Former flax mill complex, Shrigley Road, Shrigley, Tullveery, Killyleagh, Co. Down, BT30 9SR

Large disused factory complex, originally a flax mill then a tannery, set within the small village of Shrigley, less than a mile NW of Killyleagh. This former factory was abandoned some years ago and is in an advanced state of decay, with many of the buildings merely shells. Some of the surviving buildings date from 1845 [or perhaps even 1824], but all were completely renovated and extended in the mid 1900s and now appear largely bland and modern. In more recent times some of the smaller original buildings have been demolished, especially to the NW corner, which used to be the original entrance. In their positions and elsewhere some large (mainly single storey) modern warehouses and offices have been added to the site, and the main entrance has been shifted to the W, opening unto the Shrigley Road. The most prominent of the original flax spinning mill ensemble is a large five storey building to the NE of the site. This is roughly rectangular in plan with its [presumably flat] roof hidden behind a parapet. It has various off shoots and is attached to much smaller two storey buildings to all sides, with a five storey off shoot to the N corner. Its façade is cement rendered with many windows to each floor, now either with badly dilapidated modern frames or without frames at all. Attached to the SW façade of this large building is a smaller two storey L shaped building with a flat roof and rubble façade, brick dressings to openings, rendered brick quoins and rendered parapet. There are various large window openings at all sides to both floors with a mixture of badly dilapidated sash and more modern frames to some window openings, whilst others have lost their frames altogether or have been filled in with breeze block. To the N of the large five storey building is a three storey block, whose cement render façade and window frames (what is left of them) largely replicate the large building. Attached to the NW of this block is a two storey building whose SE façade (which was all that could be seen of it) is in rubble with brick dressings to openings. This façade faces into a narrow ‘courtyard’, with the five storey building to the SE. To the SW end of the courtyard is a gateway in rubble with and elliptical arch dressed with rendered brick. Set on a hill to the N of the complex is a tall, square plan chimney in brick with a rendered base.