Recent visitors will have noticed a new display at the entrance of Newry and Mourne Museum. One of the artefacts, a granite stone, tells the story of Lupton’s Mill and its builder, Joseph Lupton.
Joseph Lupton, born in 1801 in the Lancashire town of Preston, came to Ireland aged sixteen. Venturing into the corn and milling trade he built a successful business. In the 1840s he took on the lease of Mount Mills, near Newry. Increasing demand necessitated a move to larger premises at the old distillery on Bridge Street. Employing 20 workmen and producing between forty thousand and fifty thousand bags of flour a year, Lupton’s milling and corn trade remained at the site for 17 years.
In 1862, at a cost of £7,000, Lupton built a five-storey grain store in Queen Street (now Dominic Street). Five years later it was converted into a mill for the manufacture of flour and Indian Meal. Local contractor Mr. John O’Hare erected the 120-foot-high chimney, while the machinery, including a 25 horse-power engine running eight pairs of stones was manufactured at the Newry Foundry. After ten years in operation, the milling of flour became unsustainable, due to competition from imported flour. The building returned to its original use, providing storage for flax and grain.
Jospeh Lupton died at the age of 88 in October 1889. His obituary in the local papers refer to him as a pioneer of the Indian Corn trade in Newry. Lupton, “imported the first direct cargo of Indian Corn to the port of Newry by the new ship canal, the vessel entering free of dues and with flying colours” (Newry Telegraph of 19th October).
He was also involved on many levels with numerous businesses in Newry, among them the Warrenpoint and Rostrevor Railway, Newry and Armagh Railway, Newry Gas Company, Dundalk and Newry Steampacket Company and the Newry Savings Bank. A member of the old town board prior to the passing of the Towns’ Improvement Act in 1865, he afterwards represented the West Ward on the Board of Town Commissioners for many years.
Following Joseph Lupton’s death, the Rooney family purchased the mill and many of the surrounding buildings. In 1907 the mill machinery was removed and bought by Mr. E. Curran. The Dublin Soap Company acquired the mill in 1909 for the manufacture of their products but was quietly closed a short time later. This was followed by an embroidery business, which was established in part of the building, but it too faltered after a few years.
During the Second World War the building was used by the Ministry of Supply for storing flax and jute. One hundred tonnes were stored in the building when, in the early hours of the 11th of November 1941, the building caught fire. The fire brigade and auxiliary fire service both attended. Four engines pumped water from the canal, but the burning contents and wooden floors fed the flames. Within an hour the roof had collapsed, sending debris crashing down to the ground. The fire threatened nearby houses and local residents had to be evacuated. Such was its intensity, the fire, which could be seen for miles around, had burned itself out in two hours.
The building sat derelict for a number of years, the question of property rights largely responsible for the delay. In the mid-1950s, the Rooney family gifted the site to Newry Urban District Council, who intended to demolish the building to make way for housing. In February 1958, the go-ahead for demolition was given. However, inadequate sewerage facilities meant that the inhabitants of the town would have to wait yet again for new housing.
Additional buildings in the area were vested and finally, after a wait of 27 years, a meeting was held in November 1968 to allocate new tenants to the nine four-apartment houses and 48 old persons dwellings. Each councillor put forward nominations for the houses and applicants receiving the most votes were awarded the tenancies. The development was named Cleary Crescent, in memory of the Very Rev. Dr. Cleary, of the Dominican Order.
In 1985 when workmen were carrying out work on the site in Dominic Street, the stone was unearthed. It was recovered and placed in safe keeping, when this year it found its new home at the Museum.
