Milford Mills

The Alexander family founded the Milford Flour Mills at Ballygowan beside the River Barrow near Carlow town in 1790. Although they did not own large tracts of land, just over 2,000 acres, they were important as entrepreneurs. By the 1830's their enterprise had reached a turnover of Ł195,000 a year, excluding malting. In 1840, Mr. & Mrs Hall's "Ireland" described the Milford Mills as "one of the most extensive and celebrated in Ireland". Another traveller "J.K." quoted in the "Carlow Sentinel" of 1836 said that the area "is now covered as far as the eye can reach with luxuriant and well grown timber above the foliage of which rises the beautiful mansion and unrivalled mills of their owner".

Milford Mills and bridge over the River Barrow

A view of Milford Mills and bridge over the River Barrow from Mr. and Mrs Hall's Ireland c1840. The Mills were owned by the Alexander family and were built in 1790. There were two major fires on the property in 1862 and more recently in 1965. This sketch gives a good idea of the huge size of the buildings in this complex. This complex fell into disuse in the 20th century and apparently was partly occupied by a leather tanning operation until this was destroyed by the second fire in 1965. Apart from some external walls, nothing survives today of this complex.

Carlow County Library

Milford Mills and bridge over the River Barrow
Carlow County Library

Milford Mills and bridge over the River Barrow

A view of Milford Mills and bridge over the River Barrow from Mr. and Mrs Hall's Ireland c1840. The Mills were owned by the Alexander family and were built in 1790. There were two major fires on the property in 1862 and more recently in 1965. This sketch gives a good idea of the huge size of the buildings in this complex. This complex fell into disuse in the 20th century and apparently was partly occupied by a leather tanning operation until this was destroyed by the second fire in 1965. Apart from some external walls, nothing survives today of this complex.

Carlow County Library

Enlarge image

William Fairbairn of Manchester was the engineer on the Milford Mills. He designed two mill wheels of 18 and 22 feet wide, described by Mr. & Mrs. Hall as the "largest and most powerful" mill wheels in Great Britain and Ireland.

In Griffith's Primary Valuation of Tenements (c1853) for the Parish of Cloydagh, towland of Ballygowan there is an entry for the mills complex. The occupiers are stated as John, James and Lorenza Alexander and the description cites "Flourmills, Kilns, Malt houses, offices and land". The property was situated on an area of over eight acres, with buildings valued at Ł300 and land at Ł7.

The Big Fire at Milford Mills

The Milford Flour Mills were totally destroyed by fire on Tuesday, November 4th 1862. Around 11.30pm on that night smoke was seen to emerge from the windows of the upper lofts. The Milford Constabulary were the first to witness it and raised the alarm. The fire was seen a few miles away by the Carlow police who also hastened to the scene.

A large group of people gathered to watch the fire. The "Carlow Sentinel" describes the progression of the flames increasing "with irresistible violence". The fire brigade from Carlow under the command of sub-inspector Medlicott were discharged to the scene. The police from nearby Leighlinbridge and Bagenalstown also rushed to help. By then the entire building was a mass of flames. The fire destroyed metal and machinery and corn. The "great flat roof of tercoira (a composition of tar, chalk and sand) fell in with a crash. The first floor of the building gave way as did six other lofts.

Milford Mills Fire 1862

Account of the fire of November 4th 1862 which totally destroyed the flour mills at Milford, County Carlow. The mill wheel valued at the time at Ł1,000 was saved. The entire stock of corn was completely destroyed. The mills had recently been refitted and refurbished under the supervision of William Fairbairn of Manchester.

Carlow County Library

Milford Mills Fire 1862
Carlow County Library

Milford Mills Fire 1862

Account of the fire of November 4th 1862 which totally destroyed the flour mills at Milford, County Carlow. The mill wheel valued at the time at Ł1,000 was saved. The entire stock of corn was completely destroyed. The mills had recently been refitted and refurbished under the supervision of William Fairbairn of Manchester.

Carlow County Library

Enlarge image

The flames were confined though the labours of the fire brigade to the mill itself. The malt houses were saved. Machinery valued at circa Ł20,000 was lost but the water wheel valued at Ł1,000 was saved. The entire amount of flour, a few thousand bags were also extricated safely. However, approximately eight thousand bags of corn were destroyed. Constable McWilliams and a party of Constabularly had a miraculous escape from falling masonry in the gable walls of the mill. The wheat continued to burn for several days. The contents of the office were saved. All that remained on the following morning was as the "Sentinel" reporter stated "a sad scene of havoc and desolation".

The Milford Flour Mills had only recently been refurbished under the direction of William Fairbairn of Manchester. At the time of the fire they were capable of manufacturing from 45,000 to 50,000 sacks of flour per annum. It was thought that the fire occurred as a result of the friction of grinding stones, casting sparks which ignited a quantity of corn.

The 1862 fire was not the only fire at the Milford Mills. In 1965 the largest building in the complex then being used as a tannery (employing ninety people) was destroyed by fire in July of that year.

Milford Mills in Cloghristick

Close-up of the flour mill in Cloghristick

Close up view of the flour mill in Cloghristick, County Carlow, located just upstream from the Milford Mills in Ballygowan. Cloghristick is a townland on the east side of the river Barrow. The flour mill in Cloghristick was also owned by the Alexander family. The Cloghristick building has not been used as a mill since the 19th century, although a local co-operative creamery apparently operated from it in the 1890s. The building was taken over around 1890 by an English company, Messrs TEH Gordon, who built an electricity generating plant in front of it to supply public lighting in Carlow Town. This was subsequently taken over by the Alexanders until being taken over by the ESB in 1928.

Carlow County Library

Close-up of the flour mill in Cloghristick
Carlow County Library

Close-up of the flour mill in Cloghristick

Close up view of the flour mill in Cloghristick, County Carlow, located just upstream from the Milford Mills in Ballygowan. Cloghristick is a townland on the east side of the river Barrow. The flour mill in Cloghristick was also owned by the Alexander family. The Cloghristick building has not been used as a mill since the 19th century, although a local co-operative creamery apparently operated from it in the 1890s. The building was taken over around 1890 by an English company, Messrs TEH Gordon, who built an electricity generating plant in front of it to supply public lighting in Carlow Town. This was subsequently taken over by the Alexanders until being taken over by the ESB in 1928.

Carlow County Library

Enlarge image