Flax mill, Glasker Mill, adj 1 Ouley Rd, Ballyskeagh, Banbridge, Co Down, BT32 5DB

Glasker Mill is a two-storey, three-bay steam-powered flax mill built in the mid-19th century, constructed from rubble blackstone and granite masonry brought to courses, with dressed granite quoins and a brick eaves course. The building now stands without machinery, though its character and much original fabric survive. It represents a significant example of a steam-powered flax mill—generally larger than their water-powered counterparts—and is historically important as a key component of a substantial mid-19th century water- and steam-powered corn and flax mill complex that reflects the development of rural industry in the area. The mill was established during the boom in flax growing in Ireland during the 1800s.

The structure comprises a two-bay western section and a slightly lower single-bay eastern section set at an angle to the main block. The western section has a pitched natural slate roof, now partly collapsed, with no rainwater goods. Its principal elevation faces southeast, containing three windows with shallow concrete cills and a doorway at ground floor level into the main northeast bay, plus a second doorway at left into the southwest bay, accessed by concrete stairs. The first floor has five windows—two with timber shutters and two with timber casement frames—along with a circular vent. The southwest gable contains a first-floor window. The northwest elevation is partly buried with only the first floor now visible, showing two ground-floor doorways internally, three windows, one door, and a circular ventilation duct to the first floor. The northeastern gable is abutted by the lower eastern section of the mill block, with two doorways in the party wall at first-floor level.

The eastern section probably contained the steam engine documented in 1860s valuations. Its roof has collapsed and it has no rainwater goods. Walls and openings follow the pattern of the western section. The building is aligned north-south with its principal elevation to the east, containing two windows and a door at ground floor level, and three shuttered openings at first floor, all with concrete cills. The southern gable abuts the western section. The western elevation is now only visible to first-floor level, showing a ground-floor doorway internally and at least one door and window to the first floor, though much of this wall has largely collapsed.

The mill forms part of a complex of several buildings and structures situated on the north side of Ouley Road at its junction with the main Loughbrickland-Rathfriland road. Associated structures include a corn mill and kiln to the west, a boiler house to the south, and a chimney to the southwest. The former flax store, now converted to a house at 1 Ouley Road, stands to the west, with farmyard to the north and fields surrounding the site otherwise.

The mill complex appears on uncaptioned maps dated 1833, noted in contemporary valuation records as belonging to Andrew McAlister and comprising a corn mill and kiln with house and offices. By 1853, the Ordnance Survey map captioned the complex as "Corn and Flax Mills" with footprints matching those of today, positioned slightly southeast of the original corn mill. The c.1862 Second Valuation book records ownership under Roberts S Corbett and describes the flax mill and engine house as measuring 17 yards by 8 yards by 2 storeys. Documentation notes a high-pressure steam engine of 14 horsepower, with the mill originally containing 10 scutching stocks and two sets of flax breakers. By 1894, valuation records indicate the original corn mill had been converted to flax scutching, while the mid-19th century steam-powered flax mill continued in operation with 10 stocks and a set of triple rollers. The complex appears on Ordnance Survey maps dated 1903 and 1918. John J Corbett took over the premises around 1919. By 1922, the corn mill was at rest and the kiln and stores were disused, though the steam-powered flax mill continued operation seemingly until after the Second World War. The building is now recorded as derelict and holds considerable industrial archaeological interest.