Mill

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

This complex, on the S side of Milltown Rd, contains three features of interest: (1) a manually operated flax scutching mill, (2) an automatic flax scutching mill, and (3) the chimney of an earlier flax mill.

1. Manually-operated flax scutching mill

This building is situated towards the S end of the complex and comprises a two-storey building with one-storey rear return. It is cut into a S facing slope such that the F/F is accessed from ground level at the rear. It is divided into three bays on G/F, but is single bay to F/F. Pitched corrugated asbestos cement roof. Smooth rendered walls (probably over concrete blockwork).

Principal elevation faces NE. There are ten openings to G/F: four to left bay (alternate doors and windows), a doorway to narrow middle bay, and five to right bay (alternate windows and doors); all windows have 3x5 panes and concrete cills. There are six regularly spaced 3x6 paned windows to F/F.

The left and right gables are blank.

The rear elevation has, to F/F, a large doorway to each end and abutting engine shed return to centre. The left side is abutted by a flat-roofed porch. The return is now roofless and derelict; it has a doorway on its left cheek.

2. Automatic flax scutching mill

This is situated at the NW corner of the complex and comprises a two-storey building with engine shed return. Pitched corrugated asbestos roof with ridge vent. Smooth rendered walls (probably over concrete blockwork).

Principal elevation faces to E. The left section advances from the right-hand section and is also slightly higher. It is three openings wide. The G/F has a sliding metal door to centre and is flanked by a 3x5 metal-framed window to each side (with concrete cills). F/F has a loading door at left and two 3x5 windows to right. The exposed section of its right cheek has openings to G/F and F/F. The remainder of the E elevation is four openings wide. There are four 3x5 windows to G/F and three similar windows and door at right on F/F; the latter is accessed by external concrete stairs.

The left gable has a loading door at F/F (with pulley bracket above) but is otherwise blank.

The rear elevation is abutted at left by a one-storey engine house of similar construction. It has a large doorway on its S-facing elevation and also metal-framed windows. The remainder of the main block has windows and loading doors on both floors.

The right gable is blank.

3. Chimney

This is located immediately NW of Mill 2. A slightly tapered octagonal brick chimney standing to its full height, with corbelled top. Small access opening on one face near base.

Historical information

A water-powered corn mill is recorded at this location in the 1830s; it was supplied from Milltown Lough to the south. It appears, however, to have been defunct and is noted as being in ruins on the 1860 OS 6” map. Flax scutching appears to have commenced sometime in the mid 1860s, and the brick chimney probably related to this phase of development. James McLoughlin acquired the mill around 1883 and it has been in this family’s ownership ever since. There are no traces of this mid 19th C mill. The two described above date from the 1940s and were purpose built, with government finance, as part of the war effort.

Primary sources:
1. PRONI OS maps, 1st edition (1834), Co Down sheet 51.
2. PRONI First valuation book (c.1835), VAL 1B/ 353, p.141.
3. PRONI OS maps, 2nd edition (1860), Co Down sheet 51.
4. PRONI Valuation revision books, VAL 12B/22/5A-D.
5. PRONI OS maps, 3rd edition (1901-02), Co Down sheet 51.

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

This WW2 flax scutching complex is of some interest on account of the presence of hand-operated machinery and the water turbine, although they are in a dilapidated condition. The buildings are similar in architectural scale, style and layout to other flax mills built around this time in south Down, e.g.. Ballymagart (HB16/05/021D) and Tullyquilly (HB16/09/035), but of no particular architectural or historic merit.