real time web analytics
Report - - Derelict Factory and Beetling Mill, William Clark and Sons (Upperlands, Northern Ireland, Dec, 2019) | Industrial Sites | 28DaysLater.co.uk

Report - Derelict Factory and Beetling Mill, William Clark and Sons (Upperlands, Northern Ireland, Dec, 2019)

Hide this ad by donating or subscribing !

urbanchemist

28DL Regular User
Regular User
On a Christmas visit to Ulster I travelled through Upperlands village in Co Derry intending to look at the flax museum there, but it was shut.
However maps showed what seemed to be a dilapidated factory in the grounds of William Clark and Sons, who still manufacture linen products nearby.
But behind the 1920s facade it was little more than a shell, well trashed by the local kids, and there was nothing much to see except a fabric press on one of the upper floors.

49309610937_f132583018_b.jpg



49309610942_5016bc4740_b.jpg



49309408521_a64d46c268_b.jpg



49308907718_374d4aa5bd_b.jpg



49309408436_9772b6329b_b.jpg



49309408416_c05e9409ec_b.jpg



49308907563_29f98a9649_b.jpg



49309408346_4688989420_b.jpg



49309610672_3b0da78108_b.jpg



49308907473_6cc7443072_b.jpg


On the way out I noticed a couple of derelict buildings down by the Knockoneill River, which had the look of mills - in the right place to be water powered anyway.
One was a total wreck…

49309408236_134fe13ec2_b.jpg


…but the other smaller overgrown one still had an overshot water wheel on the far side, with the remains of a wooden launder above it.
Old maps confirm a mill in this position in the 1800s taking water from a mill race up the hill behind (phone pic in the rain).

49309408216_14fc8f7bb7_b.jpg


This little mill seems to have been restored as a museum, before the joists rotted and half of the first floor collapsed.
The most interesting feature was the beetling machine on the ground level - the first complete example I’d seen at that stage.
Beetling is a finishing process involving whacking linen with wooden stakes to tighten the weave and give a smooth feel.
The machine is simply a rotating helical cam which lifts and drops the stakes as the linen is wound under them.
Here’s a link to one of several videos one can find on the internet which shows the process - apparently there is no modern equivalent which gives the same quality of finish.

Front and rear of beetling machine.

49308907378_7464d3d7eb_b.jpg



49308907323_bac80e0794_b.jpg


Originally water powered, it was then probably driven by an electric motor (out of shot on the left of the pic below, hidden under a pile of debris).

49309408106_a9d9d60806_b.jpg


Upstairs were various exhibits to do with flax processing and linen weaving.

49309408061_be7fbf289f_b.jpg


A loom from Blackburn, in the process of falling through the floor.

49309408006_c97ff5eef1_b.jpg



49308907193_f69712e279_b.jpg


Another falling loom and more exhibits.

49308907173_6160439b90_b.jpg



49309407886_87265aed39_b.jpg



49309407846_e3d28405ae_b.jpg



49308907068_27c419881e_h.jpg


A pattern book showing typical designs for tea towels, bedspreads etc.

49309610142_bdc53833d3_b.jpg
 
Last edited:

Five.Claws

General Nuisance
28DL Full Member
There's something about factories, mills etc. where no matter how derelict and decayed they get they never lose their character or charm. In fact, in many ways it seems to add to it. I think they'll always be the "prime" urban exploration locations.
 

urbanchemist

28DL Regular User
Regular User
Grand!

Some info about the company history and that mill here:
Thanks for the link - not sure why I didn't think to look this one up - just stopped for the coffee shop and museum at the time.

Looking up the main factory, the wrecked bit I walked round with Art Deco frontage is said to have been combined offices and lapping shed.
 

dweeb

28DL Regular User
Regular User
Amazing, never seen anything from this before!

Paperwork worth a rummage?
 

urbanchemist

28DL Regular User
Regular User
Amazing, never seen anything from this before!

Paperwork worth a rummage?
The paperwork in the factory mostly seemed to be relatively recent payroll and accounting stuff.

In the mill its presumably whatever was left in the museum, some of it now buried under the collapsed floor.
 

Who has read this thread (Total: 219) View details

Top