Derrymore foundry, Derrymore Road, Derrymore, Bessbrook, Newry, Co Armagh

Derrymore Foundry, Derrymore Road, Bessbrook, County Armagh

This is a ruinous and largely overgrown former corn mill complex, originating in the early 19th century, with later 19th and early 20th century additions. The site was partly used as a stone polishing factory in the late 1800s, converted to a foundry around 1900–10, and abandoned in 1976. It is recorded as derelict and of industrial archaeological interest.

Setting and Layout

The buildings sit within a well-wooded hollow to the north-east of Derrymore Road, on the rural south-eastern outskirts of Bessbrook village. The complex is approached along a sloping muddy track leading off Derrymore Road. The wooded nature of the site, combined with the partial or complete collapse of many structures, makes it difficult to read the layout clearly. Entry to the complex is from a relatively narrow lane off the north-west of the track. Stone-built structures, largely 19th century in origin, are arranged to the north-east and south-west of this lane, while a large grouping of almost entirely ruinous sheds occupies the north-west and northern end. A tall chimney stands some distance away to the south-east of the track, with no other significant structures in its immediate vicinity.

The Original Corn Mill (c.1810)

The most prominent and most complete surviving building lies to the south-west of the lane. This is the original corn mill, dating from around 1810: a large five-storey, five-windows-wide gabled building, with a large two-and-a-half-storey gabled return to the south-west. It is constructed in a semi-coursed mixture of rubble and roughly squared stone, with dressed granite quoins and lintels. The south-west gable is clad in slate, and large sections of all walls are now covered in ivy. The roof has completely collapsed, as have some of the uppermost portions of the walls. The flat-arched windows either retain the dilapidated remains of Georgian-paned timber sash frames or have lost their frames entirely.

The stonework indicates that the south-west portion of the mill — two windows wide — is an addition, though documentary sources suggest it was added not long after the original section was completed. There is a further early 20th century two-to-single-storey lean-to addition to the south-east side of the rear return. This section has largely collapsed, but its timber frame survives, as does a small portion of its corrugated iron roof and most of its riveted sheet metal south-west façade. To the north-east side of the original building are the remains of further one- and two-storey timber-framed lean-to additions of similar date. Both the early 1800s portion and the early 1900s extensions have been largely gutted, with all floors collapsed throughout. The interior of the return appears to have been destroyed by fire.

Forge Building

Just to the south-west of the return is a small single-storey freestanding building with rubble stone walls, built some time between 1836 and 1862 and latterly used as a forge. Its originally mono-pitched roof has collapsed.

Large Two-Storey Building (c.1880)

A few metres to the north-west of the original five-storey mill is a large rectangular-plan two-storey structure, eight windows wide, with rubble stone walls and brick dressings to the openings. Some of the uppermost portions of the walls have fallen away, and the openings are devoid of frames or doors. The roof appears to have been curved and was presumably of the Belfast Truss type; it has entirely collapsed, as has the upper floor. Documentary sources indicate this building was erected on the site of an earlier one around 1880, possibly purpose-built solely for granite polishing, and was later converted for use as the foundry proper.

House and Office Building (commenced 1836–1862)

To the north-east side of the lane, north-east of the original mill, is a relatively small two-and-a-half-storey split-level structure with rubble stone walls now largely smothered in ivy. Small single-storey lean-tos survive to its north-east and north-west sides. The roof of the main section has completely collapsed, as has the floor. Documentary sources suggest this building was commenced between 1836 and 1862 but was raised in height at some later point. It was latterly used as both a house and an office.

Sheds (early 20th century)

To the north-west and north of the lane are the remains of a large collection of single-storey timber-framed, open-sided sheds of various sizes. Most have either collapsed completely or are in an advanced state of collapse. Sections of corrugated iron cladding can still be discerned, though not in their original position. Most of these sheds date from the early decades of the 20th century, when the complex was converted to a foundry.

Chimney (added 1836–1862)

Some metres to the south-east of the track off Derrymore Road stands a relatively tall tapering chimney, now completely covered in ivy. This was added to the complex some time between 1836 and 1862, when the originally water-powered mill was converted, either in part or in whole, to steam power.

Machinery and Equipment

The whole site still contains a considerable quantity of machinery, including cranes, a gantry, the remains of engines, and large grinding stones. Much of this appears to remain in its original position, though various components are scattered across the site. Much of the machinery is in a state of decay.

Historical Development

A water-powered corn mill is depicted at this location on the 1834–35 Ordnance Survey six-inch map. At that time, the present Derrymore Road did not exist and the mill stood within the grounds of Derrymore House. The first valuation book of 1836 records the owner as Isaac Smith. The complex, valued at £52, comprised a mill measuring 70 feet by 34½ feet by 43 feet, two kilns, and a thatched miller's dwelling. All other buildings were slated. The valuation's quality letter indicates the mill was approximately 20–25 years old at that time. The mill contained four pairs of millstones — one for shelling and three for grinding — described as three years in use with constant work. No details of the waterwheel are recorded.

The 1861 Ordnance Survey map shows additional buildings to the north and east of the original mill, all captioned "Derrymore Mill", with a chimney also depicted, indicating the presence of a steam engine. The second valuation book of 1862 records the owner as Robert Glenny, with additions including an engine house (22½ by 12 feet), a store (45 by 42 feet), and a one-storey office (15 by 12 feet). By this date the mill contained four millstones, all of French Burr, grinding Indian corn (maize), along with three elevators and a sifter.

Large-scale maps of 1895 and 1906 show the site in broadly the same configuration as in 1861. The valuation revision book of 1909 cites Charles Bradband and Company as tenants, engaged in both corn milling and stone polishing, an activity which appears to have been ongoing since at least the 1880s. Dr Fred Hammond, writing in 1991, noted that he was unaware of any other water-powered mills in the province where stone polishing had taken place, making this an unusual if not unique departure. In 1910 the valuation book records Thomas and Samuel Bailey as having taken over the site; Thomas was subsequently replaced by Edward Bailey and then by John Bailey. During the 1910s the site's function changed entirely from corn milling and stone polishing to foundry and engineering work, though records held at the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland show Bailey and Sons to have commenced foundry work as early as 1901.

During its working life the foundry undertook a wide variety of activity. Mill wrighting formed an important part of its output, including the casting of waterwheels, shafts, bearings, and spur and bevel gears; one such waterwheel has been recorded at Bavan (possibly Cavan). Turbines were also cast, though few can now be traced. Other cast products included agricultural machinery, valves, railings, grates, stoves, ranges, and ship propellers for the Newry-based Fisher Line. Where items were cast repeatedly, metal patterns were used rather than wooden ones. The foundry also carried out general metalworking including cutting, turning and drilling, and manufactured large wooden rollers — wiper and beetling beams — for beetling mills.

In 1976 the foundry's then owner was forced to lay off his workers due to the poor state of repair of the buildings. He continued working on his own account for a short time afterwards before the site was abandoned.