Pictured: Local artist and owner of Raceview Mill, Roy McKeown
The beautiful old Raceview Mill, which has been rescued from demolition by local artist and owner Roy McKeown, has been deservedly awarded prestigious Heritage Angel status by The Ulster Architectural Heritage Society.
The quest for the 2024 Northern Ireland Heritage Angels came to a conclusion with a prestigious awards ceremony on 27th March, hosted at The Braid, Ballymena, with the support of Mid and East Antrim Borough Council.
Gathering last month in the ornate surroundings of the theatre, which provided a fitting backdrop for the gala, winners and highly commended projects were recognised for their invaluable contributions to the field of built heritage of Northern Ireland.
The new story of Raceview Mill began 10 years ago, Idyllically set in 16 acres of land, the mill was lying derelict. No-one in the village thought it had value or could be saved. However, after being purchased by the well-known local artist and photographer, