Former Flax Mill

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A stone built 2 storey former beetling mill.

Approaching the mill across a raised laneway the entrance elevation is 3 bays wide. There is a single timber door at one end and boarded up window opening next to it and beyond that another built up window. There are 2 steps up to the door. Wall finished in roughcast rendering, corbel course at gutter level without gutter, natural blue slated roof. The west gable has a small square opening near the bottom of the wall and the other gable has a door near the corner giving access to floor under. The rear wall also has a door to the lower floor and 2 openings at upper floor level are built up. Against this rear wall another building abutted the gable which projected towards the millrace and probably contained the water wheel.

The mill building is a short distance from Knockan bridge and a field length in from the old Feeny Road. Alongside the access laneway is the dry mill pond. The remains of the sluice and the dried up millrace can still be seen.

Historical information

A beetling mill is indicated here on the 1830 O.S. map and indicated as a corn mill on the 1905 Rev of the 1830 O.S. Map. Building probably 18th cent.
I H R No. 1960

References

Primary Sources
1. O.S. Map 1830 Londonderry sh. 30
2. O.S. Map 1830 Rev. 1905 Londonderry sh. 30

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

A former mill, firstly beetling and then adapted to corn, of the 19th cent. Interesting remains of mill pond and millrace. Source of water was drawn from the Owenbeg River.