Mill buildings

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

This extensive former flax mill complex lies east of the approach avenue to Woodford House, on the left bank of the River Lagan, approximately 1m northwest of Dromara, Co Down.

The following buildings have been demolished: Buildings 1A, 1B, 1C, 2, 4D, 4E, 4F, 4G, 4H, 4I, 5, 6A, 6B, 6C, 6E & 7 (post c.2014). The descriptions below describe the buildings at the time of survey:

BLOCK 1 OVERVIEW (DEMOLISHED)
Situated at the NW corner of the mill complex and comprising three buildings (A, B & C) formerly associated with linen bleaching and flax scutching, all of which are now disused.

BLOCK 1 - Building 1A (DEMOLISHED)
This building is aligned N-S along the W side of the block. It was the original water-powered bleach mill and is probably of 18th C date. It was subsequently converted to flax scutching in the mid 19th C and then to animal sheds, but is now derelict.
Pitched corrugated metal roof, mostly collapsed or missing. Vestiges of circular metal exhaust vents along ridge. Half-round asbestos-cement rainwater goods, missing in places. Random rubble walls, cement-rendered in places. Square-headed openings. Timber- and metal-framed replacement windows. Doorway into N end of building is accessed via concrete footbridge over tailrace which runs along W side of building.
The middle section is abutted along W side by a single-storey add-on with monopitched corrugated metal roof and brick walls which leads into turbine room.

Roof: Corrugated metal
Walling: Stone
Windows: Timber and metal
RWG: Asbestos-cement

BLOCK 1 - Building 1B (DEMOLISHED)
A single-storey, three-bay flax scutching mill. Aligned N-S at N end of block, and partly abutting N gable of building 1A. This building first appears on the 1919 OS map and probably dates from 1913-14.
Pitched corrugated-metal roof with slightly raised ridge. No RWG. Brick walls with segmental-headed openings. Principal entrance on N gable has been raised with a steel head and concrete blockwork. Flanked to each side by a circular electric fan exhaust duct. Sheeted tongue-and-groove doors. A cast-metal multi-pane window survives on S gable.

Roof: Corrugated metal
Walling: Brick
Windows: Metal
RWG: None

BLOCK 1 - Building 1C (DEMOLISHED)
A tall single-storey, single-bay building aligned N-S and partly abutting the E side of building 1A. Probably a former workshop. It is first shown on the 1919 OS map and probably dates from 1913-14.
Pitched corrugated-metal roof. No RWG. Brick walls. Double-leaf metal-sheeted sliding doors on S gable. Square-headed 6x3-paned steel-framed windows along top of W wall, but otherwise no openings.

Roof: Corrugated metal
Walling: Brick
Windows: Metal
RWG: None

BLOCK 2 (DEMOLISHED)
This block contains a large three-pile, single-storey timber building along the S side of the headrace, east of block 1. It was formerly used for retting flax, the water coming from the adjacent headrace. It is first shown on the 1919 OS map and probably dates from 1913-14.
Curved corrugated metal roofs aligned N-S, (on multiple timber bowstring trusses internally). Middle pile has raised louvred ridge ventilator. Asbestos-cement RWG Timber framed walls over mass concrete base course, with horizontal timber sheeting. Square-headed openings. Timber framed windows and louvred vents along sides. Vehicular entrance at S end of W elevation (sliding corrugated metal door) and pedestrian entrance at SE corner.
At W end of N elevation is a small single-storey ante-room with pitched corrugated-metal roof and brick walls and entrance doorway on N gable.

Roof: Corrugated metal
Walling: Timber
Windows: Timber
RWG: Asbestos-cement

BLOCK 4 OVERVIEW (PARTLY DEMOLISHED, PARTLY EXTANT)
This extensive block is located to the east of block 3, along the south side of the headrace. It comprises one- and two-storey buildings all relating to flax processing and storage. Unless otherwise stated, these buildings are shown on the 1919 OS map and probably date from 1913-14.

BLOCK 4 - Building 4D (DEMOLISHED)
A single-storey building aligned E-W abutting the S side of S pile of building 4C. A small open yard to W contains a single-storey brick toilet. It is undoubtedly later than building 4C and its fabric suggests that it was probably erected in the 1940s or ‘50s.
Flat concrete roof, concrete block walls with external pilasters, and square-headed timber-framed windows.

