This mill has been covered at least twice before on here, the Dunbar McMaster ltd mill is quite compact, and had started to be redeveloped but work stopped quite sometime ago.
For a better history than I could ever come up with see the link below;
"In spite of difficult conditions, Hugh Dunbar McMaster carried on a very successful flax spinning and thread manufacturing business. Huge sums of money were used to improve the layout of the works, the erection of new buildings and the installation of plant and machinery. A large reservoir near the works was erected for fire extinguishing and was connected with hydrants and hose in every part of the mills, so that a conflagration that occurred in 1869 when £40,000 worth of property was destroyed, was not likely to happen again. Towards the end of the century, the Gilford mill complex was reckoned to be unsurpassed in the whole of the British Isles in the completeness of its resources for all the processes of the industry."
I had looked on google maps and plotted a way in. Little did I know it wouldn't be necessary as the access to the site was crazy obvious, access to the buildings was only a little bit less obvious, It was mostly underwhelming for me, very little in the way of detail remains anywhere in the site but I spent a good two hours before deciding to depart. As I made my way towards my entry point I heard a tonne of rustling, and then saw someone blocking it. My plan at that immediate moment was to stay put, and try to watch the person leave before either unblocking or finding an alternative. I spotted the person walking away, then a few seconds later heard the distinct sound of galvanised gates being opened. I took my go pro off and waited to see him walk into the site, he walked round the back and as soon as he turned the corner I made for the gate he'd just opened. I knew he'd be at least a few minutes so opened it as quietly as you can open a galvanised gate, slipped out and drove home.
Got up today and couldn't find my go pro - ended up driving back and it was lying in the grass right where I had taken it off! So lucky!
For a better history than I could ever come up with see the link below;
"In spite of difficult conditions, Hugh Dunbar McMaster carried on a very successful flax spinning and thread manufacturing business. Huge sums of money were used to improve the layout of the works, the erection of new buildings and the installation of plant and machinery. A large reservoir near the works was erected for fire extinguishing and was connected with hydrants and hose in every part of the mills, so that a conflagration that occurred in 1869 when £40,000 worth of property was destroyed, was not likely to happen again. Towards the end of the century, the Gilford mill complex was reckoned to be unsurpassed in the whole of the British Isles in the completeness of its resources for all the processes of the industry."
I had looked on google maps and plotted a way in. Little did I know it wouldn't be necessary as the access to the site was crazy obvious, access to the buildings was only a little bit less obvious, It was mostly underwhelming for me, very little in the way of detail remains anywhere in the site but I spent a good two hours before deciding to depart. As I made my way towards my entry point I heard a tonne of rustling, and then saw someone blocking it. My plan at that immediate moment was to stay put, and try to watch the person leave before either unblocking or finding an alternative. I spotted the person walking away, then a few seconds later heard the distinct sound of galvanised gates being opened. I took my go pro off and waited to see him walk into the site, he walked round the back and as soon as he turned the corner I made for the gate he'd just opened. I knew he'd be at least a few minutes so opened it as quietly as you can open a galvanised gate, slipped out and drove home.
Got up today and couldn't find my go pro - ended up driving back and it was lying in the grass right where I had taken it off! So lucky!
