Belfast Roof Truss Buildings at Hilden Mill, (off Mill Street), Hilden, Lisburn, Co. Antrim, BT27 4RR

Belfast Roof Truss Buildings at Hilden Mill

This record documents a group of buildings with Belfast truss roofs that form part of the Barbour Threads Mill complex, a large sprawling brick-built industrial site located on the eastern edge of Hilden village in County Antrim. The complex straddles a bend in the River Lagan, with most buildings on the western side of the river. To the immediate east, the Lagan Navigation canal branches off and runs parallel to the river, creating a river island on which the eastern portion of the site is situated.

The mill was established in 1823, but the present complex dates largely from around 1850 to around 1910. Whilst some large formally planned buildings exist, much of the complex grew organically in response to various commercial opportunities during the mid to late 1800s, typical of local mills of the period. Adjacent to the northern site boundary were terraces of mill workers' houses and a primary school, since demolished. The earliest sections lie at the northern end and consist of a large roughly U-shaped grouping of four to five and a half-storey blocks arranged around a large single-storey northlight section. To the south are various single, two and four-storey buildings informally grouped, with the two largest multi-storey blocks set at right-angles. Some southern buildings appear to have begun as free-standing structures before subsequent additions created the sprawling complex seen today. Several free-standing, mainly two-storey buildings occupy the western side of the site, dating to the late 19th and early 20th centuries, though with late 20th century additions and alterations. Administrative and ancillary buildings are generally located on the western side, whilst those housing thread manufacture and storage occupy the eastern side and the river island. Some structures added in the latter decades of the 19th century and early 1900s feature Belfast truss roofs. These buildings vary widely in appearance and scale, ranging from one to five storeys in height, and appear to have contained manufacturing, storage, and administrative functions, including what appears to be a water treatment plant. Accurate dating is difficult, but most appear on Ordnance Survey maps of 1903-04 and would appear to have been constructed post around 1880.

Building 1 is a former two-storey administration block set close to the main vehicular access at the northern side of the site, shown on the 1903 Ordnance Survey map. A bay to the eastern side and an addition to the south have been removed, creating an almost rectangular footprint. The east side of the north facade features a shallow two-storey flat-roofed bay; to the west of this is a single-storey lean-to entrance porch. Walls are constructed mainly in plain red clay facing brick; the projecting two-storey bay is topped with polychrome brick banding. The east gable wall was reconstructed with modern metal cladding. Part of the west wall incorporates various stone panels, suggesting this building may have been an extension to an older structure. Window openings are segmental-headed; some timber sash frames have been retained and various replacement frames installed. Fenestration is regular with evenly spaced openings. Eaves and verges have painted timber fascias and the roof is covered with felt.

Building 2 is a former two-storey administration block set to the northern side of the site, close to the main vehicular access. First shown on the 1903 Ordnance Survey map, it has a later two-storey flat-roofed addition on the western side and a single-storey lean-to roofed portion to the east. The original central section is covered with a barrel-vaulted Belfast trussed roof. Eaves and fascias are painted timber. Walls in this area are formed in random rubble. Window openings are various, including flat and segmental heads, with timber frames that are mainly sash. Fenestration is mainly regular with evenly spaced openings.

Building 3 is a long two-storey block first shown on the 1903 Ordnance Survey map, set on the river island and fronting both the river and canal. The roof is predominantly a double-pile pitched roof, with a section of Belfast roof to the south and a small single-storey felt-covered extension on the south gable. Walls are mainly plain red clay brick. Window openings are segmental-headed with mainly sash frames. Eaves are timber.

Building 4 is a typically plain four-storey mill building with projecting stair tower and segmental-headed window openings. Located at the north-eastern side of the site overlooking a large weir in the river, it first appears on the 1903 map. It is an addition to one of the large four-storey mill ranges forming the large conglomeration at the northern end of the site. It is mostly constructed in plain red clay brick; the north elevation is of rendered basalt rubble.

Building 5 is located at the southern side of the site, river-fronted, and roughly rectangular in plan. It is part single, part two, and part three-storey. It may have been constructed in stages but is shown in its entirety on the 1903 map. The single-storey section is divided equally into three sections, the last of which has collapsed. The building features a Belfast roof. Walls are mainly plain red clay brick. Window openings are segmental-headed, some bricked up; frames are timber and mainly multi-paned fixed lights. Gables rise to parapets and eaves are formed in timber.

Building 6 is an open porch structure attached to the eastern end of a two-storey building on the southern end of the site. The entire area is now filled with metal trolleys, allowing only long-range views of the trusses. As far as could be discerned, the trusses have right-angle bracing, which would suggest these are McTear-style. Oddly, this porch does not appear on any pre-existing records.

Building 7 is a small single-storey detached timber building set to the most southern portion of the site at the head of a small branch canal. Attached to the southern gable is a later single-storey building, metal clad with a pitched roof. Walls are faced with vertical timber boarding. Fascias and barges are timber. Window openings are flat-headed and have been boarded over.

Building 8 is a two-storey building set to the south side of the site, adjacent to the west side of the river. A two-storey flat-roofed building is attached to the west side, and Building 5 abuts the south gable. It is brick faced with segmental-headed openings. Window frames are multi-paned timber.