2 John Street, (fronting lane to graveyard), Rathfriland, Newry, Co Down, BT34 5QH

2 John Street, Rathfriland

A working provender (animal feed) mill of architectural and industrial archaeological interest, representing an increasingly rare example of small-scale milling for local farming communities. The building occupies the east side of the lane leading to the graveyard off John Street.

The main structure dates from 1920, when it replaced several houses on the site. Originally erected as a store, it has only been converted to provender milling in recent times. The building is three storeys high, with a two-storey corrugated metal structure abutting to the rear.

The main block features a pitched natural slate roof with two gablets projecting from the front pitch. Half-round gutters of cement-fibre and metal line the eaves. The walls are of random rubble construction brought to courses with advanced brick eaves, heavily pointed throughout with cement. The western front elevation, which faces the lane, contains seven openings to the upper floors and five to the ground floor, most with brick dressings.

The ground-floor opening at the left is a wide doorway, now partly infilled with bricks and concrete blocks, fitted with a tongue-and-groove sheeted painted door. It has a steel beam head and segmental-headed brick relieving arch over. Sacks of meal are discharged through this door via a chute from the floor above. A smaller pedestrian door stands to its right. Above and to the left is a loading door to each upper floor. A cantilevered pulley wheel is positioned over the head of the upper door, partly set within the gablet.

The third opening from the left on the ground floor is a sliding door with metal head. Above it are loading doors to each upper floor (the topmost positioned in the gable), each with a half-casement window to its left. The fourth opening is a tongue-and-groove sheeted pedestrian door. The fifth opening at the right is a sheet metal door with metal beam over, with a half-window to each upper floor above.

The upper floors contain two windows to each opening on the ground floor to the left section, all with half-fixed panes in varying states of repair.

The left gable is cut into the bank and only exposed from the first floor upwards, presenting a blank wall. Two circular metal silos abut this side.

The rear elevation is entirely abutted by a more modern two-storey corrugated metal structure with concrete blockwork to the lower walls. An assortment of original and recent openings connect the main building to the annex. The monopitched corrugated metal roof rises to enclose elevators. A large double-leaf door opens in the southern gable end. Large metal silos abut the rear. The right gable of the main block is blank except for two grain intake pipes hanging from the apex.