History of The Mill at Ballydugan

In 1791 John Achinlech advertised for "an architect, who perfectly understands the construction of flour mills to be wrought by water" The mill must have been completed within two years, for in December 1972 he was advertising flour, bran and pollard for sale at he mill and was anxious to employ a man who could manufacture starch. A company headed by John Auchinleak of Strangford built the Ballydugan Mill in 1792. The mill is an imposing structure, six stores high with two attics. It is built of Silurian rubble masonry, roughcast, has a cut stone eves course, and is roofed in Bangor blue slates. The main block is 66ft by 48ft and 58ft high. Included in the structure is a walled forecourt which links the mill building with a row of stores 96ft in length pierced by an entrance gateway. As the water from Ballyduggan lake was only sufficient for eight months in the year the mill had a 25h.p. Steam engine. The mill contained four pairs of stones, two of them French burrs. The whole property was valued at £62.00

Old mill race from Ballydugan lake

To the rear of the mill is an engine house and brick stack with a masonry plinth. All machinery has been removed from the mill, although the massive wooden beams and columns and most of the flooring are original. The picture (left) shows an original mortise & tennen, Joint notice the dowel pinning. Compare the size of the beams with the corner of the door at (bottom left)

From Achinlech & Co the mill passed into the possession of Crosslett Denver & Co. By 1836 the owners were Denvir, Wallace & Rental, who rented the mill, house, windmill and 16 acres of land to Isaac Hardy for £350.00 a year. After 1850 the Ballydugan Mill was in the possession of Lamb & Nelson, but there is no further mention of the mill in directories after 1857.

The Mill Today after 12 Years restoration

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