Historic Building Details

HB Ref No:
HB16/22/039

Address :
Bessbrook Mill Derrymore Road Bessbrook

Townland:
Clougharevan

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Survey 2:
B1

Date of Listing:
08/02/2008 00:00:00

Date of De-listing:

Current Use:
Army Barracks Structures

Former Use
Mill

Conservation Area:
No

Industrial Archaeology:
Yes

Vernacular:
No

Thatched:
No

Monument:
No

Derelict:
No

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OS Map No:
266-1

IG Ref:
J0495 2847

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Owner Category

Commercial

Exterior Description And Setting

Large granite-built spinning mill complex, constructed in stages between 1845 and c.1880, with minor early 20th century additions. The hub of a relatively large and historically important mill village, the site was requisitioned by the army in 1971, and adapted for military use, with some smaller structures demolished and the main buildings converted to barracks, vehicle depots etc. The property was vacated by the army in 2007 and is presently vacant. The mill site lies to the south-east side of the village of Bessbrook. To the west is a dense belt of trees, beyond which is the large mill pond. To the immediate north are the plots of former mill workers’ houses, the dwellings themselves fronting on to Fountain Street. To the east is the curving Derrymore Road, with Bessbrook River to the south and south-east. A large portion of land to the south-west, off Mill Road, was formerly part of the mill; however this is now separate, with some former mill buildings now converted for use as business units / shops. A tall corrugated metal security fence encloses much of the site to the south and east, with the main entrance off Derrymore Road. In visual terms the complex consists of three distinct sections. To the west side, set on a north-south axis and spanning almost the entire length of the site, are three long narrow ‘factory’ blocks, [A1, A2, A3], linked together and descending in both height and breadth from south to north; the southernmost five storeys, the northernmost three. Projecting to the west side of the southern, five-storey, block is a double-height former engine house, [A4]. The second section lies to the south-eastern corner of the site, extending at a right angle from the south end of the above. It is roughly L-shaped with a relatively narrow four-storey portion, [B1], to the east side set on an east-west axis, a somewhat broader four-storey block, [A2], attached at a right angle to this, and, running along the length of the latter, a single-storey structure of similar width. The last section, to the north-east, is attached to blocks A2 and A3, and is made up of two very large, single-storey, former weaving sheds, with northlight roofs. The southern shed, [C1], is roughly square in plan, whilst that to the north, [C2], has an L-shaped footprint, but with its eastern wall set at an angle. All of the above are positioned around a yard, which, when the mill was in operation, was largely taken up by various other structures, mainly single to two-storey. These have been completely cleared away, with the eastern side of the yard now partly enclosed by a post-1971 concrete blast wall. To the north end of the site there are some utilitarian post-1971 single-storey buildings. A1 Block A1 was originally the main ‘factory’ building, and remains the dominant structure of the complex, neatly finished and somewhat austere in appearance. Five-storeys high, measuring approximately 85m x 15 and flat roofed, it was built sometime between c.1848 and 1860, (possibly in stages), with the fifth storey added in the early 1920s. Two concrete-block roof sangers, and a large full-height rendered latrine extension were added by the army in the 1970s. The walls are almost entirely faced in ashlar granite, (possibly the result of a later 1870s re-facing), with raised cement pointing, and rise to a parapet which is topped with a row of squat piers. Between the uppermost floors there is a projecting string course, formerly an eaves course. The east elevation has three original full-height latrine projections with slit openings, along with some disparate, (but possibly original), single and two-storey projections, and the large 1970s latrine extension. To the first, second, third and fourth floors on both the long east and west elevations there is a row of Georgian ratio flat-arched window openings, with granite sills, and, to the ground to second floor openings, raised granite surrounds and unusual pointed lintels. Most of these are filled with modern style replacement frames, some of which are partly boarded up; however, almost all of the ground floor openings have been closed completely with concrete blocks, as have many of the original arch-headed doorways to the ground floor of the east elevation. To the far right hand side of the east elevation, the façade is finished in a mixture of snecked granite and granite rubble, whilst the window openings are dressed in brick. The short south elevation has a single window opening to each floor, with the ground floor openings filled in as before. The flat roof is covered in concrete flagstones probably added by the army in the 1970s. Tthe underlying roof structure has sagged. A2 Sources suggest this block was built within five to ten