Flax mill

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A single-storey early twentieth-century flax scutching mill and associated stores all restored for demonstration working, located a short distance to west of a former associated flax mill complex on the opposite side of Caughey's Road (recorded separately as HB17/14/020A).

The mill is aligned N-S with small single-storey returns to each side. Pitched corrugated metal roofs. Plastic rainwater goods where present. Walls of corrugated metal and cement-rendered concrete blockwork. Square-headed window openings with metal frames.

Setting Surrounded by fields on all sides.

Roof: metal
Walls: metal and blocks
Windows: Metal
Rainwater goods: Plastic

Historical information

Not shown on the 1919 OS map. A flax mill is first cited in the 1935 Valuation book under the ownership of Isabella McConville, but this is probably the mill on the other side of the road (HB17/14/020A). Unfortunately, the valuations do not differentiate this particular mill. It probably dates to the 1940s when there was a boom in scutching during World War Two. Operated by Felix McConville and then by his son Richard until the end of the war. Shown on 1974 OS map. Restored to working order for demonstration purposes in 1983 and is still in operation.

References – Primary sources:
1. PRONI OS/6/3/21/4. Fourth edition OS six-inch map, Co Down sheet 21 (1919).
2. PRONI VAL/3/B/4/1. Valuation revision book (1935).
3. PRONI VAL/3/C/4/2. Valuation revision book (1936-57).
4. PRONI OS/11/202/4/1. First edition OS Irish Grid 1:10,000 map, sheet 202 (1974).
5. Information from owners (2012).

References – Secondary sources:
1. ‘Revival of an Old Tradition’ in The Outlook, p.31, 7 April 1983

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

A single-storey early twentieth-century flax scutching mill and associated stores. This is one of only a few water-powered flax scutching mlls in Ulster still capable of working and the only one still in regular operation for demonstration purposes. The building dates from the first part of the twentieth-century and has been substantially refurbished. While its function is of significant technical interest in demonstrating the flax scutching process, the building is not of special architectural or historic interest due to various modern additions and alterations.