Annalong Cornmill — Days Out NI

Watch the whole milling process under one roof

The mill keeps many of its original working parts, so you see how grain became meal rather than reading about it. There are three pairs of millstones, a grain drying kiln and the 15ft waterwheel that powered them. Alongside sits the 1920s Marshall hot-bulb engine, the back-up that kept the mill turning in dry spells. The multimedia exhibition walks you through the oats step by step and brings the old miller's day to life, which works well for younger visitors.

Go inside Early 1800s 15ft waterwheel Three pairs of millstones Harbourside setting Small admission

Good to know before you go:

The mill takes part in European Heritage Open Days and other seasonal openings, when admission is often free and staff demonstrate the workings. Dates change each year, so check what's on before planning around an event.

What to bring

👟Comfy shoesThere is usually a bit of walking, some steps and uneven older ground.

📷A cameraThe history, the architecture and the setting are all worth capturing.

💷A few poundsSome heritage sites are ticketed or have a shop and café — handy to have.

💧Water and a snackNot every site has a café on hand, so pack a little something.

Everything before you go

Getting in

Pay a small admission on the door — roughly £2.50 adult, £1.50 child, £6 family. Confirm before you travel.

Opening

Seasonal, approximately April to October, afternoons (around 2pm–5pm), usually closed Tuesdays. Hours vary — call 028 4376 7321 first.

Can you go inside

Yes — you walk through the mill building itself to see the millstones, kiln, waterwheel and engine.

Food

None on site. Annalong village and harbour have options nearby; the wider Mournes coast has cafés and pubs.

Dogs

Not confirmed — check before you go, especially for inside the working mill.

Parking

Parking is available at the harbour and Marine Park area beside the mill.

Accessibility

It's a historic mill on several levels with original machinery, so step-free access is limited. Call ahead if this matters.

How long to allow

About 45 minutes to an hour for the mill and exhibition.

Address

Marine Park, Annalong, Newry, Co. Down, BT34 4QG

Questions

Before you go

Is it free to visit?

Pay a small admission on the door — roughly £2.50 adult, £1.50 child, £6 family. Confirm before you travel.

Can you go inside?

Yes — you walk through the mill building itself to see the millstones, kiln, waterwheel and engine.

When is it open?

Seasonal, approximately April to October, afternoons (around 2pm–5pm), usually closed Tuesdays. Hours vary — call 028 4376 7321 first.

Can I bring the dog?

Not confirmed — check before you go, especially for inside the working mill.

Where do I park?

Parking is available at the harbour and Marine Park area beside the mill.

Getting there

Annalong Cornmill is at Marine Park, Annalong, Newry, Co. Down, BT34 4QG. Parking is available at the harbour and Marine Park area beside the mill. Tap below for directions.

Directions on Google Maps Official website See it on our map

Nearby

Make more of the day

More days out around AnnalongSee what else is close by More heritage sites across NIHistory you can visit and explore

The story

The story of Annalong Cornmill

The mill was built in the early 1800s, replacing an earlier corn mill a short distance upstream on the Annalong River. By 1835 it was working with two pairs of millstones, and a kiln and store were added before 1859. A mid-century refurbishment brought it up to three pairs of millstones, the arrangement you see today.

For more than a century the mill was run by just three families. The original owners, the Atkinsons, were followed by Robert McCormick and then three generations of the Hamilton family. A steam engine and engine house were installed in the 1890s as an auxiliary drive, later joined by the 1920s Marshall hot-bulb engine that survives on site.

From 1901 the river was partly diverted at the Annalong Weir to feed the Mourne Conduit carrying water to Belfast. The mill kept grinding into the 1960s — by then one of the very last working watermills in Northern Ireland — before it finally closed.

Newry and Mourne District Council bought the derelict mill in the early 1980s, restored it with its original components intact and reopened it in 1983. The 15ft waterwheel, millstones, kiln and engine all remain in place, which is why a visit lets you see a complete working mill rather than a shell.