Historic Building Details

HB Ref No:
HB21/03/020

Address :
Ballyclare Bleachworks 51 Green Road Ballyclare Co. Antrim BT39 9PH

Townland:
Ballyclare

---

Survey 2:
B2

Date of Listing:
27/05/2025 00:00:00

Date of De-listing:

Current Use:
Mill

Former Use
Mill

Conservation Area:
No

Industrial Archaeology:
Yes

Vernacular:
No

Thatched:
No

Monument:
Yes

Derelict:
Partially

---

OS Map No:
97/8NW

IG Ref:
J2971 9101

---

Owner Category

Exterior Description And Setting

Ballyclare Bleachworks a sprawling, mainly brick-built industrial complex fronted by a large northlight-roofed, two-storey block that incorporates a distinctive, square, 3-4 stage entrance tower. Largely built in 1907-12, the site contains a central core of pre-1832 ranges, along with some mid to later 19th century structures, extensive 1920s sections to the south / south-east, and a now derelict detached dwelling house, (formerly the owner’s / manager’s residence), whose main section may be of the 1700s. SETTING The site of a mill since the mid-18th century, the complex is located in what are almost semi-rural surrounds on a slight rise to the N side of Green Road, about 0.5km E of Ballyclare. The western side of the works is largely hidden from the road by a thick tree belt; however, the SE end backs directly on to the roadside for a considerable distance. The main gateway off Green Road leads directly N to a large concrete forecourt running parallel to the main front block, with the rest of the original works spreading behind this to the E / SE. To the N there are several freestanding late 20th (or possibly early 21st) century structures, as well as a large c.1970s-80s brick extension attached to the main block itself. Further to the NE within a clump of trees is the former residence, whilst to the E end of the site are the former mill ponds, now largely drained and reclaimed by greenery. To the S (just N of the road) lies the meandering Green Burn, which the 1920s sections to this side span across. To the W side of the site is a gently sloping field fringed with more dense tree belts. Beyond the trees, the grounds are now bounded to the W by the A57 Templepatrick road, whose construction in 1966-68 entailed the demolition of a smaller related mill complex to this side (which was also part pre-1832.) The ruins of some small houses that may have been associated with this are still extant just E of the A57 flyover. GENERAL [See site plan for key] The complex consists of conglomeration of structures of various dates, sizes and finishes, roof types etc. In general, the more numerous 1900s and 1920s sections surrounding the much less extensive older buildings are (red) brick-built, with slated multi-northlight or multi-gabled slated roofs, whilst many of the older sections are considerably less extensive and rendered or rubble-finished with slated hipped or gabled roofs. The main block [Block A], which is the largest single component of the whole conglomeration, lies to the W. Attached to the rear of this is a large, roughly L-shaped, lower section of similar date and appearance which spans the N side of the complex [B]. Attached to the S of this are two long, narrow, conjoined two-storey ranges [C-D] which are likely to be the oldest buildings on the site (though its E end of Block C looks to have been rebuilt and / or extended in the later 1800s.) To the south of this is an open yard with various two and single-storey ranges to the immediate S and E sides of this which appear to be of various 19th century dates [E-I], that to the W [H-I] older with those to the E [E-G, J which includes the engine house and chimney] late Victorian. To the S / SE are the mainly 1920s structures[L-Q], which are a mixture of heights and with a large section to the SE [Q1] having walls at least partly of timber rather than brick. To the E end is a very extensive and relatively low-lying structure [R], which is difficult to view from any side, being abutted by other blocks to the S and W and enclosed by the banks of the former mill ponds to the other sides. It is on the site of a structure of similar size shown for the first time on the 1921 OS map; however, both the plan of the present and what can be seen of its walls suggest it is largely metal clad and - either in part or in whole- a relatively recent rebuild. BLOCK A Built c.1907-12, this is roughly square in plan, two-storey with a multi northlight roof (slated with projecting vents), and brick walls, with the tower set to S of centre at the W-facing front elevation. The front itself has the distinctive serrated profile of the roof and a generous amount of formally arranged glazing with tall windows to both floors, all with their original metal frames (eight-pane to the larger ground floor openings, six-pane to the first floor) as well as ‘reducing’ header courses and stone sills. Each pair of windows is separated by a brick pilaster-like pier, with full-height edge piers to the tower also. The main entrance is to the ground level of the tower and is approached via a short flight of stone stones enclosed by sandstone ‘rails’, with the entrance itself consisting of a panelled timber double door and large three-pane overlight, all encased by a Neo-early Georgian sandstone surround with ‘pulvinated’ pilasters, and an elongated ‘keystone’ that breaks into a curved pediment; the first floor windows over the entrance have sandstone keystones also. High above these windows there is a roundel window / oculus with similar keystones to each quarter. Above this, to the top of the tower, is a tall ‘two-stage’ parapet rising from brick corbels and intercut with two projecting stone cornice-like stringcourses, between which (to the front face of the tower) are the large painted letters ‘K B LD.’ (kirkpatick Bros Ltd.). On the lower stage of the parapet the pilasters each have central projections rising from corbels, which are succeeded on the uppermost stage by recesses. On this stage the parapet terminates with a ‘scooped’ wall and behind it is a steeply pitched slated chateau-like hipped roof, with a flattened ridge and decorative iron crest. The deeper N and S faces of the tower have two roundels each with one to the E face, as front. The S elevation has an additional basement level, as the ground is lower to this side. To this level there are a series of three large vehicle accesses to the left, with three larger openings to the right which rise into broad window openings (the lower level may be double-height to this side – but this is not certain). The accesses have a mixture of replacement roller shutters, timber sheeted doors and fixed timber sheeting, whilst the windows over those right appear to have Perspex over the original metal frames. The first and second floor windows elsewhere to this side are similar to those to front, but of slightly different dimensions and arranged in both pairs and smaller groups of three. These groups are separated by full-height pilasters as front, and the eaves has a series of brick corbels. The N elevation is lower, due to the higher ground level to this side. It is almost entirely covered by the large c.1980 extension, apart from a small section to the far right where there are two boarded up windows to the ground floor, with the two (larger) windows to the first floor. The corbelled eaves (as S elevation) is also still visible across the whole elevation. BLOCK B This section is directly to the rear (E) of Block A. It also appears to date from 1907-12 but may have been built in phases (possibly three) as there are several differences in roof height, (although this may simply have been part of the original design intention.) The building is very large, appears to be wholly brick-built and has a multi northlight roof as before. It is roughly L-shaped, with the broad foot of the ‘L’ to the W spanning across the entirety of the back of Block A. Heading E of this the block eventually narrows and wraps around the original 19th century ranges [Blocks C-D - see below], broadening out again to the E end of these, and with a (comparatively) small projection of irregular quadrilateral plan to the far E which is now roofless. Due to thick tree-growth, the higher ground level, plus and the presence of one of the large modern sheds to this side, the N elevation is difficult to see but appears to be wholly single-level. The c.1980 extension spans across part of this elevation to the W (right) whilst to E of this there is a long narrow addition that was added post-1921 (possibly in the mid-1920s, though this is uncertain). Next to this is a small, gable-ended projection, with blocked up pedestrian doorway to its E side. The E elevation is largely obscured by trees and could not be seen. The S elevation is largely obscured by other abutting blocks with only a relatively small section to the far left (W) visible. This also single-storey, with high level windows separated by pilasters and eaves, all as Block A. Attached to the E (right) end of this elevation, (and set forward from it), is a gabled section of overall similar height but may contain several levels. BLOCKS C-D These conjoined parallel blocks lie at the heart of the complex and represent its earliest structures, with that to the S [D] probably largely pre-1832 (but possibly built in stages) and that to the N [C] possibly also part pre-1832 but seemingly extended to the E end in several phases in the later 1800s. Surrounded to the E, W and N by Block B and attached to the same to the N and E sides, both are long, and, (in the context of this site), relatively narrow, two-storey ranges, with that to the S narrowing further to the W. Both have double-pitched slated roofs which are hipped to the W, and punctuated by rooflights of various sizes, with a series of ventilation turrets to the roof of C. Part of the far W end of the roof of D has collapsed, with a larger area to this end now devoid of slates. C (being largely enclosed by its S neighbour and Block B) is only exposed to the W end and here the walls are rubble constructed. The W and S elevations of D are fully exposed and appear to be largely rendered with a series of uniform window openings with Georgian-like (but possibly metal framed) panes to the first floor, and a variety of doorways and boarded up windows and doors to the ground floor. The W elevation appears to be featureless. BLOCKS E-G Block E is a freestanding double-pile, seemingly single-level (but double-height) structure immediately S of Blocks C-D. Dating probably from c.1880s-90s, it is brick-built with twin gables to both N and S with ball finals to the parapet ends, a series of large, semicircular-headed arched vehicle openings to the W, and rows of blind segmental-headed recesses to the other sides. Close to the W side of this block is a tall freestanding, tapering octagonal brick chimneystack [F] of similar date, and just N of this is a relatively small freestanding gabled structure [G], possibly the boiler house. This is much in the same style as Block E, but with some prominent ridge vents. The main (semicircular headed) doorway to this building is to the S gable. BLOCKS H-I These blocks form a long, narrow, linear arrangement along the S side of the yard, a short distance W of Blocks-E-G. H, which may date from the 1850s-60s, is to the E end is a relatively small square structure which is seemingly single-level, rendered, with a double-pitched slated roof whose N end is hipped. To its E elevation there is a symmetrical arrangement of two windows and a central doorway with fanlight, with three similar windows to the N elevation. To the S it abuts a later building (Block N - see below) and to the W it abuts a small nondescript (and possibly much altered) flat-roofed, single-storey section which lies between it and Block I. Block I, which evidence suggests is pre-1832, is a much longer range, gabled ended and lower that H, being seemingly single-storey to the E and two-storey to the W where the ground level lowers. It is also rendered with a series of uniform window openings along the N elevation, which are now boarded up. To the right (W) of centre on this elevation there is a full-height flat-roofed projection, which was added in the later 19th century. To the S the block backs on to a wooded area which has obscured the entire elevation to side. BLOCKS J-K These lie to the immediate E of Block E. Block J is to N and may date from c.1880s-90s. It is a plain, two-storey, triple pile structure, with rendered walls and slated gable-ended roofs with large continuous vents to two of the ridges. To the W elevation there appears to be a variety of openings including a large vehicle access and several windows to the ground floor, with three similar windows to the first floor, whilst to the far right it is abutted by a relatively small two-storey brick structure possibly added in the early 1900s. There are several windows to both floors of the N elevation as those to W, whilst the remaining elevations are totally covered by neighbouring structures - Block K to the S, and Block R to the E. Block K is a taller, robust looking cube-like brick building which appears to be c.1910s. Three-storey in height, but possibly only containing two levels, it is of utilitarian appearance with a flat roof with long central light, and a regular series of square windows to each floor of the E elevation, along with two doorways to the ground floor. The exposed upper sections of the N and S elevations are featureless, whilst the E elevation has openings similar to W, though a large part of the right half of this elevation is covered by Block R. BLOCKS L-M Block L lies to the immediate S of Block E, and to the W of Block K. Dating from the 1920s, it is roughly rectangular in plan and brick-built with a part slated, part metal clad roof which is gabled to W and hipped to E and has a long ridge vent. Only the W (gabled) elevation could be seen; this is symmetrical with a vehicle entrance flanked by single windows to the ground floor, and three with three similar windows to the upper level. Block M abuts the S of Block L and is set between the two secondary drives which open off Green Road. Also dating from the 1920s and of similar height to M (though probably only containing one level), it is of an irregular quadrilateral plan, due to its S elevation following the slanting line of the road (which this side also directly fronts on to.) It has brick walls to its exposed E, W and S sides each with a series of large flat-headed panel-like recesses. The walls seem to largely devoid of openings, save for a doorway to the W. The roof is multi-gabled, with large north-facing rooflights and several large ridge vents; the ends of the roof are hidden by the walls which rise to parapets to the E, W and S. BLOCKS N-P These are located to the S of Block H and form another conjoined (but disparate) mass of c.1920s brick structures. Block N is to the N and is a relatively utilitarian, two-storey, flat-roofed building with what appears to be a large window (but may originally have been a doorway) to its E elevation. The W elevation could not be seen. Block O is joined to the S of Block N is of similar size but with a part gabled, part hipped, slated roof which is cut into by Block N and also has a pair of large metal vents. The front (W) elevation rises to a curved parapet which obscures the gable. To the ground floor at this side there is a large vehicle access with several boarded-up windows to the upper level. Block P, to the S end is very much in the same manner as Block M, only smaller. Its S side also follows the direction of the road, which it also directly fronts on to. Its E elevation (which faces into the secondary drive between it and Block M) appears to have large vehicle access to the right. The smaller W elevation is featureless save for a large flat-arched opening at its base through which emerges the Green Burn (which this building as well as Block M have been built over.) BLOCK Q Block Q is to the SE corner of the site, to the E side of Blocks K and M and separated from these two by the easternmost of the secondary drives. Due to tree growth, it is difficult to see the block in its entirety, but it appears to be compromised of various somewhat disparate sections, all of which seem to be of the 1920s, but which were probably added in various phases. The largest of these s is to N [Q1]and consists of an expansive triple-pile structure those southernmost section is much shorter. It is roughly two-storey in height, but like many other buildings throughout this site probably contains one level. Its only exposed – W - elevation is timber clad, whilst the three sections of the roof are double-pitch and slated, but with a significant area of roof to the N end having lost its slates and part to S collapsed. Attached to the E side of the largest section is a lower, single-storey, double-pile structure [Q2] whose skewed E side follows the course of the Green Burn. This E elevation is in brick and its uniform series of windows have been blocked up. The two double-pitch sections of the roof appear to have been covered in corrugated asbestos, with long ridge vents but much of the covering is now missing. Attached at a right-angle to the SW corner of Q1 of this is a narrower double-pile section of similar height [Q3], whose roof is the only one in the complex set on an N-S axis. This section stretches to the road where it has a brick S elevation similar to the rest of the blocks to SE which face onto the road. Attached to the E of Q3 and S of Q1 there appears to be a relatively small but taller gabled block to the immediate E of which is what seems to be a walled yard. None of this area could be seen clearly, but from what little could be observed it all suggests it is badly dilapidated. BLOCK R This large shed-like structure is attached to the N of Block Q and sits at a low level to the S and W of the banks of the former mill pond. A building of similar plan is shown on the site on the 1921 OS map, but its present roof profile and the presence of metal sheeting to what could be seen of the W elevation, suggests it may have been largely rebuilt. BLOCK S This relatively small structure lies to the SW corner of the complex, to the S-SW of Block A, on the other side of the main vehicle access which leads through to the yard. It is a single-storey, brick-built, gabled structure in two sections which - having a uniform series of vehicle openings to the N elevation - appears to have been a garage. The large W section of the building is now roofless and derelict, with the smaller E section (which appears to be wedge-shaped in plan being skewed to the S side) retaining its slate roof. 'GREEN HOUSE' Green House, the former owner / manager’s residence, is located in a wooded area to the NE of the site. It is a relatively substantial two-storey gabled residence with full-height return and a symmetrical, 3-bay, Georgian style frontage with later Victorian stucco. The building is now derelict and largely roofless.