years of its larger southern neighbour. Measuring roughly 50m x 8.5 it is four storeys high when viewed from the west, with a low fifth (or loft) storey visible from the east. As a result the building has an asymetric gabled roof, with sources indicating that this alteration took place in 1871. The whole of the lowest two storeys of the east elevation is abutted by the larger former weaving shed C1. A corrugated-metal ‘parapet’ has been added post 1971. The west elevation is finished in ashlar granite with raised pointing, and has a row of window openings to the first to third floors. These are as A1, but slightly smaller and minus surrounds or unusual lintels, and have a mixture of multi-pane timber frames and modern style timber replacements (some partly boarded over). The ground floor openings are all filled in. The east elevation has window openings to its two upper most floors, with only one visible (to far left and far right) on the second floor. Those to the uppermost floor are considerably smaller. All of these have granite sills, brick dressings and replacement uPVC frames. A3 This L-shaped three storey flat-roofed block appears to have been built in two stages, the north-south section dating from 1861-62, and the east-west portion c.1876-78. The latter appears to have been truncated c.1900. The west elevation of the north-south range is much as the west elevation of block A2, but with two relatively small post-1971 single-storey concrete block / corrugated metal projections, and modern style replacement frames to almost all the windows. As before, the ground floor openings are all filled in, bar a segmental-headed carriage entrance to far right, which has modern metal doors. The ground and first floors of the east elevation are abutted by the large former weaving shed C2, and to the left-hand side of the elevation, there is a full-height post-1971 extension, finished in cement render. The exposed second floor is in granite rubble with brick-dressed window openings with frames as previous. The north elevation of the east-west portion is finished in rock-faced granite, with window openings as the west elevation of the previous section, but with early 1900s mullioned and transomed timber frames. The south elevation is much as the east elevation of the previous, as is the short east elevation (but with all openings filled in with brick). Detailing to the edge of the latter suggests the north elevation was re-faced. The flat roof is hidden by a parapet. At the south end of the roof, where the building abuts block A2, there is a utilitarian post-1971 corrugated metal structure. A4 This double-height hipped-roof block was originally an engine house. It was built in 1903 to designs by W.J. Gilliland of Belfast, and, unlike much of the rest of the complex, displays a degree of architectural pretension. The building is roughly square in plan and abuts the left hand end of the west elevation of block A1. It has rock-faced granite walls (as A3), broken up by pilasters rising from a tall plinth (on the north and south sides at least- the west side could not be seen). Between the piers are window openings with timber frames with moulded mullions and transoms; two of these windows to the north side have been filled in. Above the windows is a projecting string course above which are roundel windows, now filled in. There appear to have been a row of small square window openings to a basement level, but the change in ground level has obscured most of these, with most of those which are still exposed, filled in. The slated roof has an overhang with a bracketed eaves course. B1 Sandwiched between A1 in the west and B2 in the east, this block is three-storey when viewed from the south and four-storey from the north. Its history and development are difficult to follow, but it is possible that it is one of the earliest structures on the site, built c.1845-50 as a two-storey building attached to B2, but raised two floors, extended westwards to link A1, and largely refaced c.1876-78. The roof, of corrugated-metal with a single pitch, is another post-1971 alteration. The south elevation is largely as the west elevation of A1 (ashlar granite etc.), however most of the openings are filled in apart from three windows (which have modern style frames) to the second floor. To the right on the ground floor what was formerly a large segmental-headed carriage entrance has been reduced to the size of a pedestrian doorway. The north elevation has a somewhat more untidy appearance, revealing something of the block’s evolution. The two lower floors to the left of the carriage entrance are as previous, however the remainder is in granite rubble and has a markedly different pattern of fenestration- ie more, squatter, openings with brick dressings. The carriage arch to the far right on the ground floor is open. B2 Evidence suggests that this block may be the original mill building of the complex, and as such dates from 1845. However, both physical evidence and sources suggest it began life as a three-storey structure, with the fourth floor -plus an extra loft level to the southern portion of the block- added in the 1870s. At this point the southern portion was given a new hipped roof, (which continued across the recently heightened B1), with a double-profile Belfast Truss roof placed on top of the rest