Ballygowan Mill

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

This complex comprises a corn mill with kiln to its south, all on the west side of the Greencastle Road.

1. Corn mill

Three-storey building aligned north-south. The building is cut into a west-facing slope so that it is appears to be only two storeys high on its east elevation. The ground floor of the southern half has subsequently been infilled.

Pitched natural slate roof with brick verges but no rainwater goods. Walls of random Silurian rubble with flush granite quoins. The east and west walls instep between first and second floor; on the south gable, larger stones appear to have been used to form the top storey. This suggests that the top floor is a later addition.

The principal elevation faces east into the farmyard. There is a large entrance at left, with segmental brick relieving arch over. Although at ground level externally on this side, this doorway actually leads into the first floor. There is a small loading door at right on the floor above.

The south gable is blank.

The west elevation has a small door at ground floor left. To its immediate right is a small window; a piece of discarded millstone is used as a lintel. There is a window at first floor and two to the second floor (that at top right is infilled with brick).

The north gable contains a comparatively large opening at first floor. It contains a metal lattice window (almost certainly a more recent insert).

2. Kiln

A three-storey/ two-bay building aligned east-west. Replacement pitched natural slate roof with half-round plastic gutters and timber fascia boards. Walls of random Silurian rubble brought to courses with flush stepped granite quoins.

Principal elevation faces north into farmyard. Contains two sliding corrugated metal doors to ground floor. Remainder of wall blank.

On east gable, external concrete stairs rise to first floor opening at centre. This contains t+g sheeted door. The jambs incorporate some brickwork and the cill is of concrete; this suggests a later insert. At second floor level is a small window opening.

The south elevation has a small window opening at ground floor left and right.

The west gable is abutted by a one-storey byre. At ground floor is a brick-infilled window opening. There is also a small window opening at first floor.

Historical information

A corn mill is shown here on the 1834 OS 6” map. In 1838, it belonged to Eliza McIlroy and was described as measuring 51ft x 20ft 6in x 7ft. A kiln is noted in Ballymadeerfy townland (adjoining to the north) – there is now no evidence of this. The Ordnance Survey Memoir of around the same date describes the mill as “old and single geared”. By 1861, the mill, then in the possession of Hugh McElroy, had been heightened and its grinding capacity doubled. It now measured 15yds x 6yds x two storeys (20ft) and the present kiln was associated. A 20ft x 4ft waterwheel drove two pairs of stones (almost certainly in great spurwheel configuration). A steam powered flax mill is also cited from 1895 onwards but its whereabouts is now unknown. The flax mill ceased work in 1904, but corn milling appears to have persisted until well after the First World War.

Primary Sources:
1. PRONI- OS 6/3/55/1 (1834 OS map) (Down sheet 55).
2. PRONI- VAL 1B/390A, (1838 Valuation) p.25.
3. PRONI- OS 6/3/55/2 (1862 OS map) (Down sheet 55).
4. PRONI- VAL 2B/3/81B, (1861 Valuation) p.59.
5. PRONI- VAL 12B/19/13C, (1895 valuation) p.62.
6. PRONI- VAL 12B/19/13D, (1904 Valuation) p.5.

Secondary Source:
1. Day A. 'Ordnance Survey Memoir of County Down , Kilkeel Parish.'

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

This corn mill and separate kiln are essentially of mid 19th century date. The mill is of some evolutionary note in encompassing what is undoubtedly an 18th century mill. There are a number of internal alterations and too few technical features to merit listing.