Report - Barbour Threads Hilden Mill, Lisburn, Northern Ireland September 2023

[mookster]

A brief potted history from a 2006 article on it's impending closure is here -

In 1784 John Barbour, who hailed from Scotland, established a linen thread works in Lisburn. At the same time his son, William, bought a derelict bleach green at Hilden and set up business. Later, the thread works were transferred to Hilden and as early as 1817 it was employing 122 workers. In 1823 William Barbour bought a former bleach mill at Hilden and built a water-powered twisting mill. The Linen Thread Company was founded 1898 and it quickly became a large international company. In fact it became the largest linen thread mill in the world, giving Lisburn a richly deserved international reputation. By 1914 it employed about 2,000 people and until recently some 300 workers were still employed there, with the work-force dropping to just 85 in recent years. Among the company's varied products were nets, which could be made into snares and fishing nets. The company built a model village for its workforce in Hilden, which consisted of 350 houses, two schools, a community hall, children's playground and village sports ground. Lisburn became the envy of the world thanks to its Linen and Thread industry and now the last remnant of that history is to close its doors for the last time.

The mill closed a good 15+ years ago, and time has not been kind to it. It is now a bashed, burned, shell of a complex but despite all the damage over the years it's sheer enormous size is seriously impressive, there really is nowhere else like it in the UK on the same scale.

Funnily enough despite how well known this place is I hadn't actually originally factored it into the trip, worrying that it's size would make it too much of a time sink when we had a lot of other stuff to do. However as is often the case the plans that had been laid out for the morning changed and so we found ourselves heading to Lisburn after all. Following a slight wrong turn in trying to gain access to it along a pretty sketchy route that nearly resulted in an early bath, we found the much easier way in and had free reign of the place for a couple of hours. We didn't do all the buildings, only the main body of the mill before we moved on to get some much needed breakfast, but I really did enjoy my time here and I can see myself going back for a more in depth look if I'm ever back in Northern Ireland.

It is very difficult to get across the scale of this place in photos, there was an equally large expanse of similarly ruined buildings behind the one I took this photo from. To be honest I enjoyed looking at the outside of it just as much as the inside!

Thanks for looking ​

 

[Mikeymutt]

It always amazes me that on every exploring day you are doing you are thinking of were to go for a meal ha ha. It looks a great place for a wander.

 

[dansgas1000]

Great stuff, I love shots 5 & 11. Even though it is battered it has a certain charm.

 

[Calamity Jane]

This has a beautiful look architectural wise. And I love the chimney and opening shot. So much there, hidden in the flora.

 

[chinazes]

place is awesome on photos , planning to go there , what about security there , is it safe to be in buildings ?

 

[mookster]

place is awesome on photos , planning to go there , what about security there , is it safe to be in buildings ?

Most of the buildings are pretty safe as it's all concrete floors, but some of the stairs to the upper floors have broken or collapsed.

No security at all in evidence when I went.

 

[chinazes]

Most of the buildings are pretty safe as it's all concrete floors, but some of the stairs to the upper floors have broken or collapsed.

No security at all in evidence when I went.

appreciate 🤝