Flax mill, Near 1 Manse Rd, Katesbridge, Banbridge, Co Down, BT32 5PY

Flax Mill at Katesbridge

A two-storey, single-bay steam-powered flax scutching mill dating from the mid-1860s to 1870s, erected during the boom in Ulster flax production triggered by the American Civil War. The mill complex comprises the main mill building, a flax store, an engine and boiler room, two sheds, and a chimney stack, arranged around a central yard.

The main mill building is aligned north-east to south-west, a short distance south of Manse Road. It has a pitched natural slate roof without rainwater goods. The walls are constructed of random rubble granite brought to courses, with a brick eaves course. All window and door openings have flat brick heads and brick jambs. The south-east elevation contains two doorways (one infilled) and four windows at ground floor, and a loading door with cantilevered concrete balcony and two windows (one retaining a 3 by 3 timber frame) at first floor. The north-west elevation has two doors (one infilled) and two windows at ground floor, and a loading door and two shuttered openings at first floor.

The north-east end of the mill is abutted by a single-storey, single-bay former flax store aligned at right angles, with no wall break between the two and a continuous roof. Although internally a single space, its walls match the mill's height. An infilled doorway opens from the south-east gable with a window over. A large vehicular doorway with timber head and segmental brick relieving arch occupies the north-west gable. A small concrete block animal byre abuts the store's south-west elevation with an original window opening above.

The mill's south-west gable is abutted by a single-storey, two-bay former engine and boiler room, detailed as the main mill with no wall break between. It has a window to the south-east elevation and a doorway to the north-west side, with a blank gable.

To the south-east of the engine and boiler room is a small single-storey, single-bay shed with walls of rubble blackstone and brick, and an apex to the south-east gable. A small window opens to the south-west elevation and a wide doorway with timber head to the gable.

To the north-west of the engine and boiler room is a ruinous single-storey, single-bay shed. Its roof is now missing but the walls are detailed as the mill. A window opens to the north-west gable (head missing) and a doorway and window to the north-east side. The cill of the latter was used as a mounting for a shaft bearing block, which is oil-stained.

A freestanding chimney is located at the north-west corner of the mill block. It has a square random rubble base with brick cornice, above which rises a tapered brick flue of square section. The top is now missing. Semicircular brick openings at the base of the north-west and south-east elevations served, respectively, for the boiler furnace flue and for cleaning purposes.

In the yard in front of the mill block stands the ruinous shell of a single-storey, single-bay rubble masonry building. In the yard behind the block is an iron shaft with a scutching ring still attached (originally mounting for six arms).

To the north-east of the block is a derelict and overgrown two-storey house, now converted internally to animal pens.

The site is accessed via a laneway along the north-west side from the public road across the north-east end; otherwise it is surrounded by fields.

Historical Development

The mill is first cited in the Valuation Book for 1864–75, though its exact entry date is uncertain (possibly 1867, 1870, or 1875). It belonged to Alexander Porter at that time and was powered by a 10–12 horsepower steam engine. The Valuation Book records the main mill building as measuring 15 yards by 7½ yards by 2 storeys. It was abutted on the north-east by a building measuring 17½ yards by 7 yards by 1 storey, and to the south-west by another of 8½ yards by 7½ yards by 1 storey. The latter was itself abutted by a small building measuring 4 yards by 3½ yards by 1 storey.

The premises were taken over by Thomas Porter around 1890. The site is cited as "scutch mill" and "chy" (chimney) on the Ordnance Survey maps of 1902 and 1919. The mill had been vacated by 1917 and is noted in the 1924 Valuation entry as being "at rest".

Significance

The mill's significance as a flax mill is greatly compromised by the loss of its engine and scutching equipment and the incompleteness of its chimney. Although significant locally, insufficient fabric survives to merit listing, and better examples of similar mills are already listed. The complex remains of industrial archaeological interest.