Rathturret farmyard

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Situated at end of lane south of Rath oad, this farm yard has been demolished, two buildings remain:

A medium-sized later 19thC corn mill formerly known as Thompson's Mill, Comprises two sections with short link block between. Both sections have pitched natural slate roofs with tiled verges and advanced chamfered brick eaves. Walls of random rubble granite brought to courses, with stepped rock-faced granite quoins (with tooled arrises) and brick trim to all openings, also stepped.

1. Building 1

A two-storey/ two-bay building, slightly lower than Building 2 (mill). Formerly a brick chimney to right gable, now dismantled. Half-round metal gutters (partly collapsed) to front and half-round plastic gutters to rear.

Principal elevation is to W. There are four openings to G/F. From left to right these are: (1) beaded t+g sheeted door into single room; (2) fixed 4x2-paned window with granite cill; (3) door as opening one, leading through to mill proper; and (4) t+g sheeted door into infill room between buildings. To F/F is a 1/1 sliding sash window. Running the full width of this elevation is a single-storey canopy, the monopitch natural slate roof of which is supported at each end by a granite wall (with tooled quoins) and to centre by a cast-iron column. Half-round plastic gutters. At the roof join with the main block is a line of chamfered brick.

The left gable (N) has a window to F/F centre. Ground rises from right to left.

The ground level on the rear (E) elevation has been artificially raised such that only the F/F is visible. Beaded t+g door at right and small 1/1 sash window to its left.

The right (S) gable is abutted at right by a short passage connecting the two buildings. This link has skylight to each pitch of is natural slate roof, and a raised louvred ventilator to its front pitch.

2. Building 2

This building formerly contained corn threshing and crushing (rolling) equipment. It is of similar construction to Building 1, but with contemporary one-storey extensions to E and S . Two rows of skylights to rear pitch (one to main block, one to extension). Half-round metal gutters to front, partly gone; no rear gutters.

Main elevation faces W. Five openings to G/F. From left to right these are: (1) segmental-headed window; (2) wide segmental-headed door with two t+g sheeted leaves; (3) segmental-headed 7x4-pane window; (4) transomed two-leaf door; and (5) as third opening, but with top 7x2 panel replaced with a single pane. To F/F is a square window in line with third opening on G/F. To its right, in line with fourth opening, is a loading door (upper half now glazed).

The ground level to the left (N) gable has been artificially raised to make the first floor directly accessible from outside (ie G/F is buried). Contains a tall/ wide double-leaf t+g barn door (into threshing section of mill). Segmental brick relieving arch over flat timber lintel has keystone inscribed "WSR/ 1883" [= W.S. Richards]. Abutted at right by link passage to Building 1.

The rear (E) elevation (which is not cut into the slope) is abutted by one storey extension, its roof being a continuation from the two-storey section. Four windows to this side. From left to right these are: (1) beaded t+g door; (2) opening with two louvres; (3) door as first opening; and (4) louvred opening as (2).

The right (S) gable is abutted to middle and right by a one-storey extension. The exposed section of the main block, at left, has two small rectangular openings, each with a rusticated granite lintel. To their right is a sheeted timber door. The extension has a doorway and large window opening to each end. At F/F left on the main block is a loading door, the finely dressed granite cill of which also forms the head of the G/F door directly below. Above the extension is a segmental-headed opening (with granite cill).

Setting

The mill was served by a millpond to N, on W side of approach lane. Feed pipe still visible at base of middle of dam; overspill channel at E end.

Historical information

Erected by W.S. Richards, owner of nearby Rathturret (HB 16/12/009), in 1883. First cited as a threshing mill under his name in the Valuation revision book entry of 1884.

Primary sources

1. Datestone on gable of mill.
2. Valuation revision book (PRONI: VAL 12B/22/23D, p.74).

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

This 19thC corn mill is well constructed and detailed in dressed granite, with brick specials along eaves and roof/ wall joins. Attested date of 1883 and name of erector. Insufficient detail remains to merit listing.