Drumnascamph Mill

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

The mill is aligned down the slope, at right angles to the road, facing south-west, with a chimney at its lower end. The mill comprises a one-storey building, formerly with a pitched slate roof, but now superseded by a corrugated metal monopitch roof. The walls are of random rubble; the front wall has been rebuilt in concrete blockwork and cement rendered. There is a slightly taller two-storey section nearest the road, with a pitched slate roof and gable entrance at first floor level (here level with the outside). Now used as stables.

The chimney is of brick and square in cross section. It rests on a stone base and tapers to full height of approx. 17m where it is corbelled out and topped with (?granite) blocks. There is a small flue hole towards the base on the face to the mill.

A one-storey range along the road was formerly a row of workers' houses. The original roof has been replaced with one of monopitch corrugated metal and the walls are smooth cement rendered. Now used as stables.

Historical information

Not mentioned in the second Valuation of c.1861. First cited in the 1866 valuation revision as belonging to Samuel Davison. There is no evidence of any waterpower, and it would have been steam powered from the outset. Valued at £42.10s.0d – this indicates a substantial concern and an erection date of early/mid 1860s. The range of houses is first mentioned in 1876. Passed on David Davison in 1888. A note in margin of valuation notes "mill boycotted". This may explain why described as vacant in 1889 valuation and as 'at rest' in 1894. At that time it contained 14 stocks and one set of rollers. The 1902 OS map shows a block at the lower end of the complex, at right angles to the main block - this section probably contained the engine and boiler house, both of which are now gone.

Primary sources:
1. Second Valuation Book, c.1861 (PRONI: VAL 2B/3/49B, p.58).
2. Valuation Revision Books (PRONI: VAL 12B/22/20A-F).

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

Historically this complex is of interest in reflecting the upsurge in flax scutching in the early 1860s as a result of the American Civil War. However, although the chimney is intact, too little survives of the remainder of the complex to make it special enough to warrant listing.