of the building. In c.1920 the latter section was given its present metal-trussed gabled roof, and, at some point after 1971, the mono-pitched roof was added to the former. There is a large full-height stair projection to the west elevation, which has been capped by a corrugated-metal lean-to roof, of similar date as the previous, and, to the left of this is a small single-storey flat-roofed extension, possibly early 20th century. The ground floor level of the east elevation is abutted by block B3. Roughly to the centre of the same elevation there is a latrine projection, similar to those to A1. The walls of the whole structure are a mixture of squared and rubble granite, subtle (and not so subtle) changes in the stonework denoting alterations- particularly on the north elevation. The windows throughout are of similar proportion to those on most of the other blocks, however those to the second floor (which was probably originally the uppermost level) are considerably smaller. All have granite sills and brick dressings; most have been filled in with red brick, with those to the west elevation boarded over or filled with concrete blocks. B3 Sources suggest this single-storey building, with part flat, part northlight roof, is pre-1860. Its original purpose is uncertain, however details within the 1862 valuation book indicate that it may have been a coal shed. It has roughly squared granite walls, with window openings largely as B2, to the east and south elevations, now all filled in with brick. To far right on the east elevation one of the former windows was made into a pedestrian doorway post-1971, this too has been filled in, as have two semicircular-headed archways to the north elevation. To the south elevation there is a large, recently inserted (or enlarged) vehicle entrance, with cement render surround and roller shutter. C1 Block C1 is a large single-storey, double-height northlight-roofed structure, measuring roughly 50m x 50, with a bevelled south-eastern corner. It was built c.1850s as a weaving shed, but post-1971 appears to have been used as a vehicle depot. To the west it abuts block A2 (see above), and to the north, C2, (see below). The section to the north end that directly abuts C2 appears to have been added, or rebuilt, in the early 1900s, as its exposed eastern elevation is in brick. The south elevation has been altered in recent years and now has two large flat-arch vehicle openings to the left hand side. Much of this elevation is cement rendered, apart from the right-hand edge, which is in a mixture of squared and rubble granite with some brick-dressed window openings (now filled in). The east elevation is also in granite and has variously sized openings dressed (and filled in) in a similar fashion as those to south. The brick dressings to most of these openings suggest they are not original. Differences in the stonework to this elevation show that the building has been heightened; sources indicate that this work may have been carried out c.1900. The northlight roof has ‘frosted’ glazed panels to the north-facing sides with the south sides slated. The roof is pierced in a north-south direction by a series of metal supports. C2 Attached to the north side of C1 and the east side of A3, C2 is a large, single-storey, building with a northlight roof, built in 1867-68 as another weaving shed, but probably altered in the early 20th century. It is roughly L-shaped, with the east face set at an angle following the line of the road. Due to the presence of post 1971 structures to the north, and the boundary wall of the complex and a lean-to extension to the east, it is difficult to discern anything of the north and east elevations, bar a small section of the right-hand end of the latter, which has rubble walling and a filled in former pedestrian doorway. Other exposed sections of original walling have been rendered. The south-facing sides of the roof are largely covered in corrugated plastic sheeting. The north-facing sides appear to be largely glazed; however a section to the north end is covered in what appears to be felt. Walling The eastern side of the complex, (running alongside Derrymore Road), is largely enclosed by a tall rubble wall with rough battlement-like coping. The wall is largely intact save for a section immediately north of the main entrance at the bend in the road, where post-1971 security arrangements appear to have resulted in the demolition of a small section. Beyond this, to the north, part of the walling is obscured by corrugated metal cladding, whilst a wire fence has been placed on top of the remainder of the walling to north again. Along the same stretch, two original vehicle gateways have survived, each with square, dressed granite piers; most of these have lost their capping, except for one to the northern gateway, which has retained a shallow-pitched pyramidal cap with a cast-iron finial (for a gas lamp fitting). The original gates have been removed and the openings filled in with corrugated metal fencing. To the south side of the main entrance the wall height lowers considerably, merging with the wall of a neighbouring later 19th century dwelling house (1 Mill Road, Listed HB 16/23/003). Almost directly across the road from the main entrance is a former tram shed (HB16/22/043), built in 1884 to serve the Bessbrook & Newry Tramway.

