Former mill complex

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A substantial mill complex on the north side of the road. It comprises (1) the main two-storey block aligned east-west parallel with the road, (2) a one-storey return at rear left, (3) a one-storey block behind and parallel to the main block, and (4) chimney at east end.

1. Main block

Pitched roof in natural slate with five skylights to front; of pressed metal to rear, but missing at right-hand end (as viewed from front). Semicircular plastic gutters. Walls of random rubble granite brought to courses and with projecting brick eaves course.

Facade to road has tall modern openings to each end (concrete heads and concrete block jambs). Also three small doors and five infilled windows to ground floor. Two loading doors and two windows to first floor. HMBB picture of 1972 shows insertion of the large doors to have destroyed eight original windows. West gable has a large original doorway with semi-elliptical head. Rear elevation abutted at right by return; traces of two doors and two windows, all infilled. Right gable has loading door at first floor.

2. Return
Walls and roof of similar construction to main block (but natural slate throughout). Judging by the way the roof is tied into the main block, this may have been a later addition to the latter (or at least tied in at a later date). Large entrance at south end of west facade. On north gable is a smaller entrance, with window above. Two ventilation slits along base of east facade with is abutted towards left by secondary block.

3. Secondary block
One storey block. Pitched natural slate roof over common rafters, but mostly gone. Random rubble walls brought to courses. Four door openings and one window to north wall (part of which has collapsed). East gable has two bearing housings which suggests that there may have been machinery inside. South facade has various infilled openings onto passage behind main block.

4. Chimney
Tapered octagonal brick chimney surviving to full height of c.15-20m. Quoins of engineering brick.
Masonry octagonal pedestal, square base and projecting cornice.

Historical information

No mill is shown on the 1859 OS map or cited in the second Valuation of c.1861. It appears first in the Valuation Revision Book of 1868 and belonged to Robert Waterson. It is valued at £39.10s.0d and comprised two sections with the following dimensions: 27yds x 6yds x 1.25 storeys; 15yds x 4yds x 1st. The valuation goes on to note that it was designed for 14 stocks, but only 13 were working, all being driven by a 15hp steam engine. It passed to David Waterson in 1879. It is described as vacant in the 1893 valuation. At that time it contained 14 stocks and a set of rollers.

This mill is primarily of historical interest in reflecting the upsurge in flax scutching in the 1860s as a result of the American Civil War.

Primary sources:
1. Valuation Revision Books (PRONI: VAL 12B/22/6A-D).
2. 2nd edition OS 6" map (1859), Down sheet 48.

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

Although its chimney is a distinctive landmark, the remaining buildings are of insufficient architectural or technical interest to warrant listing.