Farm buildings (former flax spinning factory), 44 Ballyknockan Road, Tullygarvan, Ballygowan, Co. Down, BT23 6NR

Farm buildings formerly used as a flax spinning factory, located on the north side of Ballyknockan Road at a bend, approximately 1.5 miles west of Ballygowan, County Down.

The complex was originally built before 1858 as part of a larger flax spinning factory and consists of a large collection of single and two storey rubble-built structures. The two main sections that appear original to the factory comprise a large two storey L-shaped portion to the north and a single storey section to the south. The L-shaped section is set into the slope of the hill and is single storey on its northern side, whilst the southern section sits directly on the roadside. Between both portions to the south stands a gate screen with simple wrought iron gates and curving rubble walls opening directly onto the road.

Both original sections are constructed in rubble with a mixture of hipped and gabled roofs finished in Bangor blue slate. The roofs now feature many small metal ventilators. Each section contains various window and door openings, some of which have large areas of painted cement render around them, apparently covering disruption caused by later enlargement, reduction, or insertion of openings. Some openings display painted dressings intended to give a uniform appearance, disguising brick used during alterations. The windows have modern frames. Large elliptical arch-headed doorways are evident in some locations, now fitted with modern sliding doors, whilst others appear to have been filled in. Part of the single storey section serves as a dwelling. The complex is interspersed, mainly to the west, with more recent structures built specifically for farm use. A small cattle yard lies to the east, to the rear of the L-shaped section.

The 1858 Ordnance Survey map shows both the L-shaped and southern sections attached to a further building to the west, grouped around a courtyard and marked as a flax spinning factory. The 1863 valuation returns record it as consisting of factory, clerk's house and stores belonging to John Carr, who may be the same individual formerly manager of Shrigley mill and who began his own flax spinning business in Killyleagh in 1852. Carr may have partnered with Samuel Walker, who owned a nearby flax mill and appears in the 1863 valuation records. Walker or a family member may subsequently have taken sole ownership, as the complex remains known locally simply as Walker's.

Around 1912 the premises and much of the surrounding land at Tullygarvan were purchased by the Co-operative Society, who converted the buildings for farm use. The Co-op sold their property in the area in 1925.