Architects

Gilliland, W J

Historical Information

Linen manufacture in the village now known as Bessbrook can be traced back to 1760-61, when John Pollock opened a bleach green in the area on land he acquired from the 4th Viscount Charlemont, (later Earl of Charlemont). The name of the village itself appears to have been first recorded in 1779 and probably relates to Pollock’s wife, Bess. In 1802 the property was leased from William Pollock by Joseph Nicholson & Sons, who expanded the business, adding many of the buildings shown on the 1835 OS map. These included a substantial 4-storey yarn mill and 2-storey flax store and drying house, as well as the miller-owner’s dwelling, a 1½-storey house located to the east of the mill pond recorded in the valuation book of 1836 as measuring 61ft x 22 x 10½, with returns / additions of 41 x 21½ x 10½, 22 x 12 x 8 and 21½ x 9 x 6. The Nicholson’s mill burnt down in 1839 and they appear to have abandoned the business. In 1845 the family sold Bessbrook to the firm of James Nicholson Richardson & Sons & [John] Owden. The Richardsons, a Quaker family and cousins of the Nicholsons who had previously been involved in the bleaching and selling of linen cloth, began developing a new mill on the site to the east of the Nicholsons' previous venture. According to the centenary history of the business, ‘their original building was not impressive “just a small mill with a flat roof in the middle of a green”’, which the book identifies as that ‘at right angles to the main structure’. Based on evidence presented by the later valuation books and internal detailing (the lower ceiling height, plainer cast-iron columns and presence of some timber beams) the original mill appears to have been that to the south-east [block B2], next to what was the main gateway to the complex. In the late 1840s /1850s the long ‘main mill’ [A1] was built on a north-south axis to the west of the original structure, along with the large north-light section added to the east [C1]. The main mill was completed in two stages, the lower section to the north [A2] probably slightly later, but seemingly in place by 1860. It is also possible that both of these stages were originally 3-storey but raised a floor relatively soon after they were built. The reason for believing this stems from the fact that the 4th-storey stonework and brick are slightly different. Internally, there are differences to the staircases also. This work must have been completed by 1862, for both are described as having four floors in the valuation of that year (see below). A variety of structures were added to the north and east of the original mill at this time also, including a gasometer, with more to the southwest, in the immediate vicinity of the Nicholson’s former mill. In fact use appears to have been made of what remained of the 1830s structures themselves. The valuation details compiled in August 1862 supply us with a comprehensive set of dimensions for the complex. They are transcribed below: 'Lower Yard [to the south / south-west, all ‘relatively old’ structures] Book keepers’ offices 6 x 7 x 2, Shed office 27 x 5 x 1, Book keepers’ offices 19 x 7 x 2, Shed office 15 x 16 x 2, Yarn loft factory 38 x 15 x 3, Shed office 12 x 7 x 1 [thatched], (Deduct gateway) 4 x 15 x 1, Office 21 x 7 x 1 [thatched], Building office 9 x 15 x 3, Saw pit shed 26 x 7 x 1 [thatched], Yarn loft 12 x 14 x 4, Office 26 x 7 x 1 [thatched], Yarn loft 28 x 13 x 4, Drying house 34 x 12 x 2, Weaving shed 44 x 12 x 1 [‘wooden roof’], [?]Gauging house 26 x 8 x 1' Upper Yard [the main complex to the north and east] Factory 90yrds x 15 x 4[storeys], Store office 20 x 5 x 1 [relatively old], Addition to factory 55 x 9 x 4, Offices 19 x 11 x 1 [relatively old], [?]Lapping room 10 x 15 x 3, Offices 15 x 4 x 1 [relatively old], [?]Lapping room 50 x 9 x 3, Wash house 14 x 37 x 1 [relatively old], Weaving house 48 x 50 x 1, Office 7 x 4 x 1 [relatively old], Boiler house & offs. 19 x 6 x 2, Wash house 37 x 28 x 1 [relatively old], Drying offices 19 x 27 x 2, Wash house 18 x 9 x 1 [relatively old], Coal sheds 27 x 14 x 1, Office 15 x 4 x 1 [relatively old], Mechanics’ shop etc. 20 x 8 x 2, Office 10 x 4 x 1 [relatively old], Weaving factory 29 x 18 x 3, Office 20 x 7 x 1 [relatively old], Small office 3 x 3 x 1, Office 5 x 5 x 1 [thatched], Porch in yard 4 x 4 x 3, Drying house 13 x 7 x 1 [relatively old], [?]Turner work[shop] 11 x 5 x 1 [relatively old], Shed 9 x 6 x 1 [relatively old], Forge 10 x 4 x 1 [thatched, relatively old], Shed 10 x 6 x 1 [thatched], [?] house 6 x 4 x 3 [relatively old], Retort house 9 x 11 x 1 [relatively old] Due to subsequent demolition and the method employed by the valuers to measure certain buildings, (they sometimes divided structures into sections and dealt with them separately), it is difficult to equate much of the above with what we see today. The presence of a long (50yrds) 3-storey structure suggests, however, that the north-south portion of the lengthy building [A3] to the north end of the main mill was complete by that point. In 1863, John Grubb Richardson became sole owner of the business. Driven by his Quaker principles, he began the planned development of Bessbrook itself along the lines of a model village, laying out airy streets and squares lined with substantial granite-built mill-workers’ houses, each with its own garden. Attractive public buildings, such as the enlarged school and ‘The Institute’ were also added. A pioneer in this area, Richardson’s work was to inspire others to establish similar settlements for their employees, most notably George Cadbury, who based his celebrated garden village at Bournville on what he had witnessed at