PROJECT
BALLYCOPELAND WINDMILL AND VISITOR CENTRE, MILLISLE
GLEEDS BELFAST IS ENTRUSTED WITH INTERNATIONALLY IMPORTANT HERITAGE BUILDING…
PROJECT MANAGER AND COST MANAGER GLEEDS LEAD ONE-OF-A-KIND WINDMILL PROJECT...
B allycopeland Windmill near Millisle in County Down is a rare building – the only hooper roller-reefing windmill left in the world. Rarer still, it retains the original machinery inside along with its ancillary buildings, which elevates the site to international importance. It is not a listed building, but the windmill structure is categorised as a regionally important industrial heritage site. Designed by Captain Stephen Hooper, and built between the 1780s and 1790s, the windmill was used in the production of animal feed until 1915, before it was taken into state care in 1937. The site is managed by the Historic Environment Division (HED) at the Department for Communities. In February 2020, Ards & North Down Borough Council approved a proposal for the construction of a visitor centre with a coffee shop and play area, new car parking facilities, the refurbishment
of the existing miller’s cottage and kilnman’s house, with new interpretive works incorporated, and the replacement of an old barn. The Strategic Investment Board were appointed by HED to deliver the project and in turn appointed Gleeds as the lead of an Integrated Consultant Team. The £1.7 million project – which was handed over on May 11, 2022 – was funded by the Department for Communities, Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, as well as Ards and North Down Borough Council. The visitor centre has an exposed glulam timber frame, is clad in timber panelling and features a ‘green roof’. Large floor to ceiling windows flood the café area with natural light, as well as providing visitors with a view of the windmill and its ancillary buildings.
including furniture of that time, which tells and vividly illustrates the history of Ballycopeland Windmill. The barn also contains interpretive material showing how the windmill mechanism works and how the grain was processed. Chris McIvor of Lowry Building & Civil Engineering, who was the contractor’s project manager, said, “This is one of the most interesting and unique projects that I have ever worked on. Working with an electrician one day and an historic buildings stonemason the next was a real learning experience.” Gleeds’ Project Manager Damien Ming commented, “The contrast of the new visitor centre building and the historic buildings works really well visually, and I am sure that Ballycopeland Windmill will become a very popular destination for the people of Northern Ireland and also tourists.” Visit: www.gleeds.com for further project case studies.
The refurbished stone built miller’s cottage and the kilnman’s house contain a modern interpretive set,
429 Holywood Rd, Belfast BT4 2LN T: 028 9076 9700 gb.gleeds.com
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