Former Tram Station, Bessbrook, Newry

Exterior description; Substantial single storey gabled former tram station constructed in 1885 to transport workers and raw/ finished materials from the adjacent Bessbrook mill complex to and from Newry. The building is L-shaped in plan and is orientated North/South with the main opening for the trams on the North end. Walls are random rubble granite stone with multi coloured clay brick dressings to the openings and also used for projecting cornices at each gable. North elevation is symmetrical with a central opening with triple segmental arches taking up most of the elevation. Above is a small central roundel. The South elevation faces towards the mill complex and is gabled with a brick cornice to match the North end. There is a large central opening with a exposed steel beam above, and a recessed panel that shows the granite structure. This opening may have been added in the twentieth century. This elevation has been roughcast rendered and there is a blocked up pedestrian door to the left. The East elevation is a plain granite wall without openings but with a concrete block lean-to added at the North end. West elevation has a projecting wing covering approximately half of the side. It has regularly spaced window and door openings dressed with brick. The door openings have been blocked up and the windows are largely 1/1 timber sliding sash with wire grilles attached. Roof is covered with corrugated iron sheeting. The former tram station sits beside the wooded banks of the Bessbrook River where it crosses the Derrymore Road. To the NW is the now cleared site of the former Army helicopter base and across the Derrymore road is the important Bessbrook Mill complex with which it has group value.