Boiler house

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A narrow single-storey, single-bay building at SE end of complex. Its dimensions correspond with those of the boiler house cited in the c.1862 Valuation.

Pitched natural slate roof, now in disrepair. No rainwater goods. Walls of random blackstone and granite, with granite quoins and brick eaves course. Flat-headed openings with brick heads and jambs (unless otherwise stated).

Aligned N-S with principal elevation facing W. Door in middle and window to left; the former has concrete jambs and the latter a concrete cill, indicating a later modification of original opes.

N gable has metal casement inserted in original infilled doorway.

E elevation along bank of stream has two infilled window openings.
S gable has a metal casement window.

Setting
One of several buildings and structures within this complex: corn mill and chimney (HB17/08/023A, /023E) to E and flax mill (HB17/08/023B) to N. 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: None

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]. 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 boiler house dates 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 single-storey, single-bay mid-19th century rubble masonry boiler house associated with a nearby engine house (/038B). ts character survives and much original fabric. Although of modest scale, it is of historical interest in having been established in the mid-1800s and reflects the adoption at this time of steam in preference to water as a more reliable power source. 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