Report - Misc Oirish Derps.2 (Dunshauglin/Drogheda/Inniskeen, Eire, Aug, 2019)

[urbanchemist]

Over in Eire visiting relatives we made three stop-offs on a drive from Dublin up to Belfast.

1. Dunshaughlin Workhouse. Just north of Dublin, this is one of a number of derelict workhouses in Eire, the rest being either demolished or repurposed.
The front block has been renovated and is occupied. The rear section has a typical H-shaped plan and is very derelict.
More information here https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunshaughlin. Not a great deal to see in this one - the last occupants seem to have been cows and sheep.

2. Derelict factory, Marsh Road, Drogheda. This was an unplanned stop - I originally wanted to look at Dronaghey’s Mill, but that turned out to be a burnt-out shell.
The remains of this factory was just down the quay on the other side of the river - it may have belonged to Irish Edible Oils.
It’s obviously a playground for the local youth, but was good for a half-hour clamber about.

3. O’Rourke’s Mill, Inniskeen. Not far from the border this (listed) mill complex is currently up for sale - it apparently closed in 1976, see the estate agents blurb for more info:
https://www.sherryfitz.ie/buy-comme...l-inniskeen-carrickmacross-co-monaghan-103886.
Old mills like this are frankly more of interest from an industrial archeological point of view than anything spectacular to look at, and this one is pretty far gone; about half of the site is properly derelict with little in the way of roofs and floors.
Still, it’s always worth seeing if there’s any machinery left and how the mill was powered.

The small tower in the middle of the picture above has some sort of silo or hopper covered in these perforated ceramic tiles, presumably something to do with ventilation.

Round the back I found myself sheltering from the rain on a railway platform - the Great Northern Railway (Irish version, now lifted) used to run past here.

On the upper floors the usual variety of inscrutable belt-driven boxes and chutes.

Sack flap for hauling stuff up.

The power came from two small water turbines, arranged nose to tail.

Hard to see from this picture, but the water exiting the first turbine is diverted around the second turbine under the junk on the right, and the outputs combine in a single tail race.

The turbines were made by Craig’s of Belfast, who are still going, making mainly pumps these days.
Turbines gradually replaced water wheels from the late 1800s, and these two were probably installed before 1920 - Robert Craig and Sons had apparently installed 35 turbines in Ireland by 1920.

Both turbines drive line shafts - the one pictured below seems to have an alternative electric drive.
Although the motor looks recent (I didn’t check) a setup like this could also function as a generator, apparently common in water mills before the arrival of the national grid.

 

[Calamity Jane]

Liking the scenery a lot. I would love to see that factory, The Mill looks a lovely location, & those water turbines, very photogenic, like it

 

[HughieD]

Three for the price of one! As always, top-notch reports and great pix mate...

 

[Brewtal]

Lovey stuff, really like that mill!

 

[tigger]

Very nice variety of subject matter.
Whilst the factory is interesting and a good subject for a mooch the mill has to be the jewel in the crown. Excellent collection of grain and flour cleaning equipment. That seperator tower looks interesting...any more photos of it?
Can't remember if I commented about one of the other mills you've visited (in Cheshire) but it too had a turbine nearby (not at the mill itself but still there) for electricity generation........also a hydraulic ram pump to provide an agricultural water supply for the farm above it.

 

[urbanchemist]

..That seperator tower looks interesting...any more photos of it?

I was hoping someone might be able to tell me what that was - so some sort of sieve? The only other photo is a phone closeup of the perforated tiles which doesn't really add anything.

Can't remember if I commented about one of the other mills you've visited (in Cheshire) but it too had a turbine nearby (not at the mill itself but still there) for electricity generation........also a hydraulic ram pump to provide an agricultural water supply for the farm above it.

That could have been Darnhall Mill - had quite an extensive mill pond plus dam. I walked across the dam but didn't really examine it.

These little water-powered mills, although not spectacular to look at, are quite interesting really, particularly with renewed interest in green energy and micro-hydro. I could have done with a bit longer in the Inniskeen one.

 

[tigger]

Wasn't Darnhall I was thinking of. I've never noted any evidence of ram pumps near that.

I would guess the seperator was from paper or linen production rather than corn but it could have been from the winnower.

Out of interest which of the mills had the turbines, the one closest to the river or the larger complex? The move to inclusion of old photos and equipment manufacturer brochures/adverts (by you and HughieD in particular) really adds to the posts and I'd not seen a Craig & Sons manufacturers plate before.

Fully agree about the mills. They often show the development to more industrialised bulk processing at its early stages. The progression from water wheels to turbines to heavy oil engines and finally to electrickery is a good example of that.

 

[urbanchemist]

May have been Bate Mill then - the mill pond there seems to be used by anglers.

Any info or links for how this separator might have worked?

The turbines were at the rear of the central section with the open door, second external down. The one on the river was just a shell.

I didn't have time to look in the rightmost partly collapsed section second external down (red brick door and window surrounds) - might have been stuff to do with flax processing in there.

 

[Baggy trousers]

Very nice set of pictures those chemist, especially liked the mill at the end. Thanks for sharing man.