Old Cornmill
History
The following extract is taken from the late Tom Porter’s book Annalong in the 1800s.
In the late 1820s Arthur Atkinson, the local landowner, built a corn mill at the mouth of the Annalong River to replace the one further upstream. A weir (locally known as the ‘Battery’), was erected across the river and a race was dug under the county road to supply the mill. The road leading to the mill was referred to as the Miller’s Loanen. Two storeys in height, it also had a drying kiln at its west end and was powered by wheel 14ft in diameter by four feet wide.
The mill was restored to full working order by Newry and Mourne District and was officially reopened to the public on 1st May 1985.
Annalong in the 1800s – Tom Porter
Current Operations
Annalong cornmill was built in the early 1800s and operated until the 1960s, before closing it was one of the last working watermills in Northern Ireland. After the restoration in 1985 the building still contains many of the original components and was, until recently, open to the public to view the inner workings that benefited many farmers for over a century. It has a grain drying kiln, three pairs of millstones and a 14ft waterwheel (a form of technology over 2000 years old) and a 1920’s Marshall “hot-bulb” 20hp engine to power it when water power is not sufficient.
The water is channelled from the nearby Annalong River onto the water wheel attached onto the side of the building. Annalong Corn Mill was acquired by Newry and Mourne District Council in the early 1980s and was restored and reopened to the public in 1985. Since then it has provided the basis for many a history lesson for visiting school children.
Opening Hours
Not Available currently, but I have been told that the Cornmill is planning to restart grinding corn demonstrations again by the end of October 2022.
Admission
Not Applicable currently but will post details when they are available.
Cornmill Experience
Here are images from the more recently public opening of the Cornmill which we all hope will be open again soon:
