1841 – Gilford Mill, Gilford, Co. Down

For a time Gilford was at the heart of Ireland’s linen production employing over 15,000 workers. This caused the village to expand with large amounts of housing built to house the workers, some of which can be seen in the photographs above. Closed in 1986, by which time it employed just over 160 people. The mill complex currently sits empty, awaiting redevelopment.