Roof: Concrete
Walling: Concrete
Windows: Timber
RWG: Missing

BLOCK 4 - Building 4E (DEMOLISHED)
A double-pile building aligned N-S to E of building 4D. Curved corrugated-metal roofs, asbestos-cement RWG, and cement-rendered walls. Large sliding metal-sheeted door to W end of N elevation (this end appears to be a later extension in concrete blockwork).
Abutted to N elevation by a later single-storey lean-to with corrugated metal roof, half-round asbestos-cement RWG, and cement-rendered walls.
Abutted along E and S elevations by a single-storey building, now derelict, and probably of 1940s or ‘50s date (not on 1919 map). Monopitched corrugated asbestos-cement roof, cement-rendered concrete block walls. Large doorway at N end of section along E side. Square-headed window openings, all with concrete cills.
W elevation partly abutted by several very derelict single-storey lean-to buildings with cement-rendered walls.

Roof: Corrugated metal and asbestos-cement
Walling: Concrete
Windows: Missing
RWG: Missing

BLOCK 4 - Building 4F (DEMOLISHED)
A detached single-storey, three-bay building aligned E-W at the SW corner of the block. Probably of 1940s or ‘50s date, it was used as a shop, office and store.
Pitched natural slate roof with rendered brick chimney to middle. RWG missing. Cement-rendered concrete block walls. Square-headed openings. Sheeted timber doors to N and E elevations. Timber 3x1-paned casement windows with concrete cills.

Roof: Artificial slate
Walling: Cement-rendered concrete block
Windows: Timber
RWG: Missing

BLOCK 4 - Building 4G (DEMOLISHED)
A tall single-storey, single-bay former workshop aligned N-S on S side of building 4A.
Pitched artificial tile roof. RWG missing. Brick walls with gabled eaves to W elevation. Square-headed openings. Doorway on E and W elevations. Metal-framed multi-paned windows with concrete cills to E gable and along S elevation at high level.
Abutting S end of W gable is small single-storey, single-bay former blacksmith’s forge with pitched corrugated-metal roof and cement-rendered walls. Window to S elevation.
N elevation of main section is linked to building 4A with pitched corrugated-asbestos canopy under which there was formerly a steam engine, no traces of which survive.

Roof: Artificial slate
Walling: Brick
Windows: Metal
RWG: Missing

BLOCK 4 - Building 4H (DEMOLISHED)
A tall single-storey boiler house aligned E-W to S of building 4B. Flat concrete roof, raised at E end. RWG missing. Brick walls. All openings have flat reinforced-concrete heads and windows have concrete cills. Large doorway in W gable, above which is a metal-framed 6x3-paned window. Metal-framed windows at high level on S and E elevations.
Abutted along N side by several extensions.

Roof: Concrete
Walling: Brick
Windows: Metal
RWG: Missing

BLOCK 4 - Structure 4I (DEMOLISHED)
A free-standing circular chimney standing to full height at SE end of the boiler house (building 4H).
Slightly tapered all the way up to multi-course brick corbelling around top (missing in places). Some of the bricks up the sides are heavily weathered. All are secured with metal bands. Lightning conductor projects above top. Brick flue from adjacent boiler house visible at base.

BLOCK 5 (DEMOLISHED)
This block, situated just north of block 6, comprises a detached single-storey, single-bay Dutch barn used for agricultural purposes. It is probably of mid 20th C date.
Curved roof and timber-framed walls, all clad with corrugated metal sheeting. A maker’s plate above the doorway in the middle of the S elevation reads: “Erected by/ R. Jefferson, Ltd/ Lisburn”.

Roof: Corrugated metal
Walling: Corrugated metal
Windows: None
RWG: Missing

BLOCK 6 OVERVIEW (MOSTLY DEMOLISHED, ONLY CHIMNEY IS EXTANT)
This compact block at the SW corner of the premises was probably erected in 1939 for the retting and scutching of flax. It first appears on the 1975 OS map and comprises four buildings and a chimney.

