83 Milltown Road, Banbridge, Co Down, BT63 3SY

A former bleachworks now demolished and redeveloped as housing. The First Survey card records: ‘c.1835. Three and four storey blocks with office buildings. Various types of construction are employed for walls, roofs are slated. There are several small pane windows on G.F. of 3-storey block, remainder of windows are D/H with single vertical g.b. Part is now used for storage of potatoes. Condition of buildings is poor. This was the greatest bleachworks on the Bann, output of 40,000 pieces in 1839 was largest in Co. Down. In 1863, 120,000 pieces of 30 yards each could be handled per annum. Power was provided by 2 iron breast wheels and 2 steam engines. Smyths, the owners, opened an iron works across river in 1876 (now demolished). Bleaching stopped in 1930’s. Stripped after Second World War Smaller “bleach mill” appears on O.S. map of 1833 Industrial Archaeology of Co. Down. E.R.R. Green. Date of visit: 7th October 1969