Bessbrook, and, possibly, Titus Salt, at Saltaire in Yorkshire. Bournville in particular, became, in the words of historian Gilbert Camlin, 'an important influence on the planning of towns and villages all over the world'. The expansion of the village went hand in hand with the expansion of the mill itself. In 1867 the valuers tell us that ‘a new large weaving factory’ –for damask weaving- was in the course of construction, undoubtedly the large north-light roofed building towards the north-eastern corner of the complex [C2]. This was completed the following year along with the installation of ‘110 horse power steam engines,…[and] 80 new weaving looms’, as well as new coal and cart sheds. A year later ‘60 additional looms’ were installed (bringing the total to 460) and a new gasometer (measuring 54ft x 16), and in 1871 a new ‘lapping room’ storey -measuring 36yrds x 9, the last probably the loft level of block A2. The ‘60 additional looms’ alluded to in 1869 were undoubtedly those invented by Henry Barcroft, one of the firms employees. Later known as the ‘Bessbrook Machine’, this loom revolutionised damask weaving both in terms of efficiency and quality of output and spread the name of the business throughout the global linen trade. Between 1876 and 1878 further work was carried out to the complex. Due to the ad-hoc nature of the valuers’ notes, and their frequently indecipherable thumbnail sketches in the margins, it is difficult to ascertain what was happening exactly. A ‘third storey lapping room’ addition is mentioned as being added to one section, as well as appears to have been a loft storey ‘with a felt roof’ for holding yarn. The latter may have been placed on top of the original 1845 mill building to the south-east, [B2], the coursing of the stonework of the 4th storey is noticeably different, as are the brick dressings, moreover this section also had a (Belfast truss) ‘felt roof’; the location of the former is more difficult to locate. Changes to the main mill building are also alluded to, as well the section (next to the gateway) between the main mill and the original structure. As this section is clad in dressed granite it is likely that the long similarly clad west facade of the main mill was re-faced at this stage also. By 1880 the mill had largely assumed the form it was to retain until the 1970s. This is borne out by the lack of new builds recorded in the valuation books and by a print of the complex, (dating from 1888 at the very latest), which shows the major structures we see today in place. There were several important post 1880s additions however, notably a new engine (or pump) house which to the west side of the main mill in 1903 [A4], built to designs by W.J. Gilliland of Belfast, and, in the early 1920s, a 5th storey (complete with castellation-like piers) to the large southernmost part of the main mill. The weaving sheds appear to have been altered around this date also. The mill closed in c.1970. The following year the site was requisitioned by the army, who -with the onset of 'The Troubles' - required a base in the area. Following this, the structures in the centre of the complex between the weaving sheds and the 1845 south-east section were cleared away, along with most of the ‘peripheral’ buildings to the east, south and south-west, including the pre 1830s mill owner’s dwelling next to the mill pond. Various additions were made to the remainder of the buildings, including a large toilet block to the east side of the main mill, and changes to the roofs of many buildings; a tall security fence was erected around the complex also. The army left Bessbrook in summer 2007. At the time of writing (September 2007) the buildings are vacant. References- Primary sources 1 PRONI VAL/1A/2/26 OS map, Co Armagh sheet 26, with valuation
references, 1834-c.1838 2 PRONI VAL/1B/244A-B First valuation, Killevy parish, 1836 3 PRONI VAL/2A/2/26 OS map, Co Armagh sheet 26, with valuation references, 1861 4 PRONI VAL/2B/2/37D Second valuation, Killevy parish, 1862 5 PRONI VAL/12B/15/6A Annual valuation revision book, Camlough ED, 1866-79 6 PRONI VAL/12B/15/6B Annual valuation revision book, Camlough ED, 1879-82 7 PRONI VAL/12B/15/6C Annual valuation revision book, Camlough ED, 1879-82 8 PRONI VAL/12B/15/6D Annual valuation revision book, Camlough ED, 1883-94 9 PRONI VAL/12B/15/6E Annual valuation revision book, Camlough ED, 1883-94 10 Bassett, G.H., ‘The Book of County Armagh’ (Dublin, 1888) [Contains an Illustration of Bessbrook Mill] 11 PRONI VAL/12B/15/6F Annual valuation revision book, Camlough ED, 1894-1909 12 PRONI VAL/12B/15/6G Annual valuation revision book, Camlough ED, 1894-1909 13 PRONI OS/8/31/1/1-4 OS plan of Bessbrook, 1895 14 PRONI OS/8/31/2/1 OS plan of Bessbrook, 1895 15 PRONI OS/9/39/1/1-4 OS plan of Bessbrook, 1895-96 17 PRONI OS/9/39/2/1 OS plan of Bessbrook, 1895-96 18 EHS MBR Photographs of Bessbrook Mill, c.1900 19 OS plan of Bessbrook, 1906 [Reprint by Alan Godfrey Maps] 20 PRONI VAL/12B/15/6H Annual valuation revision book, Camlough ED, 1909-20 21 PRONI VAL/12B/15/6J Annual valuation revision book, Camlough ED, 1920-29 22 PRONI VAL/12B/15/4A Annual valuation revision book, Bessbrook North ED, 1920-29 23 PRONI VAL/12B/15/5A Annual valuation revision book, Bessbrook South ED, 1920-29 24 EHS Mc.C AR/195-260 McCutcheon Archive Photographs of Bessbrook Mill, c.1960 Secondary sources 1 ‘Bessbrook: A record of industry in a Northern Ireland village community and of a social experiment, 1845-1945 2 Camlin, Gilbert, 'The town in Ulster', (Belfast, 1951), pp.99-101 3 EHS First survey report, Bessbrook Mill, 1969 4 'Bessbrook Conservation Area' (DOENI, 1983) 5 EHS IHR 557:5 File containing historical notes on Bessbrook

