Cogry Mill

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

An extensive complex of masonry and brick buildings up to four storeys high, all associated with flax spinning and dating from the late 1800s and mid 1900s. To SW is Cogry Cottage (HB21/04/002B), formerly the mill foreman’s house. At west, on the opposite side of the Doagh River, is the mill owner’s house (HB21/02/010). For the purposes of this description, 10 buildings have been differentiated within the site (see sketch map).

The juxtaposition of the mill and engine house reflect the fact that the machinery in the former was rope driven by an engine in the latter. The fireproof jack arching in the mill is also of note. In terms of innovation, the complex is said to have been one of the first in Ireland to use electric lighting. Regarding alterations, the toilet and lift shaft additions reflect more recent developments in terms of working conditions.

Building 1

A double-pile 13-bay, four-storey masonry flax spinning mill aligned east-west along the main road at the NE corner of the site. Although spinning was established here in 1846, this building is a late 19th century replacement (no trace of the original mill survives). Original staircase on east gable. Brick toilet stacks and a lift shaft added in the 1900s on the south and west elevations respectively. The ground floor of this building is used as an engineering workshop but the remaining floors are disused.
Double-pile hipped natural slate roof with skylights to inner slopes and circular ridge vents (a mid 1940s replacement). Ogee cast-iron gutters. Walls of random rubble basalt, brought to courses and embellished with dressed rhyolite quoins and advanced moulded yellow brick eaves. All openings except stairwell on east gable have flat heads and are trimmed in brick. All windows have stone cills.

The south elevation is 13 openings wide. There are brick toilet stacks up to eaves level between the 2nd/3rd and 6th/7th bays, all accessed via balconies from adjoining window openings partly converted to doorways. Original openings have been enlarged and steel heads inserted for double-leaf doors at ground floor middle and first floor left. The windows comprise 6x6-pane cast-iron framed casements.

The east gable of the south pile is abutted by a stairwell, detailed as the south elevation, but with segmental-headed brick-trimmed openings containing 2x2-pane timber windows (stone cills). There is also an overlit double-leaf timber entrance door on the north elevation of the stairwell. The roof of the stairwell has been replaced with concrete (probably at the same time as the main roof was replaced) and has been raised over an internal metal staircase from which the roof is accessed. There is a decorative wrought metal railing around the balcony and weathervane.

The north elevation is partly abutted at right by the engine house (building 2) but is otherwise detailed as the south side (but without the toilet stacks and doors).

The west gable is abutted to both piles by a five storey brick tower. Whilst the bulk of this section may date from the early 1900s, its southern half has been raised to house an electric lift motor (probably mid 1940s). This section has a flat concrete roof with wrought metal railing around; it is accessed by a vertical steel latter affixed to the outside of the wall. On top of the four-storey section at north is an open metal water tank (probably for the former boilers). The west elevation of this tower has 2x5-pane metal-framed casement windows with concrete cills.

Roof: Hipped natural slate.
Walling: Random rubble basalt.
Windows: Mainly 6x6 cast-iron metal casements.
Rainwater Goods: Ogee cast-iron gutters.

Building 2

This single-bay, single-storey brick building fronts the main road at the NW corner of spinning mill. It was erected in 1891 to house a 550hp triple-expansion steam engine. It is now used as a mess room by the factory employees.

The felted flat concrete roof is a mid 1940s replacement of the original roof. It has a raised brick blocking course around with concrete copings over advanced brick eaves. Along the outside base of the blocking course is an ogee uPVC gutter issuing to cast-iron down pipes. There is a raised, similarly detailed, verge to the north gable. However, this is of older red brick and is undoubtedly the apex of the original pitched glazed natural slate roof recorded in the 1921 valuation.

The walls are of red brick with an advanced base course and corbelled eaves. The openings are set in slightly advanced panels and linked to each other by a broad moulded brick string course at head level. In the upper part of the middle panel on the north gable is a sandstone datestone reading ‘1891’.

The east elevation is five openings wide. All have segmental heads with sandstone keystones. The third opening from the left contains a partly glazed double-leaf timber door and has a 3x8-paned casement overlight. The four remaining openings on this elevation contain 3x12-pane metal-framed windows, all with sandstone cills. The north gable is two openings wide. Both contain infilled doorways with 4x5-pane metal-framed overlights.

