Corn Kiln & Store

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A three-storey, four-bay corn kiln and store. Pitched natural slate roof in state of disrepair. No rainwater goods. Random rubble granite and blackstone walls brought to courses, with granite quoins. Flat-headed openings throughout, with brick heads and jambs.

Building is aligned NE-SW with its principal elevation facing SE. Wall break with built-in quoins and change to stonework approximately halfway along indicates that bay at left end is a later addition. Door and window to GF, door (infilled) and two windows to FF, and two windows to SF.

SW gable has infilled window to SF but is otherwise blank.

NW elevation is partly cut into slope such that GF not visible. Four doors (one infilled) to FF, and three windows (one infilled) to SF; are windows are without cills. Built-in quoins and change to stonework part way along elevation similar to front indicates extension at some point in history.

NE gable is visible to SF only and has doorway (with brick relieving arch over) accessed by concrete stairs.

Setting

One of several buildings and structures within this complex: corn mill (HB17/08/023A) to SE and flax mill (HB17/08/023B) to E. Situated on N side of Ouley Road at junction with main Loughbrickland-Rathfriland road. Former flax store, now a house (1 Ouley Rd) to W, modern agricultural shed and farmyard to N. Otherwise surrounded by fields.

Roof: Natural slate
Walls: stone
Windows: Missing
Rainwater goods: Missing

Historical information

Uncaptioned mill buildings are depicted at Mill Town on the 1833 OS six-inch map. They are noted in the 1833 First Valuation book as belonging to Andrew McAlister and comprising a corn mill and kiln, house and offices. The corn mill measured 39ft x 21½ft x 6½ft, and the kiln 31ft x 18ft x 8ft.

The 1853 OS map captions the complex as ‘Corn and Flax Mills’; unlike the 1833 map, their footprint is the same as today and all are slightly to the south-east of the original corn mill.

The c.1862 Second Valuation book notes the owner at Roberts S Corbett and the buildings as “Corn and flax mills, kilns”. The corn mill measured 12yds x 8yds x 4 storeys [/023A] and the kiln 24yds x 7yds x 2 storeys [/023C], indicating that the kiln had been extended to almost twice the original length. In addition there was a flax mill and engine house measuring 17yds x 8yds x 2 storeys [/023B], a boiler house 15yds, x 3?yds x 1 storey [/023D], and two stores – 11yds x 7yds x 2 storeys [now gone], and 9yds x 7yds x 3 storeys [now a house].

The Valuation notes two overshot waterwheels – one 20ft dia x 4ft wide, and the other 14ft x 2½ft. There was a supply of water for about five months in the year. Probably for this reason, there was also a high-pressure steam engine of 14hp. The corn mill contained one pair of gritstone shelling stones (5ft dia) and two pairs of French burrs for grinding (4ft 4in dia). The flax mill contained 10 scutching stocks and two sets of flax breakers.

The map and Valuation data indicate that the previous complex was entirely rebuilt in its present form sometime between 1833 and 1853; the corn kiln and store date from this period.

The Valuation revision book entry for 1894 notes that the flax mill was “at rest”. However, this probably refers to the original corn mill, to the north of the present buildings, which seems to have been converted to flax scutching. The mid-19th century flax mill, on the other hand, appears to have continued in operation, being driven by a steam engine and containing 10 stocks and a set of triple rollers.

Glasker Mills (Corn & Flax) are cited on the 1903 and 1918 OS maps.

John J Corbett took over the premises c.1919. By 1922, the corn mill was at rest and the kiln and stores were disused. The original corn/flax mill also appears to have been taken down around this time. However, the steam-powered flax mill continued in operation, seemingly until after the Second World War.

References – Primary sources:
1. PRONI OS/6/3/41/1. First edition OS six-inch map, Co Down sheet 41 (1833).
2. PRONI VAL/1/B/351. First Valuation book, p.48, entry 6 (1833).
3. PRONI OS/6/3/41/2. Second edition OS six-inch map, Co Down sheet 41 (1853).
4. PRONI VAL/2/B/3/55B. Second Valuation book, p.53 (c.1862).
5 PRONI VAL/12/B/16/14A. Valuation revision book, p.23 (1864-1878).
6 PRONI VAL/12/B/16/14B. Valuation revision book, p.28 (1879-1889).
7 PRONI VAL/12/B/16/14C. Valuation revision book, p.32 (1890-1908).
8 PRONI VAL/12/B/16/14D. Valuation revision book, p.56 (1909-1923).
9. PRONI OS/6/3/41/3. Third edition OS six-inch map, Co Down sheet 41 (1903).
10. PRONI OS/6/3/41/4. Fourth edition OS six-inch map, Co Down sheet 41 (1918).
11. PRONI VAL/12/A/3/9. Valuation note book, pp 84-86 (1922).
12. PRONI VAL/3/B/4/1. Valuation revision book (1935).
13. PRONI VAL/3/C/4/1. Valuation revision book (1936-57).
14. PRONI VAL/4/B/3/1. Valuation revision book (1956-72).

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

A. Style
B. Proportion
C. Ornamentation
D. Plan Form
J. Setting
K. Group value

Criteria for listing: historic interest

X. Local Interest

Evaluation

A three-storey, four-bay 19th century rubble masonry corn kiln and store, originating pre-1833 and extended before 1862. Its character survives and much original fabric. The building is a good example of a medium-sized corn kiln, with most of its drying floor still intact. It is also of historical interest in having been established in the mid-1800s when there was a shift from toll grinding to merchant milling. This building is a key component of a substantial mid-19th century water- and steam-powered corn and flax mill complex reflecting the development of rural industry in the area.

General comments

HB17/LQ032