Belgian Flax Mill

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Two storey / four bay Belgian flax mill, aligned N-S and located to the west of an earlier complex of mill buildings (HB16/05/021A-C,E).

Pitched corrugated asbestos roof is in two sections. That over left bay (occupying half of the building) is raised slightly higher and both have single asbestos ventilation flues in ridge. All walls are smooth rendered (over concrete block or brickwork).

Front elevation is west facing. Left bay is advanced slightly and has three windows to each floor. All are 2x6 paned metal casements with rendered cills. Advanced right cheek of this bay has a 2x5 paned metal casement at first floor. Remaining bays diminish in width from L-R. Second from left has a t+g sheeted painted timber door to centre with 5x2 transom over, and a window (as others) to either side with similar in line at first floor. Third bay has a painted timber t+g sheeted door to ground floor and a 3x5 paned casement window to first floor. Fourth has a pair of t+g sheeted doors with 5x2 paned transom and to first floor is a t+g-sheeted door. A free standing concrete stair rises from right of door on second bay to first floor of fourth bay. It forms a porch over door on third bay and the fourth bay door is set into its outer cheek.

Left gable has a large pair of t+g sheeted shed doors to ground floor centre and above is a 3x3 paned metal casement window.

Rear elevation has, in its left bay, a 3x7 paned metal casement to ground floor left with a 3x5 paned casement in line above. Ground floor of second bay (from left) has a narrow single storey return with flat rendered roof, blank walls and a sheet metal vent on left cheek (obscuring a 2x7 paned casement) 1.5m above ground. Third bay has a t+g sheeted door with 5x2 paned casement over to left with a single 3x5 window in line above. Fourth bay has three 2x6 paned metal casements with rendered cills to ground floor with two similar to left and right above. Between the latter is a loading doorway (door gone) with metal ladder attached to wall at right hand side.

Right gable has a 3x7 paned metal casement to ground floor left and a 3x5 paned casement to first floor centre.

Situated a few metres from SE corner is a single storey toilet building with overhanging concrete roof and screen walls to front. It has a t+g sheeted door and a small metal casement to left cheek. On roof is a painted metal water tank.

Historical information

Erected by Nicholson family in 1940s to augment nearby water-powered flax mill (HB16/05/021C). This building comes at the end of an evolutionary sequence of industrial buildings commencing in the later 18th century. Its design is as specified by the government as part of the war effort.

Closed in 1950s.

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

D. Plan Form
E. Spatial Organisation
J. Setting
K. Group value

Criteria for listing: historic interest

X. Local Interest
Z. Rarity

Evaluation

Although general condition is deteriorating with some broken windows and much rust to frames, this mill forms part of a larger complex of industrial buildings in an attractive rural setting. Only a handful of this type were ever constructed and this is now a rare surviving example.