Former flax mill

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

An extensive Second World War flax scutching complex on N side of Newry Road, just E of Ivy Bridge Cottages. The site contains: (1) automatic scutch mill, (2) miscellaneous buildings to N and S thereof, (3) manual scutch mill, (4) flax store, and (5) office.

1. Automatic scutch mill

A two-storey/ multi-bay building, 11 openings wide, aligned east-west. Pitched corrugated asbestos roof, asbestos gutters, smooth cement rendered walls (over concrete blocks) and metal casement windows with concrete cills.

Principal elevation faces S to road; For descriptive purposes can be divided into three sections. At left is a lower two-storey section, four openings wide. Two circular cowl ventilators along ridge. At G/F are four equi-spaced 2x4 paned windows. In line at F/F are 2-6 paned windows. The middle section is three openings wide. At G/F middle is a doorway, now infilled. It is flanked to each side by a 3x6 paned window (that at right now sheeted over). At F/F is a loading door at left (now infilled), and a 3x5 paned window at centre and at right (in line with those below). The facade of the right-hand section is set back slightly and is the same height as the middle section. The cheek thus formed on the right (E) gable of the middle section has a sliding metal door to G/F and a 2x5 paned window to F/F. The right-hand section is four openings wide. At G/F these are 3x6 paned windows, except third from left which is 2x6 paned; the two windows at left have been sheeted over. There are three 3x5 paned windows to F/F and a sliding door at right. In front of the latter is a walled balcony accessed from ground level by a quarter-turn concrete staircase.

The right gable of the right-hand section is abutted at left and middle by a one-storey toilet block. At right is a door opening into what was the engine room. At F/F centre is a 3x5 paned window. The abutting block has a monopitched corrugated metal roof (part missing) and walls as main block.

The rear elevation can be divided into two sections for descriptive purposes. The left section comprises the middle and right sections as seen from the front and is seven openings wide. There are five 3x6 paned windows to G/F (three of which are sheeted over) and a door (now infilled). Aligned at F/F is a door at both ends and five 3x5 paned windows between. The right-hand section (= left section on front elevation) is four openings wide. All are at F/F and are 2x6 paned windows (the bottom four panes now infilled in all cases).

The left gable of the building has a large pair of sliding corrugated metal doors to centre and a 3x3 paned window to the apex.

2. Miscellaneous associated buildings

At front right of the main block is a small one-storey building of similar construction. Metal doors to W gable and rear elevation and metal-framed windows to all elevations. Refurbished as an office.

At rear right of main block is a (two-stage) single-storey/ two-bay building with flat concrete roof and walls etc as main block. Door into each bay on E elevation and windows on W face. No internal fixtures or fittings; probably housed fuel tanks for diesel engine in adjacent end bay of main block.

To rear left, at NW corner of premises, is a small single-storey/ two-bay structure, formerly a worker's canteen and toilets. Similar construction to fuel block, with rendered chimney to centre. Doors to S and N elevations and windows to all but W face.

North-east of this building was a large dam (now infilled) which formerly supplied a water-powered scutch mill a short distance to the north (at grid J 17933320). In later years this was driven by a small diesel engine, the mounting block of which is still evident. Ruinous foundations survive, along with a more substantial one-storey random rubble store to its SE (at grid 17973318).

3. Manual scutch mill

A short distance NE of the automatic mill is a substantial diesel-powered scutching mill in which the flax was manually processed. The building is aligned east-west and is of similar materials to the mill to SW. It has three distinct sections. The section at west is a large one-storey/ single-bay flax intake store, with large entrance on W elevation. This building is being renovated as a fish processing factory and its walls have recently been re-rendered. Abutting its E elevation at right angles is the lower one-storey mill which retains some of its original metal doors and windows. Running along the S face of the mill is a lean-to containing the mounting block of the former engine. No machinery survives internally.

4. Flax store

Just south-east of the manual mill is a large (scutched) flax store, a large one-storey/ single-bay building of similar construction to the mill; two ridge ventilators. Large sliding corrugated metal doors in N face and metal windows. Lower one-storey annex to W gable. Both sections now disused and without any special internal features.

5. Office

To the rear left of the manual mill is a small one-storey/ two-bay office block of similar construction to the mill. Now derelict and with no special internal features.

Historical information

The water-powered flax mill is shown on the 1833 OS 6” map. It was then owned by Walter Woods (who also owned the nearby corn mill, HB16/09/001). It is described in the c.1862 valuation as having six stocks and a pair of rollers. It was vacant from 1904 until 1921, when taken over by Alexander McCauley. The premises were subsequently purchased by James Cromie who erected the present buildings c.1941/42 as a facility for local farmers, then extensively engaged in flax growing a part of the war effort. The mills worked until c.1947/48. The Cromies also operated a large diesel-powered scutch mill in nearby Drumlough townland (HB16/09/027).

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, 1866-1930, VAL 12B/22/20.

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

The automatic scutch mill is the most significant building on this site and survives in a reasonably intact state, albeit without machinery. The austerity of its architecture reflects the functional nature and period at which it was erected. Its internal layout reflects the specific function of each internal division (store, engine, processing etc). It is very similar to a ‘Belgian’ scutch mill at Ballymagart, near Kilkeel (HB16/05/021D and an example of the handful which were erected through the province at the instigation of the government as part of the war effort.