Architects

Not Known

Historical Information

This site possesses a long history of industrial activity. According to the OS Memoirs of 1840, a ‘flax mill’ was situated here ‘about 100 years ago’, and ‘after it a cotton factory’. On John Lendrick’s County Antrim map of 1780 a bleach mill in the possession of ‘Mr. Havens’ is marked in the area. This is a reference to either Stephen Haven Senior or Junior, the former being a Belfast merchant and one-time Sovereign of that town, who had held a ‘bleaching green, buck house and offices’ in Ballyclare from at least 1745. This later passed to his daughter, Elizabeth Wilson (d.1796) and to her descendants, the Orr family. In 1808 the property was leased out by Alexander Orr and subsequently came into the possession of brothers John (b.c.1773) and Richard Bell (b.1778). John Bell was a cotton manufacturer who both established and leased mills at Belfast, Larne and elsewhere. In partnership with his brother, he converted the Ballyclare concern over to the bleaching of cotton, possibly sometime around 1815. This is believed to have become the largest of John’s ventures and would appear to have entailed much redevelopment of the premises, as well as - by 1823 - the installation of steam power in the form of a rotary engine pioneered by the Belfast-based clockmaker / engineer Job Rider. John and Richard Bell died in 1828 and 1831 respectively and in September 1833 Richard’s son William put the business up for sale. This ‘Cotton Bleach Works and Farm’ consisted of a 43ac holding, part of which was given over to ‘substantial and commodious buildings containing the necessary apparatus for bleaching and finishing’, a ‘water wheel of adequate dimensions’ and a 14hp steam engine, all of which was ‘capable of turning out about 7,000 pieces weekly and might do more at a comparatively trifling expense’. The premises also contained a ‘dwelling house for a proprietor…with suitable offices etc.’ The contemporary first edition OS map shows the mill as a large and somewhat sprawling structure (or rather conjoined structures) of regular plan, located roughly to the centre / eastern end of the present complex, with mill ponds of various sizes to the immediate east and north and several separate buildings closer to the Green Burn to the south. Some distance away, along the stream much further west roughly where Templepatrick Road now runs, was a related smaller complex (the ‘Lower Mill’?) with its own ponds, and to north-eastern corner of the site was the owner / manager’s dwelling, ‘Green House’. For reasons not clear, the property was not sold in 1833, remaining in possession of the Bell family. The valuation book of 1836 gives the first detailed account of the site, citing ‘Messrs Bell’s Bleaching Houses’ as made up of a ‘wash and boiling house’ of 78ft x 40 x 16, ‘wash houses’ of 105 x 34 x 21, 30 x 23½ x 21, and 28 x 49 x 8, ‘steam house and store’ of 32 x 27½ x 24, ‘a [?mixture] of old and new offices’ of 58 x 24 x 15, with the water wheel measuring 28ft in diameter x 4 with a fall of 20ft and supply ‘from 7 to 10 mths in the year’. The dwelling meanwhile is described as an ‘old house with new additions’ all in ‘substantial repair’, with its various sections measuring 41½ x 23½ x 18½, 17½ x 23 x 18½ and 39 x 10 x 13, as well as outbuildings of 47 x 25 x 15, 40 x 25 x 15 and 42½ x 16 x 7½. Given both the evidence of the OS map and this valuation, it is possible that a substantial part of the 1830s mill complex has survived, and that the now derelict dwelling house is the same building recorded at that time also. In fact, this building may be (in part at least) of 18th century construction, as a residence belonging to Mr. Haven (‘Havens Esq.’) is recorded here on the 1780 map. In 1840, the abovementioned OS Memoirs describe the premises as ‘The muslin bleaching and beetling mills, the property of Mrs Bell, [set]…on a trifling stream known as the Bruslee Water [i.e. Green Burn]. The establishment consists of 5 houses. That containing the beetling engines measures 95 by 25 feet and consists of three floors. The wash house is one storey high and measures 90 by 24 feet. The upper boil house consists of 1 storey and measures 60 by 36 feet. The storehouse consists of 2 storeys and measures 120 by 27 feet. The Upper wash house consists of 2 floors and measures 99 by 30 feet. The beetling engines are propelled by a breast water wheel 20 feet in diameter by 4 feet six inches broad. It is of 10 horsepower. The fall of water is 17 feet. The Upper wash mill is driven by a breast water when 8 and a half feet in diameter and 2 feet 6 inches broad. The lower wash mill is propelled by a breast water wheel 28 feet in diameter and 5 feet inches broad, having a fall of water of 28 feet. The supply of water, which is abundant at all times, is derived from the Bruslee Water and from several minor streams running into it immediately above the mills. The water is collected in dams and reservoirs and is managed with much ingenuity and economy. The concern is in excellent repair and is in full work. It affords employment to 46 hands, of whom only 3 are males.’ At some point after 1840 in a trend that had mirrored a major shift in the textile industry throughout Ulster over the previous decade, the works moved from the bleaching / finishing of cotton to that of linen. By mid-1855 the workforce had risen to ‘about 150 people’, but this growth may not have entailed any large-scale material changes to the site, for the revised OS map of 1857 shows seemingly little alteration in terms of planform in comparison to 1832. That said, the dimensions catalogued in the second valuation of c.1862 do suggest that some new buildings may have been added by that time, whilst some existing structures may have been heightened. The various components are listed as ‘Dye-linen bleachworks’ 9yds x 10 x 3[storeys], 20 x 8 x 3, ‘old singing [singeing] house used as store’ 6 x 6 x 1, 11 x 8 x 1, ‘old store (attic vacant)’ 40 x 10 x 2, ‘dressing room’ 15 x 6 x 1, ‘[?passing] house’ 6 x 6 x 1, ‘carpenter’s shop’ 6 x 5 x 1, ‘new store (over storey used only once a week)’ 21 x 13 x 2, ‘lapping room and boiling house’ 44 x 11 x 2, ‘mangle house’ 14 x 9 x 1, ‘steam loft’ 9 x 8 x 2 and ‘boiler house’ 14 x 6 x 1. The increase in rateable value from its 1836 level of £86-9-2 to £126 in 1862 also points to likely expansion of the complex during this period. In c.1865 the lease of the mill passed to (or was acquired by) an in-law of the Bells, James Whisker. His tenure lasted until c.1878 (some sources say 1873) when the concern was sold to local farmer John J. Kirkpatrick, who placed it in the hands of his sons James Cunningham Kirkpatrick (c.1849-1904) and John Johnston Kirkpatrick (d.1926). Within a few years the new owners were upgrading the mill, the valuations recording ‘additions’ completed in 1882 (raising the rateable value to £178) with more ‘new buildings’ - one single-storey measuring 63yds x 7, and the other 2-storey and 29yds x 7, noted by 1885, raising the total to £198. At the same time a refurbishment or extending of Green House must have been carried out, as its value advanced from £4-10 to £6. A further rise in the rateable value of the mill to £210 in 1887 would seem to imply further construction, possibly the ‘new gasworks in place of the old’, which an annotation in a later valuation book appears to date to 1886. A decade later saw the completion of ‘substantial’ but ‘very roughly finished’ new builds, a two-storey cart shed (‘that may in future time be a wash house’) with upper floor work room, measuring 52½ft x 36, and a machine and carpenter’s shop 75 x 27 also of two levels. Aside from the gasworks, which stood north-west of the main mill building, it is not easy to identify where everything added to the works during this time was located. A (very rough) thumbnail sketch in the margin of one of the valuation books of the period suggests that the structures finished in 1884 may have been part of the separate smaller complex to the south-west, but those of 1896 are more difficult to pin-point. The 1902 OS map does indicate that there must have been not significant changes to the mail mill at some point in the later 1800s, as it is shown to be of somewhat less irregular plan than in 1857, (though roughly of the same size in terms of footprint), with more - largely detached - blocks to its immediate south, whilst the separate complex to the west had practically doubled its 1857 extent. The Kirkpatricks acquired the freehold to the works in c.1897. Around the same time, James C. Kirkpatrick retired and ‘Kirkpatrick Bros.’ subsequently became a limited company and went on to join the Bleachers’ Association, an amalgamation of largely Lancashire-based firms formed in 1900. Under this new arrangement investment in the site followed. A ‘new electric generating plant’ was installed before mid-1907 and that same year also witnessed the commencement of the extensive, brick-built, northlight-roofed, front block and the similar sections to the north, east and south-east. Completed around 1912, these engulfed the older mill structure, creating the much larger and (relatively) more uniform complex we see today. Writing in February 1912 the ‘Larne Times’ extolled ‘this very elaborate programme of enlargements’ that had made the works the ‘most extensive and most up-to-date of their kind in our island’ and which gave the Ballyclare district ‘an air of importance and constitute an imposing landmark of which any inland town would feel justly proud. Throughout the new building the power is exclusively supplied by electricity…the machinery is of the most modern type…the offices roomy and modern have been designed so as to ensure the comfort of the office staff…the sanitary arrangements…are perfection…and in everything the comfort and convenience of the workers seems to have been the one object kept prominently in view; indeed, it would be impossible to conceive a band of workers pursuing their labours under more comfortable conditions.’ Despite the idyllic picture of employer-worker relations that the new buildings would appear to have fostered, the firm had experienced an all-out strike the previous year when all 500 workers had walked out in protest at the dismissal of two employees who had allegedly refused the management’s request ‘to leave the trades union’. As a result of the works carried out from c.1905 to 1912 the rateable value of the mill rose over six-fold from £235 in the former year to £1,300 by the latter. And so, the 1921 OS map shows a radically different plan to that of 1902, with the main complex appearing broadly similar to the present, aside from absence of those sections to the south / south-east spanning the Green Burn and directly abutting the road. Photographic evidence shows that these were in place by 1929, with the valuations indicating that they were added around 1924-25. Kirkpatrick family interest in the firm ceased in 1932, although the name ‘Kirkpatrick Bros.’ was retained. At the farewell presentation for departing Directors Kenneth and Yvone Kirpatrick (sons of the late John J.), Yvone declared the Ballyclare works was ‘one of the best in the British Empire… We have always turned our finishes out second to none. We have always been the pioneers of new finishes, in fact, what Kirpatrick Bros. do today, Manchester and the rest of the world try to copy tomorrow’, with a foreman at the same event declaring that ‘that the name of Kirkpatrick was a household word in the bleaching industry in the north of Ireland’ and also ‘across the water’, a bye-word for ‘first class bleaching, dyeing and finishing, and also for honest dealing in all questions’. Despite the gradual decline in the Northern Ireland textile industry after WWII, the site remained busy with 300 still employed there at the end of the 1950s. This relative stability was in large part due to adaptation and diversification by the firm, for by 1959 it was reported that although 90% of the cloth now being finished at the works was cotton, ‘an increasing proportion of spun rayons and other artificial fabrics’ was also being handled. To deal with this variety of fabrics new machinery had been installed and the firm (now owned by Whitecroft Industrial Holdings, as the reformed Bleachers’ Association became known in 1963) had also invested in a ‘modern laboratory’ to enable experimentation with the new methods of chemical and dye treatment these required. The market was changing fast, however, and by the end of 1965 the workforce had decreased to 210, 150 of whom were made redundant the following spring. This layoff was part of a major restructuring plan which involved the ending of bleaching and finishing at the plant and the commencement of the manufacture of ‘Linron’, a new versatile fibre pioneered by Newry-born textile chemist and Kilpatrick Bros Managing Director, Dr Frederick Sloan, that blended Linen with polyesters, acrylics and wools. During this changeover the workforce shrank to a skeleton staff of 12 by the end of 1966 but began to rise again with the start of Linron production in early 1967. Around this time also, the separate mill site to the west was demolished to make way for the new Templepatrick Rd (present A57). The new fabric was an immediate success in terms of exports, with the now re-monikered ‘Kirkpatrick Linron’ winning a Queen’s award for Industry in 1969, and for several years afterwards the lookout for the firm was buoyant. By early 1975, however, the general economic downturn had led to the temporary closure of the site for one month, and although management reported that ‘this was nothing to panic about as orders are