Old Mill House, 15 Retreat Close, Mullaghmore, Omagh, Co.Tyrone, BT79 0HW

Old Mill House, 15 Retreat Close, Mullaghmore, Omagh, Co. Tyrone

A three-bay two-storey rendered house built around 1830, formerly of late Georgian appearance but now extensively renovated. The building originally formed part of the Mullaghmore Corn, Flax and Saw Mills complex, which operated from the early 19th century until at least the early 1900s.

The house is constructed as a detached structure on an L-plan, facing east. It comprises a three-bay single-storey elevation to the road and a two-bay two-storey extension to the southwest. A single-storey conservatory is attached to the south elevation, and a rear entrance porch is attached to the west gable end. A two-storey detached structure stands to the west within the grounds.

The roof is natural slate with black clay ridge tiles, hipped to the north and south of the return, and gabled to the south gable. Rendered chimneysstacks rise from both the south gable and the west gable of the return, each topped with octagonal clay pots. The walls are painted cement render with render quoins and a smooth render plinth course featuring a roll-moulding. Metal rainwater goods have replaced the originals.

The symmetrical three-bay front elevation features a central square-headed door opening containing a replacement timber double-leaf panelled door with upper panels glazed and a horizontal over-light, opening onto a stone-clad step. To either side is a replacement tripartite timber sash window comprising 6/6 sashes flanked by 2/2 sashes. First-floor windows are 6/6 timber sashes. The south elevation contains a pair of first-floor window openings with uPVC windows and a large three-sided canted conservatory with lead and slate roof. The north side elevation sits partially below road level; first-floor windows here are replacement 6/6 timber sashes with steel sills. Remaining windows are uPVC. The hipped porch to the rear entrance has a natural slate roof and contains a timber door and uPVC windows.

The original red brick boundary wall enclosing the front garden to the north has been cement rendered. Tall rendered walls to the west feature tall rendered piers and a pair of steel gates. A large former outbuilding, finished to match the house, has its rear elevation fronting onto the road, with door openings that suggest continued commercial use.

The site is set on landscaped grounds north of a small stream, with its rear elevation to the road.

Historical Context

Ordnance Survey Maps reveal uncaptioned buildings on the site in 1833. By 1854, the complex was captioned 'Mullaghmore Corn, Flax & Saw Mills'. The 1906 edition shows the buildings as 'Mullaghmore Mills (Corn & Flax)'.

Townland Valuation Records describe the complex as comprising a dwelling house (34 ft 6 in × 20 ft 6 in × 18 ft 6 in), an office and beetling mill (57 ft 6 in × 25 ft × 18 ft 6 in) and an office (25 ft 6 in × 18 ft 6 in × 16 ft 6 in), all occupied by William Chambers. Griffith's Valuation lists the buildings as a house, offices, corn and flax mills and land valued at £57 5s 0d, remaining at this valuation into the early 1900s. The property was occupied by John Donnelly and leased from Rev Thomas L Stack. From 1879, occupancy passed to Edward Arnold, with the Stack family continuing as lessors. By 1902, the property was described as a flax mill at rest.

The Ordnance Survey Memoirs make brief mention that "a Sunday School is also held in the mill at Mullaghmore". According to Deeson's history of the W & C Scott grain mill established in Omagh in 1850, Charles Scott installed his brother-in-law Edward Arnold as manager at Mullaghmore Mill in 1889, and the branch was carried on for a number of years as Arnold & Co.

While the façade composition has been retained, extensive alterations have substantially compromised the building's character. The site's surviving interest lies in its industrial past and river setting, though the extensive alterations have detracted from its quality.