BLOCK 6 - Building 6A (DEMOLISHED)
A two-storey, single-bay building aligned E-W along the N side of the block. Flat concrete roof with raised cement-rendered middle section from which seven circular vents project. Vents also project along the roof to S of raised section. Brick walls with square-headed openings. Timber doors and metal-framed multi-pane windows, all with concrete heads and cills.
The E end of the building is cut into the slope and its FF is accessible by a concrete footbridge. The FF originally also accessible by an external metal staircase on N elevation; only its cantilevered concrete balcony now survives. N elevation also has FF loading door at W end.

Roof: Concrete
Walling: Concrete
Windows: Metal
RWG: None

BLOCK 6 - Building 6B (DEMOLISHED)
This building is aligned E-W along the S side of building 6A, with which it is contemporary. It is sub-divided into a tall bay running E-W along its N side, and four small contiguous two-storey rooms along its S side.
Flat concrete roof to N bay, with hipped glazed skylight. Concrete roof to rooms along S side doubles as floor of open water tank enclosed by cement-rendered side walls. This tank is fed by a pipe from building 6C. Walls are of large pre-cast concrete blocks rendered with cement. Square-headed openings. Entrance at W end of N bay. Each of the rooms along the S side is accessed by sliding doors (now gone). The upper sections of these rooms are only accessible from inside.

Roof: Concrete
Walling: Concrete
Windows: Metal
RWG: None

BLOCK 6 - Building 6C (DEMOLISHED)
A single-storey over semi-basement, single bay building at the SE corner of the block. Flat concrete roof doubles as bottom of water tank enclosed by cement-rendered side walls. Cement-rendered concrete walls with square-headed openings. Timber t&g door in S elevation and metal-framed casement windows to E elevation.
Semi-basement accessed by external concrete steps on N elevation. Door and metal-famed window in this elevation.

Roof: Concrete
Walling: Concrete
Windows: Metal
RWG: None

BLOCK 6 - Building 6E (DEMOLISHED)
A small detached single-storey two-bay toilet block aligned N-S at W end of block, with which it is contemporary. Flat concrete roof, cement-rendered walls with square-headed openings. Metal-sheeted door and metal-framed casement window to each bay on E elevation.

Roof: Concrete
Walling: Concrete
Windows: Metal
RWG: None

BLOCK 7 (DEMOLISHED)
A small block of single-storey rendered-concrete block animal sheds located just east of block 6. Of later 20th C date. Monopitched roofs and cement-rendered concrete-block walls.

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The following buildings are extant (as of 2022): Buildings 3, 4A, 4B, 4C, 6D & 8. The descriptions below describe the buildings at the time of survey:

Building 3 (EXTANT 2022)
This block comprises a detached two-storey, two-bay building, probably of late 19th or early 20th C date. It is aligned N-S along the E side of the access lane to Woodford House. Latterly used as a mill office.
Pitched natural slate roof. Gables and ground floor walls are random rubble; upper sections of side walls are of whitewashed brick. Half-round metal rainwater goods. Pair of t&g doors to W elevation and partly-glazed door to E side. Timber framed windows to both floors, with 2x3 and 2x2 fenestration.
An open-sided porch along E elevation leads to small single-storey weigh room with pitched corrugated metal room, concrete block walls and timber-framed casement windows. Drive-on weighbridge set into ground adjacent to weigh room.
N gable partly abutted by small single-storey, two-bay annex which has pitched natural slate roof and random rubble walls.

Roof: Natural slate
Walling: Stone and brick
Windows: Timber
RWG: Metal

BLOCK 4 OVERVIEW (PARTLY DEMOLISHED, PARTLY EXTANT 2022)
This extensive block is located to the east of block 3, along the south side of the headrace. It comprises one- and two-storey buildings all relating to flax processing and storage. Unless otherwise stated, these buildings are shown on the 1919 OS map and probably date from 1913-14.

Building 4A (EXTANT 2022)
A double-pile, red brick, single-storey building aligned N-S at the NW corner of the block. Contemporary with building 4B (no wall break). Abutted along E side by a narrow single-storey annex. Probably used for storage, and latterly as a farm outbuilding.
Shallow pitched corrugated asbestos-cement roofs to main section and flat concrete roof to annex. Asbestos-cement RWG. Brick walls, but partly corrugated metal sheeting along W elevation of main building. Square-headed openings. Sliding metal door to W elevation and infilled doorway to N gable of E pile. Multi-paned metal-framed windows to N gable of W pile, with exposed steel heads and concrete cills.

