Mixing Wells, Dunnywater, Annalong, Newry, Co Down

The mixing wells, constructed between 1900 and 1919, are part of the Mourne Scheme, an early project to bring water from the Annalong and Kilkeel Rivers to Belfast. They were built by architects Fisher and Le Fanu for the Belfast Water Commissioners and became operational in 1901. The wells are located within a grassed area enclosed by high granite walls, and consist of two wells flanked by small inlet and outlet chambers. Each well head rises above ground level on dressed granite plinths, topped with concrete and surrounded by a three-bar metal handrail. Removable planks provide access to spiral metal stairways leading down into the wells. Valve headstocks, manufactured by Glenfield & Kennedy (Kilmarnock), are set into the inlet and outlet chambers, allowing the water flow to be directed into one or both wells as needed. A pedestrian gate leads into the site from the direction of the water superintendent’s house, while a vehicle gate is located on the opposite wall, featuring square piers capped with rusticated granite blocks. The wells originally reached a depth of approximately 6.4 metres (21 feet) and contained octagonal wire meshes to filter the water; these devices are now obsolete as the water is screened at the conduit intakes. Spiral stairways were installed to allow access for cleaning the interior surfaces. Originally the well decking was made of pitch pine, but this has since been replaced with reinforced concrete. The wells now combine water from both the Kilkeel and Annalong rivers. The structure has group value due to its association with the nearby Annalong Weir and conduit from the Silent Valley.