Millbrook Mill

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A collection of mill buildings along the Faughan near Killycor Bridge. There are two main buildings, a corn mill and a ‘provender’ mill. The corn mill appears to be the older building. It has four storeys and faces north west. There is a large iron waterwheel behind an arched opening in the ground floor four metres in diameter. The window openings are regular and equally spaced. The roof is slated and hipped. The south west gable bows out markedly. At the north western end a single storey brick extension of two bays has been added to the two storey stone building raising it to the eaves level of the four storey main block. This extension is strengthened on the north west gable by three concrete buttresses elaborately decorated as on a church. To the entrance court the building is three storeys high narrowing to half the width at the brick extension. The second mill at approximately 45º to the first is joined to it at the brick extension. It is a two storey stone building with a single storey brick extension on top. Its eaves are in line with the other mill. To the courtyard it also presents two storeys.The approach road to the mill is flanked on one side by the mill race which has a small stone parapet wall. To the left hand side of the approach road is the Miller’s house, a two storey, three bay, mid Victorian house of little note. A single storey office with two rooms, chimney and hipped slate roof is at the end of the road before it splits into the mill complex and into the stable yard behind the house.

The stable yard enclosed with two storey white washed and slated buildings on four sides is delightful particularly the iron balcony and dormer to the small house in the south west wing.

Adjacent to the mill is a cast iron framed shed similar to those at Straidarran House and was transferred from there. No information was available on date of manufacture of frame.

Historical information

Built as a corn and flax mill by the Fishmongers company for tenants on their estate. Operated by the Miller family from opening pre 1830. On 1830 map. Made oat meal, ground Indian corn, operated as a flax mill, sawed timber, and providing electricity. Most of mill activity stopped in early 1960s. Electricity generating for the house continued into the late 1980s.

References:
Primary Sources:
1. OS Map 1905 Revision, Co Londonderry sheet 22

Secondary Sources:
J S Curl The Plantation of Londonderry 1612 - 1914 p.87
Olly McGilloway 'Along the Faughan side' (1986) p.20
Historic Buildings File notes F W Hamond 17 October 1994
Industrial Archaeology Record ref number: 1937.

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

D. Plan Form
F. Structural System
K. Group value

Criteria for listing: historic interest

X. Local Interest

Evaluation

A large mill complex and associated buildings which clearly reveals the story of mill use from the late 18th century to the present day. It is the largest mill on the Faughan, it deserves to be listed for its social importance to the region and its intact workings.