Quinn’s mill, Flax Mill north of 121 Carrigeragh Rd, Kilkeel, Newry, Co Down, BT34 4QA

Quinn’s mill, located north of 121 Carrigeragh Road, Kilkeel, Newry, is a former flax mill primarily of technical interest due to the survival of its original plant and machinery. It also holds some historical significance, reflecting the increased flax cultivation in the 1860s, spurred by the American Civil War, and reflecting the changes brought about by the Second World War.

The mill was originally constructed around 1865, as evidenced by records from 1866. Initially, it was a single-storey building facing west, built of snecked and regularly coursed squared granite rubble with a gabled slate roof. The west elevation featured shuttered window openings along its length, alongside two doorways, one of which has been infilled. A large double door is located at the south end of the east façade. The walls were subsequently raised approximately 2.4 metres (8 feet) using squared granite blocks to accommodate a storage loft. New sections of wall were then rendered with cement externally, and the slate roof was reinstated. A one-storey shed, constructed of concrete blocks and with a monopitch corrugated metal roof, has been added to the east wall.

In 1866, the mill belonged to Henry Quinn and contained eight stocks and a set of flax breakers. Operations ceased in 1898 but resumed under William Quinn during the First World War until 1922. The mill was again operational during the Second World War, with an annex added in 1944 – the date is inscribed in the wall – to house an auxiliary Blackstone diesel engine and two tow stocks. Operations likely stopped shortly after the end of the war. The mill is of industrial archaeological interest.