BUILDING HISTORY CONWAY MILL - A brief history

1883 No mention of the Mill was found

1842 First listing of James Kennedy & Son Flax Spinners, Falls Road

1843 James Kennedy (Senior) died, leaving the factory to his son, also named James

1843/44 Listed as James Kennedy & Son, Flax Spinners, Conway Street

1852 McConnell & Kennedy Flax Spinning Mill listed at Falls Road (Campbell's Row/ Boundary St.) Coming originally from Scotland, McConnell, Kennedy (& Murray) were responsible for building many of the Mills in Manchester. It would appear reasonable to presume that these, or members of their families were the same people involved in building some of the West Belfast Mill.

1856 Site plan lists the main Mill block building as having three stories and an attic and that it was used for spinning and carding. In front of the mill was a one story building designated as a weaving factory. There were also a number of two story buildings to the rear of the site which were used for storage and flax machinery rooms.

1858 Ordinance Survey map shows a 'linen weaving factory' to front and a 'flax spinning mill' to rear. Also shows three other flax spinning mills in the immediate vicinity. Over the years twelve other mills would be located in the vicinity.

1859 A Deed of Sale by Mortgage, shows that Ellen Kennedy, James Kennedy and Victor Coates Kennedy entered into an agreement with Victor Coates (an engine manufacturer), whereby the mill buildings and machinery were used as collateral on a £3,000 loan. It is uncertain how this money was used but in the next available Belfast Directory (1862), the company is listed as being power loom weavers in addition to being spinners.

1865 The old McConnell & Kennedy factory on the corner of the Falls Road and Conway Street was sold to JT & M Greeves and Company and Victor Coats Kennedy joined with James Kennedy to form the "The Falls Flax Spinning Company".

1866 - 1868 The new company purchased seven acres of land from James Kennedy & Sons and erected an additional weaving factory.

1869 A fire on the 3rd Floor of "old" Mill on the 9th of December enables the company, through the insurance, to build an additional floor on the block - so accounting for the discrepancy between the 1856 site plan and the current building.

1900 Revaluation records shows that a new office, engine and boiler houses were erected towards the end of the 19th century.

1901 - 1910 revaluation records suggests that the one story "weaving factory" on Conway Street was demolished and the present 5-story building erected to expand the business. 1948 Plans were drawn up for installation of electrical power in the Mill

1969 Houses in Conway Street were burnt to the ground during a sectarian pogrom. 1975 /76 Falls Flax Spinning Company Ltd. closed with the loss of 200 jobs

1981 Having lain derelict for also a decade, the complex was purchased by the Pound Loney Social Club for re-location due to housing redevelopment in Divis.

1982/83 The two main mill blocks were leased to a group of community activists for the purpose of stimulating, promoting and supporting community economic development.

Conway Education Centre was established by Springhill Community House to support adult education and training.

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