Former flax mill opp. 20 Mill Road

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Ruinous two-storey/ two-bay waterpowered flax scutching mill aligned NE-SW on SE side of Mill Road, on left bank of River Bann. Formerly known as Campbell’s Mill.

Pitched natural slate roof. No rainwater goods. Random rubble walls with advanced brick eaves.

SE elevation has a segmental brick-headed opening at centre where internal waterwheel formerly located. The wheel pit is 1.3m wide and has a curved dressed masonry apron to back. Behind are the remains of a vertical timber sluice gate, the exit from which indicates a breast-shot waterwheel. Tailrace culverted to river.

The elevation to left of the wheelpit has a door to G/F and window to F/F. All windows incorporate brick in their surrounds. Section to right has a door at G/F and a loading door and shuttered opening to F/F.

Left gable has door (now infilled) to G/F.

Rear elevation (NW to road) is partly abutted at left by one-and-a-half storey return which has a loading door in gable and window in left cheek, both at F/F. Main block to left of return has F/F window. To right of headrace intake is (from left to right) a window, door and window to G/F and loading door to F/F. Much of this elevation obscured by recent dumping to front and heavily vegetation overgrowth.

Right gable has door to G/F (stone relieving arch over).

Historical information

Shown as a flax mill on the 1833 OS 6”map. By 1859, a corn mill was also in operation. The c.1862 valuation notes the flax mill as having eight stocks, and the corn mill with two pairs of stones and a set of fans. The valuation revision book notes that the flax mill was repaired in 1866, and a new store added (this probably related to the present brick-trimmed building). By 1886, the corn mill was being used as a store; the flax mill continued in use and is captioned on the 1902 map. It appears to have been utilised during WW2.

Primary sources:

1. OS 6" map, 1st edition (1833) Co Down sheet 48 (PRONI OS 6/3/48/1)
2. OS 6" map, 2nd edition (1859) Co Down sheet 48 (PRONI OS 6/3/48/2)
3. OS 6" map, 3rd edition (1902) Co Down sheet 48 (PRONI OS 6/3/48/3)
4. PRONI Second valuation, c.1862, VAL 2B/3/49A, p.7
5. PRONI Valuation revisions, 1866-1930, VAL 12B/22/20.

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

Primarily of local interest, reflecting the importance of flax growing in this area, but too much has been lost, and machinery now gone.