2015:591 - Ballyness (Ballyness Hydro, Bushmills), Antrim

The proposed development is to consist of the construction of a hydroelectric scheme comprising the installation of an Archimedean screw turbine and powerhouse, headrace, access lane and associated enabling works and is located within an area of archaeological potential, with numerous archaeological sites and monuments, industrial heritage sites and historic buildings being recorded within its vicinity.  Indeed the PDA itself primarily consists of the area associated with an Industrial Heritage site (IHR 03781:000:00) recorded as a Flax Mill site.

The site visit confirmed that the partial remains of the mill building survive, although the remains of the building itself were very overgrown with vegetation.  In order to facilitate a more comprehensive assessment of the existing condition of the structure, the vegetation was cleared by hand prior to the commencement of primary ground reduction works.  Clearance of the vegetation included the removal of extensive ivy coverage; however, the invasive nature of this plant between the stones which formed the walls meant that it was not possible to safely remove all of the growth.

Removal of overburden to a depth of up to 1.2m within the mill building revealed bedrock or natural clay subsoil throughout; no evidence of an artificial floor surface or any remains of roofing materials were identified.

The partial remains of the walls appear to survive to a maximum height of approximately 2.4m internally and are predominantly of random rubble coursing.  However, the construction of the walls has utilised the natural bedrock to form part of their structure, where practical.  Within the south-west corner of the building the rubble walling appears to have been constructed atop a c.1.5m deep piece of natural bedrock, giving the building the appearance of being basemented.

The mill does not appear to have been particularly well built; the walls of the building are slightly skewed with neither the corners forming right-angles nor any of the walls being parallel to one another, strongly suggesting that this mill was not a particularly impressive example of such an Industrial Heritage site.  Moreover, no evidence of an artificial floor surface, internal of external features or fittings or any remains of roofing materials were identified in addition to those noted at the time of the site visit, i.e. a possible doorway at the south-east corner and a possible bearing stone located within the western portion of the interior.

Within the area defined on the 3rd edition Ordnance Survey map, removal of topsoil revealed evidence of the millrace associated with the site.  The millrace was filled with a homogenous deposit of dark brown clay loam to a maximum depth of c.1.1m.  No archaeological artefacts were identified during the removal of this deposit.

Within the remaining area of the proposed headrace and much of the area of the proposed access laneway, removal of topsoil overburden revealed bedrock or natural clay subsoil throughout the area of proposed invasive groundworks.  However, within the area of the proposed access laneway adjacent to the residential dwellings at Ballyness Park, removal of topsoil revealed a compacted redeposited clay which will be retained as a sub-base during construction works at the site.

No archaeological remains, features, deposits or artefacts were identified during archaeological works at the site in addition to the mill building and millrace.

150 Elmvale, Culmore, Derry BT48 8SL.