Roof: Flat reinforced-concrete.
Walling: Brick.
Windows: 3x12 metal casements.
Rainwater Goods: Ogee plastic gutter and cast-iron down pipe.

Building 3

A double-pile two-storey brick building aligned north-south along the main road between buildings 2 and 4. This building dates to the mid 1940s and replaced two late 19th century rubble stone buildings – a boiler house with drying loft over (next the engine house), and a mechanics’ shop with yarn store over.

Pitched corrugated asbestos roof with skylights. Brick blocking course to eaves and raised verges to both gables, all coped with concrete. Asbestos-cement down pipes. Walls of red brick. All openings have flat concrete heads and the windows have concrete cills.

Only the north gable is visible (the other elevations are abutted by adjoining buildings). Overlit door at left end of west pile. Mainly 3x5-pane metal framed windows to both floors. The ground floor windows have metal security grilles.

Roof: Pitched corrugated asbestos.
Walling: Brick.
Windows: 3x5 metal casements.
Rainwater Goods: Asbestos cement down pipes.

Building 4

A single-bay, single-storey masonry building aligned north-south towards the NW corner of the premises.
The 1859 valuation notes a three-storey mill building at this location. However, it had been replaced by the present building by 1902 and is also recorded in the 1921 valuation.

Pitched natural slate roof with skylights to its east slope. Half-round plastic gutters. Squared random rubble walls brought to courses. However, the north end is of undressed rubble and may be part of the previous building.

Only the north gable and west elevations are now visible (the remaining elevations are abutted). The west elevation is six openings long. Timber sheeted door with skylight set in square-headed brick-trimmed opening at north end. The remaining openings have segmental heads and are trimmed with brick. They contain 4x4-pane metal-framed casement windows.
The north gable has two multi-paned windows.

Roof: Pitched natural slate.
Walling: Squared random rubble.
Windows: 4x4 metal casements.
Rainwater Goods: Plastic.

Building 5

A double-pile, two-bay, two-storey brick building aligned north-south at the south end of building 4. It was erected in 1946 but incorporates a late 19th century masonry building on the ground floor of its north bay.

Pitched slate roofs with skylights. Gutters missing. Red brick walls except for random rubble stonework on west elevation of north bay. Concrete ring beam between ground and first floors. Square-headed openings with concrete heads (except as noted below). All windows are metal-framed casements.

East elevation has large roller shutter door at right end of ground floor and a loading door at first floor left. Two multi-paned windows to ground floor set into the stonework, within segmental-headed brick openings. Three 3x8-pane windows to first floor, all with concrete cills. Four 3x10-pane windows to ground floor of south gables, with doorway and small window above at right. Five 3x5-pane windows to first floor. ‘1946’ is cast into the right-hand end of the ring beam. The north gable has a single 3x5-pane window.

Roof: Pitched slate.
Walling: Brick and squared random rubble.
Windows: Multi-paned metal casements.
Rainwater Goods: Asbestos-cement down pipes.

Building 6

An eight-bay single-storey masonry building, the roofs of which are aligned east-west, at the SW end of the main mill. Although a building is shown here on the 1859 valuation, it is much smaller. The present building is shown on the 1902 OS map and is probably a late 19th century replacement. It is described as a spinning room in the 1921 valuation. It is now used as an engineering workshop.

Each bay has a pitched artificial slate roof with corrugated plastic skylights. The two bays at the north end appear to have been truncated in order to accommodate the brick extension to the west end of the main mill. The roof of the south bay has been replaced with corrugated metal. Plastic down pipes. The walls are a mixture of random and squared rubble, brought to courses. All openings have square heads. There are several doorways to the east elevation, including a large modern roller shuttered door. The windows to this elevation are 6x3-pane metal-framed casements with cement-rendered architraves and concrete cills. On the west elevation is a roller shutter door and brick-trimmed openings containing 2x3-paned metal-framed windows.

Roof: Pitched artificial slate.
Walling: Random and squared rubble.
Windows: 6x3 and 2x3 metal casements.
Rainwater Goods: Plastic down pipes.

Building 7

A detached single-bay, single-storey masonry building aligned north-south along the left bank of the Doagh River at the NW corner of the premises. A small accountant’s office is recorded here on the 1859 valuation. However, the present building is much larger and dates from the early 1900s. It dates to 1919 and is first depicted on the 1921 OS map. It is also described in the 1921 valuation as a cinema, recently erected. It closed in 1932 and is now derelict.

