Flax Store and Weigh Room, Gilford Mill, Ann Street, Gilford, Craigavon, Co Down, BT63 6HX

This extensive former flax spinning mill and thread works is situated on the right bank of the Upper Bann, at the NW end of Gilford village, and has been sub-divided into five discrete units (/20A-E). HB17/01/020C, at the E end of the premises, comprises (1) a long three-storey former flax store, and (2) a small single-storey former weighing room. Although both are abandoned, they survive in fair condition. 1. Flax store A three-storey building aligned N-S along the E side of the block. Old prints and drawings show a two-storey building originally; it was heightened to its present three storeys in the period 1903-10. Flat concrete roof behind low concrete blocking course. Roof gutters and cast-iron down pipes. Walls are of random rubble blackstone with stepped vee-jointed granite quoins to W elevation, and moulded cement-rendered eaves. All openings have flat concrete heads and brick jambs. The windows have flush concrete cills and are sheeted over to the ground floor. The W elevation is 10 openings wide. There are three doorways to the GF (one a pair of sliding timber doors) and three double-leaf sheeted timber loading doors to each of the upper floors. All windows have 4x4-paned metal frames (with 2x2-paned opening panels). Rising from the centre of this elevation is a small single-storey addition (probably for a goods hoist motor). This addition has a flat roof, cement-rendered walls, casement windows to its W and S elevations, and door out on to the roof at E. The N gable is heavily overgrown, but no openings were discernible. The E elevation has windows to all floors, detailed as the W side. The S gable is devoid of openings. Two small satellite TV dishes have been attached. Roof: Concrete Rainwater goods: Cast-iron down pipes Walls: Random rubble blackstone Windows: 4x4 metal 2. Weigh house A small single-storey, single-bay building aligned N-S at the SW end of the block. It is probably of earlier 1900s date (but post-1910). Pitched natural slate roof with terracotta ridge tiles, oversailing timber eaves, and timber bargeboards with drop finial at S end. Rainwater goods missing. Red brick walls. Sheeted-over doorway to S gable and 2x2-paned timber window to W elevation (concrete cill). Set into the ground along its W side is a large cast-metal drive-on weighbridge. Roof: Pitched natural slate Rainwater goods: Missing Walls: Brick Windows: 2x2 timber Setting This block is located at the E end of the premises, behind Bann Street. To its W is a multi-storey mill block, HB17/01/020B. To its north, separated from the premises by a post and wire fence, is a landscaped public park. In the yard immediately west of the main building was a two-storey rubble masonry yarn preparing department and a Belfast-roofed rubble masonry store. Both buildings have been demolished and no traces survive.