Notice board, McCreedy's Mill

Image: © Kenneth Allen Taken: 11 Apr 2018

It includes the following text: The McCrcedy Mill, Centre is a restoration of the old mill, buildings which were built in the early years of the 19th century. The mill was built to meet the needs of the growing agricultural industry and was operating as a cornmill in 1824. By 1834 it was owned by John Falls and consisted of a cornmill, corn kiln, millers dwelling, stores and malt house with power supplied by water from a tributary of the Blackwater. The mill was built on the bank, of the river with the mill pond providing the head of water to drive the water wheel at all times of the year. The mill reflected the growth and prosperity of Aughnacloy as an important, market and staging post in the 19th century. The mill changed ownership frequently. One of the owners was Hugh Simpson who built Mill View, a fine residence with a gate lodge overlooking the mill. In 1909 F A Montgomery Moore sold the mill to Hugh Treanor who continued to make use of the cornmill, but converted part of the building to a sawmill. He also used one of the buildings as a music hall which became a centre of entertainment for Aughnacloy society in the early years of the 20th century. The mill changed ownership again in 1919, when it was bought by Robert McCreedy who changed the use from corn milling to flax. He replaced water power by motor power and installed scutch machinery. 18 rims were in use, 16 for flax and 2 for tow, which was taken to Belfast Rope work. The demand for flax reached it's peak during the 2nd World War and the mill employed additional workers from Tyrone and Monaghan to cope with the demand for the war effort. This demand quickly disappeared after the end of the World War and the mill closed in 1952. It lay in a derelict state until 1998 when Aughnacloy Development Association purchased the site from the McCreedy family and undertook a programme of extensive renovations under local and international funding.

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