Rademan mill, 90 Ballynahinch Road, Rademan, Crossgar, Co Down, BT30

This large flour mill complex on the banks of the Ballynahinch River, roughly two miles east of Crossgar, was built in stages throughout the 19th century. The site comprises a substantial part four-storey, part two-storey mill originally dating from circa 1804-16 but greatly extended with a taller section around the 1840s; a sprawling two-storey house with attached offices, possibly originating circa 1810-20 but extensively remodelled in typical late Victorian style from 1889 onwards; and a long two-storey gabled warehouse building with adjacent single-storey carthouse, both perhaps from the 1850s, though the latter has been altered in subsequent years. Set in a hollow south of Ballynahinch Road at 90 Ballynahinch Road, Rademan, Crossgar, the complex was vacant at the time of listing but appeared to be in relatively good condition and regularly maintained.

The Flour Mill

The mill is a large part four-storey, part two-storey building with a series of offshoots to the rear (west). The large four-storey section added circa 1840s is rubble-finished, whilst the original two-storey section at the north end and the offshoots are part rendered and part rubble-finished. Most sections have gabled slated roofs and relatively small windows, most fitted with Georgian-paned sash frames.

The long front (east-facing) façade is dominated by the four-storey rubble-finished section on the left. Its ground floor has a large timber-sheeted sliding door on the left, with two small sash windows (6/6 panes) with brick dressings to its left, five similar windows to the right of the door, and another blocked with breeze blocks at the far right. The first floor has seven similar windows aligned with the ground floor openings. Between the sixth and seventh windows from the left are two timber-sheeted loft doors of differing sizes, beneath which runs a narrow timber ledge, with a large projecting flat-roofed hood above both doors. Both the second and third floors have nine windows matching those below.

To the right, the façade drops to two storeys and is rendered. The ground floor has four square windows with modern fixed light frames; a doorway appears to have originally existed between the second and third windows. The first floor has four windows with frames matching the four-storey section but larger. At the far right is a lower two-storey section set back beyond the rear line of the façade. Its ground floor has a small single-storey lean-to section to the left with a sash window (2/1) on its east face. To the right of the lean-to is a small plain sash window, with a larger sash window (6/6) at first floor level.

The south façade of the four-storey section is rubble-finished. The façade consists of a gable merging with a four-storey lean-to section to the left. The ground floor left has a large timber-sheeted double door, immediately right of which is a boarded-up window opening, with two smaller windows as found on the front of the four-storey section to the right again. The first floor left has a similar small window, with another at each of the two storeys above. Two similar windows sit at attic level high on the gable.

The north-facing gabled façade is two-storey, rendered, and has a plain sash window at attic level. The exposed uppermost section of the north gable of the four-storey section has two attic-level windows matching the front of this section.

The rear (west) elevation has a complex appearance. To the left, at the rear of the original two-storey section, is a small single-storey lean-to with rendered façade and small sash window (matching the four-storey section) to the right on its west face. This lean-to abuts a larger two-storey gabled projection with attic level, part rendered and part rubble-faced. Its north face has a small window to each floor with frames as previous. The attic level of its west-facing gable has a larger sash window (2/2).

To the left on the rear façade of the four-storey section is a large two-and-a-half-storey gabled projection with rubble façade, which appears to have held (and still holds) the water wheel. Its south face has a timber-sheeted door to the right on the ground floor with a small sash window (1/2) to the left. The first floor right has a six-pane window (this opening appears to have been reduced in size), with a similar window at attic level on the west-facing gable. To the north of the projection the ground level is much higher and the projection appears single-storey from this side. The north face itself has two small sash windows (6/6, 2/2).

To the right of the projection is the rear façade of the main four-storey section. Its ground floor left has a large segmental-headed opening, immediately right of which is a boarded-up window opening, with a window matching the front façade of this section at the far right. The first floor left has another sash window (6/2), with three more on the uppermost floor (all 6/6).

The House and Attached Offices

To the east of the mill stands a large, sprawling two to two-and-a-half-storey house with integral mill offices. This building has a complex, irregular appearance, consisting of a relatively typical late Victorian two-storey residence with canted bays, flat-roofed porch and shallow hipped roof, which merges to the south with a much larger, plainer gabled section with offshoots to east and west. Documentary evidence suggests that the overtly house-like hipped roof portion to the front is actually an early 19th-century house completely remodelled in 1889 (a date appearing over one of its doorways). The large portion to the rear may have been added at this time, though its overall styling suggests it dates from circa 1910-20, or was built in stages leading up to these years.

The front (north-facing) elevation centres on the symmetrical front façade of the front 'house' section. This consists of a central flat-roofed porch with panelled timber door to the front with rectangular fanlight. Tall, narrow two-pane windows sit on the east and west faces of the porch. The porch has rusticated render with cornice course and decorative moulded surrounds to the openings. Directly above the porch at first floor level is a plain sash window with surround matching the porch openings. To either side of the porch are full-height flat-roofed canted bays with plain sash windows to all faces and both floors, and mouldings as before. The façade is finished in plain render with moulded quoins and eaves cornice.

