Fig.1 View from across the dock, 1890

Context

This assessment has been made with reference to the previous reports prepared by ‘Architectural Conservation Professionals’ in 2015 and Colin Rynne’s initial appraisal of 2005. This assessment offers consideration of the special interest these buildings embody with reference to contemporary historic industrial sites in order that an enhanced understanding of significance might be described.

The assessment has been undertaken during a period of exceptional constraints due to Covid-19. As a consequence, research and investigation has been limited to digitised records, published texts and a number of reports prepared since 2005. Nonetheless this has afforded a robust understanding of the site, its history and the phases of development.

This latest appraisal seeks to identify where greater understanding is required to enable significance to be better resolved. It is anticipated that the statement will be added as new information comes forward in the course of the project.

The observations of the previous reports are not duplicated within this document save to capture matters that are relevant to the assessment of significance of the site and buildings. As such, the reports are appended to this assessment and should be referenced to allow for a full understanding of the legislative context.

Just two structures are attributed designation by their RPS and NIAH listings.

Record of Protected Structures:

264 – Main Mill Building 265 – Octagonal Brick Chimney

NIAH Building Record:

21512053 – Main Mill Building 21512059 – Octagonal Brick Chimney

The complex as a whole holds National Significance.

The NIAH description refers to the ‘building complex’ while not defining its curtilage. This assessment seeks to offer context to what can be described as the curtilage of significance by exploring the historic evolution of the site and its buildings.