Cotton Factory — Balbriggan

The Cornmill apartment complex stands on the site of a Cotton Factory that is depicted on the 1837 ed. OSi 6-inch map. On the last edition of the OSi maps the same building was annotated ‘Corn Mill (Disused)’.  The Cotton Factory probably stood on the site of a watermill shown on the 1655-9 Down Survey Parish map of Balrothery (NLI, MS 714/3).  On this map a watermill is shown standing on the E bank of a watercourse standing in an area annotated on the map as the ‘little Farme of Ballebriggan’.   This watercourse forms the townland boundary of Balbriggan.  A second watermill (DU005-051----) on the Down Survey parish map is shown standing on the W bank of the same watercourse to the S in the townland of Stephenstown.   The 1654-56 Civil Survey of Dublin recorded that in 1641 the lands of ‘The little farme of Ballibriggin’ amounting to 60a of lands were in the possession of ‘Irish Papist’, Pater Barnewall of Tyrenure [Terenure) who is the owner by inheritance of ‘one farme house & Ten Cottages Valued by the Jury at Ten Poundes & one Mill valued by them at ten poundes p[er] annum’ (Simington 1945, 6).    In 1822 the ‘Mill, Factory, and several Dwelling Houses’ were described as; ‘To be LET, and immediate possession given, in the Town of Balbriggan, for a Lease of Lives renewable for ever, that large commodious MILL & FACTORY. With FIVE DWELLINGS-HOUSES in good repair, situate in Mill-Street, formerly occupied as a Cotton Factory, and latterly in the Silk-Spinning Trade.  This Concern, being so extensive, having a good supply of Water, would answer well for a Brewery, Distillery, or any other Oatmeal Mill’ (Dublin Evening Post 1822).  The Cotton Factory was established at Balbriggan c. 1783 by Baron Hamilton (Dublin Weekly Register 12 September 1840).  In 1783 the Irish Parliament granted £2,000 to ‘Joseph Smith, to enable him to finish the machinery he has begun at Balbriggan’ (ibid.).  In 1877 the ‘Old Cotton Factory’ was described as a ‘four story edifice, having thirteen windows in each story, with an extensive annexe devoted to the weaving department, and some subordinate buildings. The principal mechanical operations are carried on in the first and second stories, the third and fourth being used as storerooms.  An inspection of these apartments, which are about 200 feet [61m] long by 33 [10m] broad, will convince the visitor of the extent and importance of the operations of the firm. The motive power of the factory is supplied by a great reservoir of water, which from a fall of twenty-two feet [6.7m] acts on an eighteen inch turbine.  There is also a 40-horse power steam engine, for use whenever the water fails’ (Dublin Evening Mail 28 August 1877).    In 1832 the sale of the ‘Old Cotton Factory’, the property was described as consisting of ‘several Dwelling-houses attached thereto (Those concerns were formerly used as a Cotton Factory, and latterly in the Silk Business). Those Concerns are well worth the attention of any person, wanting a large concern to carry on the Cotton, Flour, or Oatmeal Manufacture, as there is a great increase of fall for the water-wheel, by the completion of a new dock or inner harbour in the town, and a constant supply of water.  The Dwelling-houses (six in number) are well divided, and in perfect repair; there is also a Bakery Establishment on the Concern’ (Saunders’s Newsletter 20 January 1832).   Compiled by:  Caimin O'Brien