Hipped natural slate roof with ogee cast-iron rainwater goods. Walls or random rubble basalt brought to courses and embellished with dressed rhyolite quoins and advanced moulded brick eaves. All openings (but one) have square heads and are trimmed with brick.

East elevation has three door openings (one with a segmental head), and four 3x5-paned top-opening timber windows, all with concrete cills.

Both gables are blank.

West elevation, along the river, has four similarly detailed window openings, all without frames.

Roof: Hipped natural slate.
Walling: Random rubble basalt.
Windows: 3x5 top-opening timber casements.
Rainwater Goods: Ogee cast-iron gutters.

Building 8

A single-bay, single-storey masonry building aligned east-west and spanning the Doagh River along the west side of the premises immediately north of HB21/04/002B. It is described in the 1859 valuation as a single-storey + attic stables. This function is also given in the 1921 valuation.

This building is now in a ruinous condition and only its north, west and south walls survive, all of random rubble construction but truncated in height. It is carried over the river on two rubble masonry segmental arches. A square-headed window opening on its south elevation is trimmed with brick (this may be a later insertion). There is a similar, but infilled, window opening to the north elevation.

Roof: issing.
Walling: Random basalt rubble.
Windows: Missing.
Rainwater Goods: Missing.

Building 9

A detached later 19th century single-storey masonry building of sub-rectangular plan aligned east-west along the south side of premises, with its principal elevation facing north. Cited in the 1921 valuation as a yarn store. Hipped natural slate roof with blue clay ridge tiles and ogee uPVC gutters.

Principal façade is of squared basalt rubble brought to courses. Remaining walls of random basalt rubble, all with dressed basalt quoins. Brick eaves course.

North elevation is five openings wide and is symmetrical. Semi-elliptical arched entrance to centre with replacement uPVC door, sidelight and overlight, and cement-rendered architraves. Flanked to each side by two square-headed openings with multi-paned metal casement windows, cement-rendered architraves and replacement concrete cills.

East elevation is blank.

South elevation is five windows wide and canted inwards at its right-hand end. Windows detailed as north elevation.
West elevation is blank. The stonework is of variable quality, that on the upper half of the wall with a greater degree of dress. This suggests that an earlier wall may have been incorporated.

Roof: ipped natural slate.
Walling: Squared and random basalt rubble (brought to courses).
Windows: Square-headed multi-light metal casements.
Rainwater Goods: Ogee uPVC gutters.

Building 10

A detached single-storey masonry building of sub-rectangular plan at the SE corner of the premises. Erected between 1902 and 1921 and cited as a store in the 1921 valuation book. Now refurbished as offices for Ulster Shredders.

Hipped artificial slate roof and ogee uPVC gutters. Walls are random rubble basalt with dressed rhyolite quoins and brick eaves.

West elevation has a central segmental-headed doorway trimmed in red brick and containing a timber vertically-sheeted door (with picket door).

The north and east elevations are blank.

The south elevation has been rendered with cement. Small entrance door at right end.

Roof: Hipped artificial slate.
Walling: Random rubble basalt.
Windows: None.
Rainwater Goods: Ogee uPVC gutters.

Historical information

A plaque on the wall of the former engine room attests to the mill’s foundation in 1845.

A sizeable complex captioned as the Coggrey Flax Spinning Mill is depicted on the 1857 Ordnance Survey map along with a mill race.

The 1859 Valuation book describes the premises as comprising a house, offices, and flax spinning mill, all belonging to William Moone and having a rateable valuation of £213. The actual mill buildings were one-, two- and three storeys high and were powered by a 30ft diameter by 9ft wide waterwheel which rotated at three revolutions per minute. A sketch map accompanying the valuation entry notes two chimneys and a gas holder. One of the chimneys was probably associated with a boiler driving a steam engine, although it is not explicitly mentioned. The aforementioned house is Cogry Cottage, at the south-west end of the site which is noted as the Superintendent’s house.

A water turbine manufactured by Belfast-based McAdam was installed c.1860. It was supplied by a long cast-iron penstock which ran across the road.

Samuel Broadbent took over operations around 1871. Eight years later, in 1879, the mill was acquired by Messrs William McMeekin and William Cummins. McMeekin also ran the Roughtfort Bleaching & Dyeing Co at that time. The partners’ names are cited in the valuation books until 1886; thereafter the premises are recorded under the Coggrey Flax Spinning Co.

