Drumlough Corn Mill

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A derelict 19th century water-powered corn mill and detached drying kiln aligned east-west on south side of Longstone Hill road.

1. Corn mill
The main section is three-storeys high and a single bay internally. Natural slate roof, hipped to E and half-hipped to
W. Coursed and roughly squared rubble granite walls with projecting brick eaves and brick dressings to openings. Heavy overgrowth precluded detailed description.

Main entrance at G/F towards W end of N (road) elevation. Loading door directly above. The left half of this elevation is abutted to G/F and F/F by a one-storey shed formerly containing a diesel engine. Monopitched corrugated asbestos roof and rendered concrete block walls. Slit opening in left cheek for belt drive to hammer mill (see below).

The mill is cut into the slope such that the first floor is accessible from ground level at east. The east gable is abutted at first floor level by a one-storey building formerly containing a hammer mill. Pitched corrugated metal roof and rendered concrete block walls. Large entrance door in E gable.

External waterwheel pit at W end of S elevation, in which a turbine was subsequently installed. Heavy overgrowth precluded inspection.

The west gable is abutted to G/F by a one-storey lean-to seed house (roofless; random rubble walls).

2. Kiln

Immediately E of mill is a block containing kiln at W and two one-storey dwellings at E. Kiln block is two-storeys/ two-bay. Pitched natural slate roof and random rubble walls brought to courses, with advanced brick eaves. Brick chimneys at both ends.

North (road) elevation accessed at F/F left by earthen ramp. Two small windows at F/F right (to drying floor).

East gable of kiln is abutted at F/F by a range containing two very ruinous workers' houses, both single-storey/ two-bay and now roofless.

Rear (S) elevation has large entrance door at G/F right and two small windows at F/F left (into drying floor).

West gable is abutted by a single-storey lean-to with ruinous monopitch natural slate roof and walls as rest of building.
Entrance on W face and small window in each cheek. Leads through to segmental brick headed opening in kiln gable proper into firehole.

There is a small single-storey/ two-bay worker's dwelling on the river bank to S of mill and a pair of semi-detached dwellings to N (on N side of road). Both now derelict.

Historical information

A corn mill is cited at Drumlough in leases dated 1711 and 1762. A corn mill and kiln are shown on the 1833 OS 6” map. According to the first valuation book of 1835, they were owned by Walter Woods. The book gives their dimensions as: corn mill - 36ft6in x 22ft 6in x 7ft; kiln - 38ft x 20ft 6in x 7ft. (i.e.. both are one storey). The second valuation book of c.1862 states that the mill was rebuilt in 1851. According to John McCracken, there is a plaque set into the front wall reading "Drumlough Mill. W. Woods, owner, 1854" (this might have been 1851 mistaken for 1854); it was hidden under dense vegetation at the time of survey and could not be seen. The second valuation notes its owner as William Woods. The buildings’ dimensions are given as: corn mill – 34ft x 22ft x 3 storeys; kiln 39ft x 21ft x 1 storey. Given the similarity of the footprint dimensions, it is probable that the original buildings were incorporated into the new higher ones. The mill now contained three pairs of stones (but only two worked simultaneously), as well as fans, sifters and elevators. Woods also owned the nearby flax mill (see HB16/09/035). B.B. Meek took over operations around 1877, and Alexander McCauley about 1906 (and whose family gives the mill its present name). The engine house was probably added in the 1940s.

Primary sources:
1. OS 6" map, 1st edition (1833) Co Down sheet 41 (PRONI OS 6/3/41/1)
2. PRONI First valuation, 1835, VAL 1B/358A, p.81.
3. PRONI Second valuation, c.1862, VAL 2B/3/60A, p.12.
4. PRONI Valuation revision books, 1866-1929, VAL 12B/22/20A-H.

Secondary sources:
1. John McCrackan, Rathfriland in bygone days (n.d.), p.16 (MS in Rathfriland Public Library).

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

A substantial mid-19th C complex, given added interest by the presence of workers’ houses and 20th C engine house. Now devoid of machinery and very derelict.