Farm buildings (former flax spinning factory),

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

Large collection of one and two storey farm buildings, originally built as a ‘flax spinning factory’, set (on a bend) on the N side of the Ballyknockan Road, c.1.5 miles W of Ballygowan.

The complex consists of two main original looking sections which appear once to have been part of the flax spinning factory and various other later buildings, built for farm use. The ‘original’ sections consist of a large two storey L shaped portion to the N and a single storey section to the S. The large L shaped section is set into the slope of the hill and is single storey to the N, whilst that to the S is set right on the roadside. Between both portions to the S there is the gate screen with simple wrought iron gates and curving rubble walls. The gates open directly onto the road.

Both ‘original’ sections are rubble-built with a mixture of hipped and gabled roofs all Bangor blue slated and now sporting many small metal ventilators . Each section has various window and door openings. Some of the openings have large areas of painted cement render around them, as if they had been either enlarged, reduced, or were later inserts, with the render covering any untidy disruption to the rubble façade. Some other openings have painted on ‘dressings’, to give all openings a uniform feel, disguising the brick used during alterations to some. The windows have modern frames. There are some large elliptical arch-headed doorways in evidence (now with modern sliding doors), but others appear to have been filled in. Part of the single storey section appears to be used as a dwelling.

The whole complex is interspersed (mainly to the W side) with more recent structures built specifically for farm use. To the E (to the rear of the L shaped section) is a small cattle yard.

Historical information

On the OS map of 1858 both the L shaped section to the north and the section to the south are shown, both seemingly attached to a further building to the W, itself grouped around a ‘courtyard’. The whole complex is marked ‘Flax Spinning Factory’ and it is noted in the 1863 valuation returns as consisting of the factory, a clerk’s house and stores, all belonging to a John Carr. This man could well be the same John Carr who was formerly manager of Shrigley mill and began his own flax spinning business in Killyleagh in 1852. Carr may have been in partnership with with a Samuel Walker who owned the near by flax mill and who is noted in the valuation records of 1863. Walker (or one of his family) may later have taken sole ownership of the complex as it is still known locally simply as ‘Walker’s’.

In c.1912 the premises and much of the surrounding land with Tullygarvan, were bought by the Co-operative Society, who appear to have been responsible for the conversion of the buildings for farm use. The Co-op sold off their property within the area in 1925,

References- Primary sources
1 PRONI OS map 1st rev. 1858-60, Down 16.
2 PRONI 2nd valuation Comber parish c.1863.

Secondary sources
1 E.R.R. Green ‘The Industrial Archaeology of Co. Down’ (HMSO 1963), p.10.

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

Large complex of single and two storey rubble built farm buildings, originally built pre 1858 as part of a larger flax spinning factory. The buildings appear to have been converted to farm use in c.1912.