.

4.1.2.   The Perišića Ponor-mill and ancilliary structures.
Although conveniently situated fairly close to the nearby road, the presence of the Perišića Ponor-mill is not, at first, so obvious, sitting squat and very low down beside the riverbank.
The outer cylindrical stone wall is ostensibly in good condition but is under an enormous threat from the intense growth of trees and bushes on the inside of the ponor-mill. Its top is in need of re-mortaring.

Photo DPM 19...above shows the Perišića Ponor-mill.
(Photo :  B. Lewarne, 13 Aug 2000)

Photo DPM 20...above shows the profuse growth of trees and bushes within the Perišića Ponor-mill.
(Photo :  B. Lewarne, 13 Aug 2000.)

The inner spiral stone staircase inside the cylindrical wall is also suffering badly from a profusion of bush and tree growth, which again is dislodging large stones. (see Photos DPM 20 and 21.)

Photos DPM 21. & 22.  above indicate the stranglehold of the foliage upon the spiral stone staircase.
(Photos :  B. Lewarne, 13 Aug 2000.)

The mill house at the bottom of the spiral stone staircase has lost its roof timbers and tiles, although, as in the case of the nearby Drapića Mill, the walls are in place. Again, nothing remains of the door or door-frame but the doorway is intact. Inside the mill house there is less of a profusion of bush and tree growth than in the other mill but the original floor is buried underneath much refuse and debris which may hide original relics. The interface between its roof and surrounding structures is also evident.

Photos DPM 23. &24...above indicate the inner mill house at the bottom of the spiral stone staircase.
Malcolm Hardman is standing at the doorway looking in at the litter-strewn floor of the building.
(Photos :  B. Lewarne, 13 Aug 2000.)

Photos DPM 25. & 26.  above offer more views of the refuse and litter.
(Photos :  B. Lewarne, 13 Aug 2000.)

The lower stone archway forming both the mill-stone platform above and the roof of the turbine chamber below, is intact, with minimal disturbance from plant growth. The drive-shaft spindle from the turbine below the mill-stone platform, is visible in the top of the drive-shaft connecting orifice.

Photos DPM 27. &28...above give details of the mill stones above the turbine chamber.
In the centre of the circular mill-stone can be seen the orifice through which would have
protruded the drive-shaft from the turbine below.
(Photos :  B. Lewarne, 13 Aug 2000.)

Photo DPM 29...above shows a more detailed view of the hole through which would have
protruded the turbine vertical drive shaft.
(Photo :  B. Lewarne, 13 Aug 2000.)

The turbine chamber is in a remarkably good structural condition, although the access cover to the chamber is missing. The turbine chamber access hole is formed against one side of the original limestone bedrock wall of the ponor channel. Again, the floor of the chamber is covered with large rocks and much rubbish and may be regarded as a largely unlined cave chamber.

Photos DPM 30. & 31.  above show views looking down into the turbine chamber through the access opening.
The view on the right shows the original cave wall at the entrance to the ponor proper.
(Photo :  B. Lewarne, 13 Aug 2000.)

The water turbine itself is in a totally non-functional condition, though in a marginally better state of preservation than that in the Drapića Ponor-mill. Details of its wooden turbine blades and vertical drive-shaft are more clearly observable. The turbine chamber was not further explored due to the presence of closed boxes of military ordnance.

Photo DPM 32...shows the vertical turbine drive shaft and turbine structure.
(Photo :  B. Lewarne, 13 Aug 2000.)

The ancilliary buildings associated with the Perišića Ponor-mill are situated right beside the road. They are in a similar state of preservation to that of the Drapića Ponor Mill, having lost roofs, windows and doors.

Photo DPM 33...indicates the condition of one of the ancilliary buildings to the Perišića Ponor-mill.
The "shell" of one of the building is plainly seen in front of the inhabited building in the centre-right of the view.
Interestingly, the vegetable gardens were still tended when this photo was taken.
There are other apparently associated out-buildings which are inhabited.
(Photo :  B. Lewarne 13 Aug 2000.)

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