To the left of the front elevation is a two-storey gabled section set back beyond the line of the house section. Its first floor north face has a sash window (2/2). The ground floor has a single-storey hipped-roof porch projection with a panelled timber door to the left on the north face and a casement window with stained glass to the right. The door has a decorative moulded surround with the date '1889' in the keystone.

To the right half of the north elevation, the taller gabled section to the rear can be seen rising above the roofline of the front hipped-roof house section. This gable has two sash windows (both 2/2). The right-hand edge of this gable is also exposed, and on this exposed section is a ground floor sash window (2/2).

The right-hand edge of the front elevation has a projecting single-storey offshoot with a large metal water tank covering the whole of its roof. Two sash windows sit on the north face of this offshoot (2/1, 2/2).

To the left on the east elevation is the gable of the east gabled projection. To the right on the ground floor of this gable is a plain sash window. Immediately right of the gable is the east face of the hipped-roof side porch, which also has a sash window (2/2). Above the porch on the east façade of the house section is a large semicircular-headed window with mullioned and transomed frame with stained glass. To its right is a plain sash window, with another at ground floor right.

To the left on the west elevation is the west façade of the house section, which has a plain sash window at ground floor and first floor. The ground floor window sits within a semicircular arched recess. To the right is the short west face of the single-storey offshoot, which has a sash window (2/2). The word 'office' is painted above the window. To the right of the offshoot (on the west façade of the large rear section) is a sash window (4/4) and a timber-sheeted door. The first floor has two widely spaced sash windows (both 2/2).

The rear (south) elevation largely consists of the rear façade of the rear section. To the left of this façade is a large two-and-a-half-storey gabled bay with three sash windows to the ground floor (all 4/4), two to the first floor, and two more at attic level (all 2/2). To the right of the bay are four sash windows on the ground floor (first window 2/2, with the rest plain), with four more on the first floor (all 2/2). At the far left of the rear elevation is the south face of the offshoot, which has a timber-sheeted door.

The large rear section, offshoot and side porch are all finished in plain render with some moulded string courses. The west and east façades of the house section are also in plain render. The roof of the rear section has a slight overhang with plain bargeboards and short finials. The building has three rendered chimney stacks, and there is a cast iron skylight to the front of the roof of the house section. All sections of the roof are slated. Cast iron rainwater goods throughout.

Warehouse

To the southwest of the house is a long two-storey gabled building, which may have been a warehouse. This is built of rubble with brick dressings and granite quoins, with a slated roof. A small single-storey gabled section has been attached to the east side, and south of this is a rubble-built lean-to (which may be original).

The north gable of the main section has a large segmental arched opening with (internal) sliding door. The opening is brick-dressed (as are all others). The upper floor above the arch has a roundel window with tracery. The long east façade has four small (mainly louvred) openings near eaves level. At the far right on the ground floor is the relatively large lean-to with a small window with bars over on its south face, and a similar window on its east face with a timber-sheeted door to its right. This lean-to merges (to the right) with the above-mentioned gabled section, which has two small Georgian-paned windows on its east face and a large flat arched (garage door-like) opening to the north (gabled) face. The north face is rendered.

The south gable of the main building has an upper-level timber-sheeted door reached via a stone staircase. There is a doorway opening on the south face of the staircase. The ground floor of the long west face has three timber-sheeted doors and seven small sash windows (all 6/6). Seven similar windows sit at first floor level.

Other Buildings

Immediately west of the warehouse, fringing the bank of the river, is a relatively large gabled building which may have been a carthouse. This building is finished in a mixture of rubble, render and brick and has been somewhat altered over the years. To the left on the north façade is a timber-sheeted sliding door, with a small Georgian-paned window to its left and two to its right. To the right again is another sliding door as before, only larger. To the right of this, the remainder of the façade is taken up with a series of large linked segmental-headed openings, which were probably all once open but are now largely filled with timber sheeting punctuated with some windows of varying shape (windows which have obviously come from elsewhere). The former arched opening at the far right is filled with brick.

An odd squint single-storey lean-to is attached to the east gable, with rubble façade and two timber-sheeted doors and two small windows on its east face. The west gable has a large flat arched opening with ill-fitting timber-sheeted double door. To its right is a six-pane window. This gable is largely rendered, but some of the render has fallen off revealing brick construction to this end (was this building once longer?). The south façade of this building could not be seen clearly because of its proximity to the river bank.

The large yard around which the various buildings in this grouping are situated is covered in tarmac. The site is approached via a long curving drive off Ballynahinch Road. At the road end of the drive is a set of late Victorian-looking decorative iron gates with plain square rendered pillars (whose caps have been removed).

River Structures

Dr Fred Hammond recorded the following in a report for the Environment and Heritage Service in 1989. In 2004 these structures were in similar condition: 'The remains of the water works are not without note. A substantial weir (now gone) blocked the river, the upstream portion of bed acting as a mill pond. Water was diverted along an open headrace, entering a dry stone culvert, eight feet wide by seven feet high, some distance from the mill. The tailrace is of a similar impressive construction. The substantial remains of an eel trap are also to be found in the vicinity of the headrace intake.'