Central Block, Gilford Mill, Ann Street, Gilford, Craigavon, Co Down, BT63 6HX

This extensive former flax spinning mill and thread works stands on the right bank of the Upper Bann at the north-west end of Gilford village. The complex has been subdivided into five discrete units, of which this central block comprises five interconnected sections built between the later 1830s and 1903-10. All buildings are now derelict.

Building 1 (Later 1830s, three storeys, L-shaped)

This three-storey building from the later 1830s has a hipped natural slate roof with eight circular metal ridge ventilators, behind a deep cement-rendered moulded cornice and blocking course. Gutters behind the blocking course discharge into cast-iron downpipes. The walls are random rubble blackstone brought to courses, embellished with stepped, vee-jointed granite quoins. All openings are flat-headed with brick heads and jambs unless otherwise stated. All windows have granite cills, though ground floor window openings have been sheeted over.

The principal south elevation is twelve openings wide. Three doorways serve the ground floor: two have overlights and are sheeted over, whilst the third features an up-and-over panelled timber door (manufactured by Overhead Doors (Great Britain) Ltd, Back Hilton Road, Aberdeen) set within a three-centred archway leading into the rear yard. Upper floor windows are generally two-over-two paned timber sliding sashes, though some are five-by-six paned top-opening timber frames; all retain granite cills.

The west elevation is three openings wide, with all upper floor windows being four-by-six paned timber. The north end of this section is abutted at ground and first floor levels by Building 2; the exposed upper section is of brick. The east elevation is fourteen openings wide. Granite quoins appear on the upper half of the north end of this elevation, as the ground floor and part of the first floor originally continued further eastward before this continuation was demolished to accommodate Building 3. There are two doors at ground floor level and two sheeted timber loading doors at first floor. Upper floor windows are generally five-by-six paned top-opening timber frames, with several two-by-three paned metal and two-over-two timber-framed replacements. Cast-metal patress plates are positioned between all openings and floor levels. The yard elevations were inaccessible and could not be surveyed.

Building 2 (Later 1830s, two storeys)

This two-storey return runs northward from the west end of Building 1 and is contemporary with it (later 1830s). It is seven openings wide at ground floor and six at first floor. The pitched natural slate roof has lost its northern half. Vestiges of half-round steel gutters remain missing; steel downpipes survive. The random rubble blackstone walls are brought to courses and tied into Building 1, with a brick eaves course and plain quoins at the north end. All openings have flat brick heads and jambs; windows have granite cills. Ground floor openings are sheeted over. A door with rectangular overlight is positioned at the right (south) end, whilst a later window insertion with concrete head and cill appears at the left (north) end. All first floor openings contain four-by-four paned top-opening timber frames. The north gable and east elevation were inaccessible.

Building 3 (1903-10, five storeys, red brick)

This five-storey red brick building is aligned north-south at the north-east end of the block and dates from 1903-10. It has a pitched natural slate roof with skylights. The brick walls feature an advanced eaves course. Metal rainwater goods serve the building.

The east elevation is five openings wide to the upper floors, with those at the top floor of diminished height. The three openings at the right (north) were formerly abutted by a four-storey building now removed, evidenced by ragged wall joints and plastered walls. As noted under Building 1, the ground and first floors incorporate the random rubble wall of an earlier building. All window openings have flattish brick heads and concrete cills unless otherwise stated. At ground floor left is a door with semicircular overlight, above which stand two columns of two-by-three paned top-opening timber windows. At ground floor right are two large openings with rolled steel joist heads: one is an infilled window opening, the other a double-leaf sheeted timber door. Above are three doorways (now frameless) to the first and second floors, which formerly gave access to the now-demolished section. There is also a single semi-glazed timber door with two-by-one paned overlight to the third floor and three two-by-three paned windows to the top floor.

The north gable is three openings wide to its upper floors. A large five-by-three paned timber window under a rolled steel joist head occupies the ground floor, whilst three two-by-three paned top-opening timber windows appear at each upper floor. At the right-hand (west) end of this gable are vestiges of a toilet stack, now demolished except for part of its ground floor. The semi-glazed timber access doorways through to it from the main building also survive. The west elevation was inaccessible. The exposed section of the south gable, visible above the roofline of Building 1, has two-by-three paned windows to its top two floors.

Building 4 (Later 1830s with later addition, four storeys)

This four-storey section is aligned east-west along the north side of the block and dates from the later 1830s. It has a pitched natural slate roof with skylights, five circular metal ridge ventilators, and a timber bargeboard to the west gable. Ogee cast-iron gutters and asbestos-cement downpipes serve the building. All floors except the top are of random rubble blackstone brought to courses. The top floor is a later addition dating from 1903-10, constructed in brick with a moulded brick eaves course. The eaves are raised to a small gable at the east end of the north elevation.

The north elevation is fourteen openings wide. All openings contain windows (sheeted over at ground floor), with flat brick heads and granite cills (probably concrete cills to the top floor). The first and second floor windows are two-by-three paned metal-framed windows, whilst the top floor ones are six-by-six paned timber frames with a two-by-two central opening panel; several of the latter have been replaced with two-by-three paned metal frames. The eaves gable at the left contains a two-by-two paned window under a rolled steel joist head. The west gable is abutted by Building 5. The exposed top floor section above contains three multi-paned windows (probably six-by-six) and a doorway circular window opening in the gable's apex.

The south elevation was only partly visible as the yard in front of it is now inaccessible. Loading doors at its left (west) end serve all upper floors. The windows match the detailing of the north elevation. A stairwell formerly stood at the east end of this elevation at the corner with Building 3, since removed.

Building 5 (Later 1800s/early 1900s, two storeys over semi-basement)

This two-storey over semi-basement building runs southward from the west end of Building 4. It appears on the 1903 Ordnance Survey map and probably dates from the later 1800s or early 1900s. The pitched natural slate roof has skylights, raised gables, and a blocking course coped with concrete. Roof gutters discharge into metal downpipes. Red brick walls throughout feature advanced quoins and shallow pilasters to the first floor along the west elevation. All openings have flat concrete heads and windows have concrete cills.

The north gable is two openings wide, with infilled openings to the semi-basement, two large three-by-three paned top-opening timber windows to ground and first floors, and a narrow ventilation opening to the gable apex. The west elevation is five openings wide. It was formerly abutted at ground floor level by a single-storey flat-roofed section, now demolished (its concrete floor footprint survives). Five infilled window openings (one with a door inserted) and a doorway occupy the ground floor, whilst five windows matching the north gable detailing span the first floor.

The south gable is two openings wide with a sheeted-over doorway at ground floor. At first floor left is a large four-by-five paned timber window with a semicircular brick relieving arch above (featuring three concrete keystones). At first floor right is a doorway leading to the now-demolished overhead passage that connected to the now-gone extension on the east gable of the adjoining block. The projecting section of the east elevation is slightly advanced and contains a recessed blind panel at ground floor level and a four-by-six paned timber window to the first floor. A free-standing chimney formerly stood in the yard of this block but has been demolished.

Setting

This central block sits in the middle of the premises, bounded immediately to east and west by other mill buildings. To its north, separated by a post and wire fence, is a landscaped public park. To its south are vestiges of the former mill pond.