Small Corn Mill

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Small two storey stone barn like building to the north west of the Carrickhugh Flour Mill complex (HB02/02/005A). Building aligns east to west, with its west gable abutting the unnamed road from Clooney Road to Carrickhugh Station (HB02/02/008). This road is at first floor level of the barn. A standard size door trimmed in yellow brick gives access to this level in the centre of the gable. Above there is a small hip in the roof one metre from the apex.

To the south the building is three bays long, windows (frames gone) in the stone walls are trimmed by brick. At ground level near the centre the head of a brick arch at a lower level can be made out.

To the east a high stone wall continues from the building to the entrance gates of the renovated miller’s house. The east gable is blank, but there are traces of a lower pitched roof that once abutted the wall. The building was destroyed by fire many years ago and was described in early maps as a drying kiln.

To the north the elevation is similar to the south. Timber louvres remain on the first floor windows. A wall projects perpendicular to the building near the east end. This is badly decayed and overgrown. As the level of the ground is dropping the blocked up brick arch below the ground floor is more exposed to this side.

Historical information

Marked as a ‘Kiln’ on the 1831 Ordnance Survey Map and as a ‘Corn Kiln’ on the 1848 Ordnance Survey Map. The building is not specifically mentioned by the Ordnance Survey Memoirs or the Griffiths Valuation who mention only one corn mill and kiln in the townland, - which is most likely the larger complex of buildings further down the hill (HB02/02/006). On the 1848 map the building is twice as long as at present with a central projection (the wall noted) to the north. On the 1923 Ordnance Survey Map the building seems extended slightly further to the miller’s house but is not marked as a mill. It was this second half now demolished that contained the corn kiln - a vaulted brick structure with ovens at the base and an iron grill system above for drying the corn. This half is indicated as roofless on the present map dating from 1977. It was demolished in the mid 1980s as part of renovations to the miller’s house. The 1848 map shows a mill stream passing through the building on the line of the present arches. It is likely that there was a wheel for grinding the corn.

References:

The Ordnance Survey Memoirs of Ireland Vol. 36 p.21.
The Griffiths Valuation 1858, Newtownlimavady p.178.
Owner (1998).
Ordnance Survey Map Londonderry sheet 9 1848 & 1923 Surveys
Industrial Archaeology Record Ref: 1434:2

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

A small stone barn with hip at gable unusual for the area. Building of little architectural value, though it complements the other buildings nearby. Of historical interest as part of the complex of mill buildings at Carrickhugh.