In 1891, a new engine house built to accommodate a 550hp triple expansion horizontal steam engine. It was manufactured by Messrs Daniel Adamson (Dukinfield, near Manchester) and coupled to an 18ft diameter rope drive. Two Lancashire boilers were also installed at the same time. The chimney (an octagonal brick structure) depicted on the north side of the main road on the 1902 and 1921 OS maps probably dates to the 1890s as well.

The reason behind the installation of the new engine was the fact that the original mill had probably been entirely rebuilt in an enlarged form. The 1859 valuation records one, two and three storey buildings associated with the actual spinning operation. However, the present spinning mill is both larger in terms of is plan and height (four floors) than its precursors. Although Cox suggests that the original mill was enlarged, this is not supported by the valuation book statistics (given for 1859 and 1921). Moreover, field evidence indicates that the entire building is of later 19th century date.

A report of 1890 (published in 1891) notes that electric light was used throughout the premises. Cogry Mill is said to be the second such mill in the British Isles to utilise electric lights. The report also notes “Mr McMeekin’s enterprise has been strikingly manifest in the frequent introduction of the latest developments of plant and machinery applicable to the trade. At the present time the resources of the mills are double that of ten years ago.”

A cinema was established within the mill complex in the 1910s. According to Cox, a purpose-built cinema was built in 1919 and was used by both workers and the public until its closure in 1932.

The premises are recorded in detail in the 1921 valuation. At that time it had 12,000-13,000 spindles and was powered not only by a steam engine but also a c.60hp water turbine (probably the original McAdam).

Although the mill appears to have specialised in wet spinning using cold, rather than hot, water, it also diversified into synthetic materials in the 1930s. However, a fire in 1944 forced its closure for nine months and repairs to the roof of the mill, engine house and adjoining buildings was not completed until 1948. The opportunity was taken to erect several additional substantial buildings.

The mill ceased spinning in 1957. It was apparently used for agricultural purposes until bought by the Ulster Engineering Company in 1974. This firm continues to occupy the site under the name of Ulster Shredders.

Since the cessation of spinning, a number of minor buildings in the yard have been demolished. The chimney on the north side of the road had been truncated by the 1970s and its site is now occupied by new houses.

References – Primary sources
1. 1845 plaque on former engine house wall.
2. PRONI OS/6/1/45/2. Second edition OS six-inch map, Co Antrim sheet 45 (1857).
3. PRONI VAL/2B/1/7A. Manuscript Valuation book, p.167 (1859).
4. PRONI VAL/12B/1/4A-E. Valuation revision books (1864-1904).
5. 1891 datestone on north elevation of former engine house.
6. PRONI D/1221/6/1. Measured drawing (scale 1:24) of steam engine dated 1891.
7. PRONI OS/6/1/45/3. Third edition OS six-inch map, Co Antrim sheet 45 (1902).
8. PRONI VAL/12B/1/5A-B. Valuation revision books (1905-29).
9. PRONI OS/10/1/45/14/2. Second edition OS 25-inch map, Co Antrim sheet 45-14 (1921).
10. PRONI VAL/12A/1/18. Manuscript Valuation notebook, pp 43-44 (1921).

References – Secondary sources
1. Industries of the North, One Hundred Years Ago, p.113 (Belfast: Friar’s Bush Press, 1986. Reprint of a book first published in 1891).
2. Cox, R. History of the Parish of Kilbride. Doagh, Co Antrim, pp 77-79 (self published, 1959).
3. McDowell, F.M. Other Days Around Me (Belfast: B.N.I. Printing, 1966).
4. McCutcheon, W.A. The Industrial Archaeology of Northern Ireland, plates 62.5, 62.6 and 83.2 (Belfast: HMSO, 1980).
5. First Survey record card (not dated).

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

The spinning mill is a good mid 19th century example of its type, well executed using basalt with embellishments in rhyolite and yellow and red brick. The engine house is also good example of its type and, although refurbished in the 1940s, has an interior of some note in terms of its surface finishes. Flax mill complexes such as this one are now unusual in Ireland, particularly outside the main conurbations. As such, the complex is of some interest. The presence of the cinema adds interest to the site as a whole.