Corn Mill

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Two storey stone mill building with brick repairs built into precipitous side rocks of the River Roe 35 metres downstream of Largy Bridge (HB02/03/009). Ground level on the south east side of the building (away from the river) is at first floor level. There is now no surviving wall on this side above ground.

The south west gable closely abuts rocks rising the full height of the building though a small track squeezes between these and the mill at first floor level. Two window openings are at high level on this gable. From their base the whole structure has been rebuilt in brick.

The north west elevation faces the river at a 45 degree angle to it. A small flat triangle of land sits between the building and the river. The wall seems to rise to almost its full former height though it stops short the line of brick on the gables. There are five openings on the facade. One at the south west end - a door to the ground floor with five stone steps outside dropping to the lower level of the riverside land. One at this level roughly centred on the building - outfall of the former millrace, two almost square brick trimmed openings at first floor and a third small opening perhaps once the support of a projecting pulley.

The south east gable is similar to the north west with two large windows at high level in a rebuilt brick portion. At ground level are two smaller brick trimmed windows each with stone lintels and brick relieving arches above.

Historical information

Reputed to be one of the two Norman mills of the 'Roo' recorded in an inquisition of 1333 at the time of the death of Richard de Burgo The Red Earl of Ulster. The other is reputed to have been Roe Mills (HB02/13/004). Apparently this has been supported by recent archaeological investigation. This would have been a corn mill. The building is clearly marked on the 1831 Ordnance Survey Map though it is not indicated as a mill. A mill race can be made out crossing the Largy bleach green above and to the south from the lade serving the weaving shed museum (HB02/03/015). However on the 1830 map this race has been diverted away from the mill towards the aqueduct over the Roe at Largy (see HB02/13/008). This green with a watchtower, now gone, marked on the 1830 map should not be confused with Roe Green to the south west (see HB02/03/012A and 013). The building was probably used as part of the buildings associated with the bleach green set up in 1766 by Lesley Alexander. This closed in 1831 suggesting a reason for the lack of a label. On the 1848 map the building is labelled ‘Old beetling mill’ suggesting that it was reused for a time as part of the linen manufactory set up in 1833. According to the Ordnance Survey Memoirs of 1834-5 this was to prepare linen yarn to give out to weavers and occupied three buildings of the twelve indicated on the 1830 map in Largy. It seems that the industry expanded into most of these buildings before again closing down before the 1848 Ordnance Survey. Beetling was a process used to finish linen and give it a shine using repeated wooden hammers on the cloth. This may have required the rebuilding noted on the mill. On the 1848 map the mill race is no longer indicated. This is confirmed by the large scale 1907 Ordnance Survey Map which shows the race stops abruptly at the edge of the green. The building thus probably fell into dereliction in the second half of the nineteenth century. It is indicated as roofless on the 1907 map.

References:

OSS 1830,1848
The Ordnance Survey Memoirs of Ireland Vol. 25
Electricity from the Red River NIE p.8
Roe Valley Country Park Records
Industrial Archaeology Record Ref: 1680: 2

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

A picturesque ruin perhaps of great age along the side of the River Roe. If it is confirmed to have started as a Norman mill there is perhaps a case for making the building a scheduled monument, it is presently too derelict to be protected as a listed building. If true it would be the only surviving building (with possible exception of Drumachose Church see HB02/11/004) of the Norman period in the Limavady area and thus very important historically. The building is of interest for its association with the long and complicated history of milling on the River Roe.