now picking up’, Kirkpatrick Bros. closed for good in August 1976. Later that year the complex was sold to textile printers Flaxall Products Ltd of Carrickfergus who were reutilising the works (or at least part of it) as their ‘Stitch-bonded non-woven plant’ by at least April 1979. It may have been around this time that the large brick extension was added to the north side of the front block; map evidence shows that it was present by at least 1982. Flaxall continued to operate from the site until at least 2002, though it would appear that much of the original complex had become unused long prior to this, the company possibly operating from the brick extension, and perhaps the large, detached metal-clad sheds erected [c.1990s?] to the north / north-east. By 2006 the company’s main Carrickfergus factory had closed, and presumably the Ballyclare site ceased operations at this time also. Since then, although some of the more recently built metal sheds seem to have remained in use by several businesses / organisations, the rest of the complex seems to have remained vacant, whilst Green House, which may have been last occupied in the later 1960s or 1970s, is now derelict and roofless. References - Primary Sources: 1 PRONI D1824/C/1/1/1/1 Lease ‘for a bleaching green, buck house and offices’ in Ballyclare – 29 Apr 1745 [See also PRONI D1824/C/1/1/1/3-4] 2 ‘Belfast News-Letter’ – 22 June 1753 p.3; 18 October 1768, p.1; 12 November 1904, p.8; 31 July 1907, p.5; 1 February 1911, p.9; 7 October 1926, p.11; 1 June 1966, p.9; 6 August 1969, p.4; 10 February 1970, p.16; 17 February 1972, p.15; 19 March 1974, p.11 3 ‘A map of the County of Antrim…by J. Lendrick’ – 1780 [See also James Williamson’s 1808 revision of this map.] 4 PRONI D1824/C/1/2/1/1 Copy lease of a ‘bleach green etc.’ at Ballyclare, …Alexander Orr to John Cunningham and John Bell of Belfast, Richard Bell of Ballyclare and Thomas Stott of Dromore – 20 January 1808 5 ‘Belfast Commercial Chronicle’ – 3 September 1823, p.2; 28 September 1833, p.2 6 OS maps, six-inch County series, Antrim sheet 45 – 1832, 1857, 1902, 1921; IG sheet 97 – 1961, 1982 7 PRONI VAL1B/114 First valuation, Ballynure parish – 1836 8 OS Memoirs, Ballynure parish - 1840 9 ‘Northern Whig’ – 28 June 1855, p.4; 31 July 1900, p.3; 17 May 1932, p.10 10 PRONI VAL2B/1/11 Second valuation, Ballynure parish – c.1862 11 PRONI VAL12B/1/4A Annual valuation revision books, Ballyclare ED – 1864-1904 12 PRONI D2047 Records of Kirkpatrick Bros. - 1868-1958 13 PRONI VAL12A/1/8 Valuers’ office notebook, Antrim Union – 1895-97 [The later notebooks in this series which cover the 1907-12 changes to the mill are currently unavailable at PRONI.] 14 PRONI VAL12B/1/6A-B Annual valuation revision books, Ballyclare Urban ED – 1905-30 15 ‘Irish News and Belfast Morning News’ – 1 February 1911, p.8 16 NMNI HOYFM.WAG.859 Photograph of Ballyclare Bleachworks – c.1915 17 Aerial photographs of Kirkpatrick Bros., Ballyclare… - 1929 [Accessible online at https://www.britainfromabove.org.uk/ - refs XPW028721, XPW028722] 18 ‘Larne Times’ – 10 February 1912, p.4; 2 July 1959, p.8 19 East Antrim Times - 13 January 1966, p.8; 7 March 1968, p.11; 21 November 1968, p.7; 24 April 1969, p.12; 3 July 1969, p.6; 2 July 1970, p.13; 7 March 1975, p.1; 19 March 1976, p.1; 21 February 1986, p.15 20 ‘Belfast Telegraph’ – 17 May 1932, p.10; 11 April 1968, p.14; 21 April 1969, p.2; 4 July 1971 p.4; 12 January 1977, p.15 21 ‘Ballymena Weekly Telegraph’ – 6 January 1966, p.2 22 ‘Newry Reporter’ - 2 March 1967, p.3 23 ‘Newtownabbey and East Antrim Times’ – 14 February 1991, p.15; 23 April 1998, p.1; 10 January 2002, p.49 Secondary Sources: 24 Monaghan, John T., “The rise and fall of the Belfast cotton industry” in ‘Irish Historical Studies’, Vol.3 no.9 (March, 1942), pp.1-17 25 Geary, Frank, “The Belfast cotton industry revisited” in ‘Irish Historical Studies’, Vol.26 no.103 (May, 1989), pp.250-67 26 Adams, J.R.R., “A directory of Belfast” in ‘North Irish roots’, Vol.4, No.2 (1993), pp.16-25 Online sources 27 https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Bleachers_Association [Accessed Feb. 2025] 28 http://www.rjtechne.org/quakers/archive/jakson06.htm [Accessed Feb. 2025] 29 Dictionary of Irish Biography https://www.dib.ie/biography/rider-job-a7677 [Accessed Feb. 2025] 30 https://antonymaitland.com/Bell Fam.htm [Accessed Feb. 2025] 31 https://www.28dayslater.co.uk/threads/kirkpatricks-linen-mill-ballyclare.33482/ Photographs of site taken in July 2008. This site also contains photos taken in December 2019. [Accessed Feb. 2025]

