Former flax mill to rear of, 63 Ballycoshone Rd, Rathfriland, Newry, Co Down, BT34 5HT

Former Flax Mill to the Rear of 63 Ballycoshone Road, Rathfriland

This former flax mill, now in use as farm buildings, is situated on the east bank of the River Bann and is of primarily historical interest, reflecting the importance of flax scutching in this area during the later 19th century. It does not merit listing on architectural grounds.

The complex comprises two buildings aligned north-south and parallel to one another. The main building nearest the road measures 23.8 by 6.17 metres overall in plan and stands two storeys high with a pitched natural slate roof and no rainwater goods. The walls are of random rubble granite brought to courses. The right-hand bay, viewed from the east, is a later addition measuring 3.96 by 6.17 metres in plan and has a slightly steeper roof pitch.

The east elevation of the main building is abutted right of centre by a one-storey lean-to, which is an original feature. At left on this façade is a metal-framed window in an original opening; to the right is an infilled window with brick surround. Between these two windows is an infilled semi-elliptical arch at ground level, possibly the original headrace to the mill. To the right of the lean-to is a 3 by 3 paned window, and further right, on the end bay, is an infilled window opening. The first floor has four window openings with brick surrounds, and a fifth without brick surround on the end right bay. The lean-to has two windows on its east elevation with brick surrounds, and a tongue-and-groove door in a brick surround on its right cheek, whilst its left cheek is blank. In the party wall between the lean-to and the main block are two large openings within semi-elliptical brick heads. The left gable is blank.

The west elevation has two large ground floor doors, both modern enlargements. At first floor left is a tongue-and-groove door with an external stone stairway. To the ground floor of this bay is a small window opening. At first floor centre is a similar door without access. The right gable has two tongue-and-groove doors: at ground floor left and at first floor right, the latter accessed by an external stone stairway.

Immediately west of this building stands a one-storey building measuring 13.4 by 5.38 metres in plan, with roof and walls of similar construction. Its east elevation has a tongue-and-groove door at the middle, whilst its left gable has a half metal-framed window. The west façade is blank. The north gable is smooth cement rendered and has had a pair of modern sliding doors fitted, with the gable raised to accommodate the rail.

Historical Development

A flax mill was shown at this location on the 1833 Ordnance Survey 6-inch map. The 1838 valuation recorded it as belonging to John McLaughlin and measuring 55 feet by 20 feet by 7 feet 6 inches, with an associated store measuring 44 feet by 17 feet 6 inches by 6 feet 6 inches. The existing western building corresponds with these dimensions. According to the Ordnance Survey Memoir of 1836, the mill was erected in 1831 and was powered by a 12-foot-diameter by 5-foot-wide breast-shot waterwheel, originally standing only one storey high.

The present two-storey structure represents a later enlargement, probably completed by 1861 when the second valuation was carried out. There is no discernible wall break to indicate a staged construction, suggesting instead a complete rebuild. This reconstruction would accord with the use of brickwork on window and door surrounds and a different ground plan shown on the 1859 Ordnance Survey map, which also depicts a lean-to on the west elevation of the main block. At that time the mill contained six stocks and three rollers and was valued at £18. A new office, probably the bay at the north end, was added in 1866, with the valuation increasing to £19. The mill appears to have remained operative until at least 1929.