Report - Barbour Threads, Hilden Mill (Lisburn, Northern Ireland, Aug, 2019)

[urbanchemist]

This was the main attraction when visiting friends in Belfast during the summer.
Of course it’s been done many times before - there at least eight threads dating back to 2007 on here:

https://www.28dayslater.co.uk/threads/barbour-thread-mill-lisburn-ni-jan-2018.111458/
https://www.28dayslater.co.uk/threads/barbour-threads-lisburn-ireland-sept-2017.109967/
https://www.28dayslater.co.uk/threads/barbour-threads-hilden-mill-lisburn-august-2015.98858/
https://www.28dayslater.co.uk/threads/barbour-threads-hilden-northern-ireland-july-2014.91084/
https://www.28dayslater.co.uk/threads/barbour-threads-lisburn-28-12-09.45824/
https://www.28dayslater.co.uk/threads/barbour-threads-lisburn-northern-ireland-28-5-09.40613/
https://www.28dayslater.co.uk/threads/barbours-threads-lisburn-ni-oct-2007.21357/
https://www.28dayslater.co.uk/threads/barbours-threads-lisburn-ni-09-09-07.19831/

The place is a bit more trampled and trashed than it used to be, but somehow it didn’t really matter - it’s a great wander, almost as good on the outside as the inside.
Pretty much all the machinery was removed soon after it closed in 2006, as evidenced by the smashed up floors and widened doorways, but there are still plenty of other things to see.

Brief physical description from a buildings database “The mill is a large sprawling, mainly brick-built, complex located on the eastern edge of the village of Hilden.
It straddles a bend in River Lagan with the most of the buildings to the western side of the river.
To the immediate east a wide canal (the Lagan Navigation) branches off and runs parallel to the river thus the eastern portion of the site is located on a ‘river island’.
The mill itself was established in 1823, but the present complex dates largely from c.1850-c.1910.
Although there are a number of large ‘formally’ planned buildings, much of the complex we see today grew organically, responding to the various ad-hoc commercial opportunities in the mid to later 1800s in the manner of many other such local mills.”

Visited with junior and Gwendalin of Down.

The only machine we found, which we put back on its feet - it was surprisingly heavy.

Two examples of rooms with Belfast Trusses - the ‘Belfast Truss’ was an economical way of covering large spaces with a lightweight roof.

 

[xplorer.x]

Looks super cool externally with all the trees growing out of it. Ideal daytime mooch.
Nice report

 

[mookster]

That's massive - I do fancy a trip across to Ireland at some point it must be said.

 

[Calamity Jane]

Liking this, looks a great explore. Cracking shots as always. The spindles are a nice touch. Old machines, natural decay, whats not to like :

 

[dweeb]

Did you see the carvings over the engine house windows?
Epic stuff

 

[urbanchemist]

Did you see the carvings over the engine house windows?
Epic stuff

Think so if these were the three stern-looking gents on one side and animals on the other.

But there were several areas we didn't get to, including a couple of blocks near the security hut.

For anyone thinking of visiting you really need the best part of a day here.

 

[urbanchemist]

That's massive - I do fancy a trip across to Ireland at some point it must be said.

Might as well see the big well-known sites before they go. And its almost as easy to get to Eire as to say Scotland, although car ferry or car hire is not cheap.

 

[Ojay]

Great pics, you’ve captured the decay well

 

[mookster]

Might as well see the big well-known sites before they go. And its almost as easy to get to Eire as to say Scotland, although car ferry or car hire is not cheap.

Chances are I'm gonna have a bit more free time next year so it looks more likely I can get over there, some real gems to be seen.

 

[HorribleJellyfish]

Oh man those metal beams ♥
I am always impressed at how vegetation finds its way back into heavily man-made concrete-and-steel spaces.
Thank you so much for sharing ♥

 

[dweeb]

If you are a mill buff its worth the trip, but as chemist said its not cheap getting there...

 

[mookster]

If you are a mill buff its worth the trip, but as chemist said its not cheap getting there...

Probably cheaper than my annual pilgrimage to the USA though

 

[Columbus Dixon]

Enjoyed of course as a lovely report but the biggest thing for me were those "Belfast beams". I've spent two years looking at a mini-oil rig, 40' square x 20' high in my yard every night wondering what to do with it (scrap is the easy answer) ..zillions of drawings, going in a straw bale and lime render direction but it has the potential for a roof garden but I also have to have roof angles which maximise fixed solar panels but above all, straw buildings have to have "good boots and hat"..... the roof is key and your post gave me an EUREKA moment. Thanks, I appreciate it.