Roof: Corrugated asbestos-cement
Walling: Brick
Windows: Metal
RWG: Asbestos-cement

Building 4B (EXTANT 2022)
A double-pile, single-storey building aligned E-W in middle of block. Contemporary with buildings 4A and 4C (no wall break). N pile is partly abutted along E side by a narrow single-storey annex. Probably originally a storage and latterly a farm outbuilding.
Shallow pitched corrugated metal roofs to main section and ditto to annex. Plastic RWG. Brick walls, cement-rendered in places. Square-headed openings. N elevation has pair of large sliding metal-sheeted doors, two pedestrian doors (one with segmental brick relieving arch over) and three multi-paned metal-framed windows (one infilled). The windows have exposed steel heads and concrete cills. Also door and window to W gable of S pile, the apex of which is clad with corrugated asbestos-cement sheeting. S elevation of S pile was formerly open, but now infilled with concrete blockwork.

Roof: Corrugated metal
Walling: Brick
Windows: Metal
RWG: Plastic

Building 4C (EXTANT 2022)
A double-pile, two-storey building aligned E-W to the east of building 4B, with which it is contemporary (no wall break). Latterly partly used as a store.
Pitched natural slate roofs. Half-round metal gutters. Brick walls with advanced eaves course. Segmental concrete heads to all elevations except N and S elevations of FF which have flat concrete heads; the segmental heads are indented to mimic stone voussoirs. Doorways on E gable, one to each pile. Metal staircase up E gable to cantilevered metal balcony to doorway into FF of N pile (treads have disintegrated and the FF is no longer accessible). Timber-framed multi-pane windows, all with concrete cills; 2x2, 3x3 and 4x2-paned fenestration. Window openings now infilled to W and S elevations.
Building 4D (now demolished) abuts the S side of S pile along its ground floor.

Roof: Natural slate
Walling: Brick
Windows: Timber
RWG: Metal

Structure 6D (EXTANT 2022)
A free-standing octagonal chimney standing to full height between former buildings 6B and 6C.
Tapered all the way up to corbelled top and surmounted concrete blocks (possibly a continuation of an internal lining). A lightning conductor projects from the top. Flue from adjacent boiler house enters at base.

BLOCK 8 (EXTANT 2022)
This block comprises a large double-pile single-storey store prominently situated atop a drumlin SE of the mill complex. The building is aligned E-W. It was probably erected in the 1940s or ‘50s.
Pitched corrugated asbestos roofs with half-round asbestos-cement rainwater goods. Cement-rendered concrete block walls with external pilasters along N and S sides. A large metal roller shutter door on W gable of each pile and small 3x3-paned metal-framed window to each apex. Also small louvred vents on E gable apexes, but otherwise devoid of openings.

Historical information

This site has the distinction of being the highest water-powered industrial site in the Lagan Valley. Bleaching appears to have been established during the 18th century by the Black family, and certainly by 1758. A bleach green is marked hereabouts on Williamson’s 1810 map of Co Down. According to Samuel Lewis (writing in 1837), this was an extensive and flourishing bleachworks.

The 1833 OS six-inch map captions a bleach mill a short distance E of Woodford House, where building 1A stands. The 1830s first Valuation book noted that the premises were “nearly in a state of dilapidation”. The complex comprised two boiling houses, a beetling mill, a wash house and a drying loft. The two 14ft diameter waterwheels had, however, “not been in use for more than a month in the year for nine years past”. The fact that bleachworks is not cited in the Ordnance Survey Memoirs for Dromara Parish confirms that it was long out of use. The owner at that time was Mrs Martha Black, and it may have been the death of her husband which caused it to cease operations.

In 1859 six-inch map also shows the bleach mill in the same configuration as before. The fact that the premises are cited in the 1861 Griffith Valuation as “house and offices” indicates that the mill was still defunct. Mrs Black had apparently married David McCartney in the intervening period and he is given as the owner of Woodford at this time.
The Valuation revision books record that William Dodd had taken over Woodford by 1865. The premises are now described as “house, offices and scutch mill”, with a rateable valuation of £40. A second scutch mill is noted in the entry for 1885, and both are recorded as working for four months in the year.