Criteria for Listing

Architectural Interest

A. Style B. Proportion C. Ornamentation F. Structural System H-. Alterations detracting from building J. Setting K. Group value

Historic Interest

Y. Social, Cultural or Economic Importance W. Northern Ireland/International Interest V. Authorship

Evaluation

The complex has a fourfold importance. Firstly, the mill has historic significance, in that it is the central element that brought into being a pioneering model village, a village which proved the inspiration for other such industry-centred settlements, within the British Isles, most notably that built by the Cadbury family at Bournville. The mill buildings have group value with the many other listed buildings in Bessbrook. Secondly, the mill is an interesting piece of 19th century industrial architecture, noteworthy not only in terms of its sheer size, but also in the quality of its construction. Many of the component buildings are clad in dressed granite and have a dignified air, whilst the former engine house displays some fine Arts & Crafts-influenced detailing. Thirdly, the complex can claim a place in history in its own right, being not only one of the first mills in Ulster to introduce power looms, (in the 1850s), but also a ground-breaker in the development of damask weaving, with the invention of what became renown globally as the ‘Bessbrook Machine’. The weaving sheds are still in existence and it is significant that the remaining buildings reflect the full process from spinning to weaving and indeed the transfer of raw and finished materials and workers to and from the mill complex via the also listed tram terminus opposite. Lastly, we must also recognise the significance of the site’s latter day function as a military base, particularly so in the light of the demolition of many 'Troubles'-related security installations within the last few years. The blast wall is being protected as the remaining physical item from this period. The mill's recent life as an army base, shielded behind imposing security fences, has meant that it has disappeared from public view and, to a certain degree, public consciousness. Both physically and psychologically, it has been severed from its historical role as the hub of the village of Bessbrook , and it is time that its importance as a part of Victorian industrial heritage is appreciated.

General Comments

Date of Survey

15 August 2007