Silverbrook Mills

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Complex of mill buildings including two-storey corn mill, built c.1830 with one-and-a-half-storey flax mill built c.1850, located to the east side of Brook Road. Corn mill is L-shaped-on-plan with single-storey gabled extension to south, built c.1880, at a time of improvements. Flax mill is rectangular-on-plan.

Roofs are pitched natural slate with concrete ridge tiles over timber eaves. Walls are roughly coursed rubble with fieldstone quoins. Windows are square-headed timber-framed 4-pane casements supported by stone lintels.

Corn mill to north-west has replacement concrete eaves.

Principal elevation faces west, single-storey at left due to topography of site; at left, large camber-headed opening with brick voussoirs at first floor contains vertically-sheeted timber double doors; at centre, similar opening flanked at left by single window; at right, square-headed opening containing similar doors at first floor. North elevation is blank. East elevation contains, at left, single window at first floor; ground floor abutted by wall-mounted breast-shot cast-iron waterwheel with brick surround to shaft opening; at right, projecting wing is blank. South elevation is abutted at ground floor right by single-storey extension containing single window to south; there is an unusual carved stone human face to the top left of this elevation. The west elevation contains vertically-sheeted timber door and window; east elevation contains single window. Timber sluice way and tail race to east bounded by rubble retaining wall.

Flax mill to north-east
Principal elevation faces south and consists of large square-headed opening in rebated surround with red brick quoins containing vertically-sheeted timber double sliding doors supported on timber rail to head; abutted at right by wall-mounted cast-iron waterwheel; pair of fixed metal rooflights to roofslope. West gable contains round-arched-headed window opening with red brick surround. North elevation is blank. East gable is blank.

Detached one-and-a-half-storey saw mill directly to south of flax mill waterwheel; roof is corrugated asbestos sheeting; principal elevation is lime-rendered; exposed rubble elsewhere. Window and door openings to east and west elevations contain vertically-sheeted timber doors. Mill abutted at north-east by pitched corrugated metal open shed.

Detached single-storey former dwelling to north at centre of complex. Roof is pitched natural slate with lime-rendered chimneys to north end; walls are lime-washed rubble over painted plinth; windows are square-headed 2/4 sliding sashes with painted stone sills. Principal elevation faces west and contains two windows and vertically-sheeted timber half-door. North gable is blank. East elevation contains two windows. South gable contains window at ground floor and attic.

Detached one-and-a-half-storey outbuilding to south; detailed as mill buildings; vertically-sheeted timber entrance door to north; west gable contains single window to attic; three fixed metal rooflights to north and south roofslopes.

Set within private grounds; bounded to north by mill race; bounded from road at west and carpark at south by recent rubble walling surmounted by timber fencing; access through pair of diagonally-sheeted gates supported by circular rubble piers. Further one-and-a-half-storey building to south of carpark is largely overgrown; whitened rubble walling can be seen.

Roof Natural slate
Walling Roughly coursed rubble
Windows Timber framed 4-pane casements
Rainwater goods Cast-iron half-round gutters and round downpipes

Historical information

There are buildings present on the first edition Ordnance Survey map (1832-3), two of which are captioned ‘Corn Mill’. The second edition (1854) captions the complex ‘Corn Mill and Kiln’, the third (1905) ‘Silverbrook Mills’ and a ‘Flax Mill’ is added to the site. Two sluices are also captioned.

In the Townland Valuation (1828-40) a new entry is made in pencil ‘Dwelling, Mill and Corn Kiln not measured but valued by Mr Ky at £4. Name of proprietor wanting’. The page is dated 3rd September 1833 and the entry has been made subsequent to this.

In Griffith’s Valuation (1856-64), Davidson Kays occupies the mill and leases it from James Ogilby. It is listed as a ‘Corn Mill, Kiln, Millers House, Flax Mill and waste’, the corn mill being valued at £8.10s, later raised to £11, the miller’s house at £10 later deleted and the flax mill and waste at £4 later reduced to £3.10s. Dimensions are given for the buildings. A note records, of the corn mill, ‘Wheel diameter 12ft 6in, breadth 2ft, 9in, depth bucket 1ft, undershot fall 10ft 6in, water let on at level of axle. Works one pair of stones 5ft diameter, 5 months in the year, 9 hours a day’. The flax mill has a ‘wheel 12ft diameter, 2ft 6in wide and 9in depth, fall about 9 ft, water let on at level of axle. Works 3 scutching stocks 4 months of the year, 9 hours a day’.

