2015:035 - Ross's Mill, Derry

The proposed development is located at lands at Ross’s Mill, Bleach Green Lane in Dungiven, County Derry. The development is a hydro-electric scheme which will consist of GRP pipe running from a weir and fish-pass to the south-east along an existing lead mill-race associated with a former flax mill, through a holding tank, along an underground GRP pipe to the north-west and a turbine house located adjacent to the River Roe.
The site of Dungiven Priory and bawn (LDY 031:015) is located on a naturally strong promontory 80m to the north-east. Dungiven Priory is believed to have been founded during the mid to late 12th century, continuing as a religious house until the second half of the 16th century when it was taken over as a military stronghold by the O’Cahans. During the Plantation in the early 17th century, the site was taken over by Sir Edward Doddington who restored the church and built an adjacent house.
Dungiven Priory and bawn have been taken into State Care and the site was also awarded scheduled protected status by NIEA:Built Heritage. The scheduled protected area around the site incorporates the section of the River Roe to the south where the new weir and fish pass will be built and also incorporates the existing lead mill-race where the GRP pipe will be laid. The scheduled area also extends to the west following the line of a former field boundary. The north-west extent of the scheduled area bounds the area where the GRP pipe will run underground, though the scheduled area will not be impacted upon.

As part of the development was located within the scheduled protected area, scheduled monument consent was received before works commenced. The Scheduled monument consent (Ref B20/08) outlined conditions which formed the agreed mitigation for the site.

As per the scheduled monument consent, the Industrial Heritage features to be impacted upon were examined in March 2012 and a photographic record made. Phase 1 groundworks commenced in September 2012 in the River Roe and lead mill-race. This work and the riverbed were examined by an archaeologist from ADS Ltd accompanied by a member of the Centre for Maritime Archaeology at the University of Ulster at Coleraine. Nothing of archaeological significance was observed on the dry river bed.

No further groundworks took place on site until December 2013 when limited Phase 2 excavations for the holding tank and trench for the GRP pipe were carried out. These excavations found that the area had been greatly disturbed by previous works associated with the adjacent flax mill and quarrying prior to that. Nothing of archaeological significance was uncovered and, for reasons of heath and safety, the trench was backfilled to be reopened when the main Phase 2 groundworks commence.

The main Phase 2 groundworks consisting of the construction of the main line of the underground GRP pipe, the turbine house and outfall have yet to take place and, under the agreed mitigation, will be carried out under archaeological supervision.

c/o Archaeological Development Services Ltd, 96 University Street, Belfast, BT7 1HE