The property was inherited by Robert Dodd on the death of his father in 1896. However, both the 1901 and 1911 census records both describe Robert as a farmer and there is no mention of flax scutching.
However, although Dodd may not have been directly involved in flax scutching, it may have been continuing under the auspices of the Co-operative Flax Society of Dromara. A parliamentary question of 13 March 1906 noted that the Society were operating a flax mill at Dromara (undoubtedly this one) and that it was also engaged in the preparation of flax seed. The Department of Agriculture had apparently been funding a ‘flax expert’ for the previous five years to advise the Society, but were now withdrawing their support.

Woodford passed to Robert’s son William in 1911. He appears to have expanded flax scutching operations as a number of sizeable buildings, all captioned as ‘flax mill’, are depicted on the 1919 OS map. This expansion probably occurred around World War I to meet the increased demand for flax for the war effort.
Harry Gribbon notes that a 38hp Gordon turbine (on a 13ft head) was installed by the Fibre Corporation in 1913 for flax scutching. A second turbine, of 11hp (on a 7ft head) was installed the following year. This suggests that William was trading under the name of the Fibre Corporation and that the expansion took place in 1913, on the eve of the war.
The premises appear to have been used for a series of experiments on the drying of flax seeds and fibre in the mid 1930s.
In 1939, additional flax scutching and retting capacity was added at the south end of the site with the erection of a steam-powered scutch mill, boiler room, chimney and retting tanks. The site was being operated by the Dromara Flax Company at this time.

According to the present owner, the mill complex stopped working in 1959. Rodney Green, writing in 1963, notes the disused remains of a beetling mill with an in-situ water turbine.

References – Primary sources:
1. PRONI D616/1. James Williamson’s map of Co Down (1810).
2. PRONI OS/6/3/28/1. First edition OS six-inch map, Co Down sheet 28 (1833).
3. PRONI VAL/1/B/341, p.48. First Valuation book (1830s).
4. S. Lewis (1837), A Topographical Dictionary of Ireland, vol.1, p.503.
5. PRONI OS/6/3/28/2. Second edition OS six-inch map, Co Down sheet 28 (1859).
6. PRONI VAL/2/B/1/36. Second Valuation book (1861).
7. PRONI VAL/12/B/20/9A-D. Valuation revision books, 1865-1929.
8. 1901 Census of Ireland: Moydalgen Td, Dromara DED, Co Down.
9. PRONI OS/6/3/28/3. Third edition OS six-inch map, Co Down sheet 28 (1903).
10. Hansard, 13 March 1906 (vol.153, cc1077-8).
11. 1911 Census of Ireland: Dromara Td, Dromara DED, Co Down.
12. PRONI OS/6/3/28/4. Fourth edition OS six-inch map, Co Down sheet 28 (1919).
13. PRONI AG/9/7/12-13. Department of Agriculture papers on experiments on the drying of flax fibre and seeds, 1934-36.
14. 1939 date plaques in buildings 4A and 6A.
15. PRONI OS/11/203/11/1 OS Irish Grid 25-inch map, sheet 203 (1975).

References - Secondary sources:
1. E.R.R. Green, The Industrial Archaeology of County Down, p.23 (Belfast: HMSO).
2. H.D. Gribbon (1969), A History of Water Power in Ulster, p.249 (Newton Abbot: David & Charles)

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

Extensive former flax mill complex located east of the approach avenue to Woodford House (HB19/07/010A) on the left bank of the River Lagan, approximately 1m northwest of Dromara, Co Down.
The complex consisted of 8 separate structures, much of which has been demolished since c.2014, with only part of Block 4, the chimney of Block 6 and Block 8 remaining. Building 2, which was used for internal flax retting was considered to be of particular special interest due to its multiple Belfast trusses but this too has been demolished.
While the structures that remain are a reminder of the former industry, the loss of completeness of the complex and the insufficient original historic fabric that remains renders the remaining mill buildings below the legislative test for listing.

General comments

Listing Criteria R - Age; S - Authenticity and T - Historic Importance also apply.

FILE PA'd 16/04/15

Note re criteria R, S & T above no longer applies. FMcC/29-11-22