Criteria for Listing

Architectural Interest

A. Style B. Proportion H-. Alterations detracting from building J. Setting

Historic Interest

R. Age S. Authenticity X. Local Interest Y. Social, Cultural or Economic Importance Z. Rarity

Evaluation

Ballyclare Bleachworks a sprawling, mainly brick-built industrial complex fronted by a large northlight-roofed, two-storey block that incorporates a distinctive, square, 3-4 stage entrance tower. Largely built in 1907-12, the site contains a central core of pre-1832 ranges, along with some mid to later 19th century structures, extensive 1920s sections to the south / south-east, and a now derelict detached dwelling house, (formerly the owner’s / manager’s residence), whose main section may be of the 1700s. The site of industrial activity since at least the 1740s, the mill was reputedly at one point the largest bleaching establishment on the island. It remains one of Northern Ireland’s most extensive surviving Victorian / Edwardian textile factories, as well as one of the best preserved, having retained most of its early 1900s footprint when the works was at its height. With its distinctive serrated frontage and impressive entrance tower with Chateau-like roof, it is also one of the most visually striking of its kind, whilst the variety of structures (both in terms of age and appearance) represents a historically important palimpsest that incapsulates the evolution of local textile production from relatively small-scale late Georgian beginnings to mass production and world-renown by the early 20th century. Much of the site has been idle for several decades and has suffered deterioration in places as a result; however, as a whole it would appear to be largely intact with many of the original - and possibly now unique - features still in place. As such, it remains one of the country’s most valuable and interesting industrial heritage sites and one worthy of listed status.

General Comments

Listing Query ref: HB21/LQ024

Date of Survey

04 February 2025