Throughout Annual Revisions (1860-1924) the flax mill remains in the Kays family. However in 1880 John Dunn takes over the corn mill and the value is raised to £18.10s indicating improvements or rebuilding. James Magill becomes the occupier in 1901.

At the time of the first General Revaluation in 1933 James Magill remains the occupier and leases the corn and flax mills from R.A. Ogilby. James Magill is, in turn, the lessor of two houses on the site. In 1935 James Magill describes the corn mill thus, “small corn mill, one pair of stones used for crushing oats for surrounding farmers from October to April. In operation sometimes two and sometimes three days per week”. The valuer states, “Works Oct/Marsh 30/40 bags per week, 500 bags per annum. A saw mill has recently been started in part of the farm buildings and part of the flax mill.” The valuer reduces the valuation of the mill from £8.10s to £6 and £3.10 for outbuildings.

Two houses are also listed on the site, one valued at £3.5s and the other at £1. The larger house is slated, the smaller consists of one room and a kitchen.

In 1933 the flax mill is described as being ‘at rest’. Dimensions are given for the mill and two stores of rubble masonry and slate. The mill is described as having four stocks and one roller. In 1936 the valuer states, “This mill will start to work in about three weeks’ time and is expected to continue working for 6/7 months. Last year worked 8 months. Year before 2 months. Last year scutched 18 tons approximately”. The value of the building is raised from £4 to £8.

In the early 21st century, Donemana and District Community Association Ltd carried out a project to restore the Mills as a tourist venue, with tea rooms and a gift shop. The project was funded by the International Fund for Ireland, the N.I. Tourist Board, Strabane District Partnership and Strabane District Council. During the project, the water wheels were re-built and machinery re-instated to accurately depict the workings of the mill buildings.

A site visit in October 2012 indicated that the facility has since proved unsustainable, and is now closed to the public; there is evidence of some deterioration to lime wash etc. The buildings remain in their original setting, with head race to the north. The restoration was accurate; there is little modern influence visible other than some 21st Century fencing and a gravelled parking area.

References:

Primary Sources

1. PRONI OS/6/6/6/1 – First Edition OS Map (1832-3)
2. PRONI OS/6/6/6/2 – Second Edition OS Map (1854)
3. PRONI OS/6/6/6/3 – Third Edition OS Map (1905)
4. PRONI OS/6/6/6/4 – Fourth Edition OS Map (1952)
5. PRONI VAL/1/A/6/6 – Townland Valuation Map
6. PRONI VAL/1/B/639A – Townland Valuation (1828-40)
7. PRONI VAL/2/A/6/6 – Griffiths’ Valuation Map
8. PRONI VAL/2/B/6/42A – Griffith’s Valuation (1856-64)
9. PRONI VAL/12/B/42/19A-G – Annual Revision Records (1860-1924)
10. PRONI VAL/3/D/7/10U/2 – Valuers’ RV Binder (1933-57)

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
D. Plan Form
J. Setting
K. Group value

Criteria for listing: historic interest

R. Age
T. Historic Importance
X. Local Interest
Z. Rarity

Evaluation

A complex of mill buildings including two-storey corn mill, built c.1830 with one-and-a-half-storey flax mill built c.1850, located to the east side of Brook Road. The complex evolved during the nineteenth century into a hub of industry inlcuding corn, linen and timber production. It is unusual to find a corn, flax and saw mill grouped in such proximity and powered by the same mill race, giving the buildings group value and also interest due to their rarity. The site was recently sympathetically restored as a public attraction, with traditional interiors and working machinery. Though currently closed as a tourist facility, it is an important complex and has architectural and historic interest for the local area.

General comments

Additional listing criteria apply - R Age, and T - Historic Importance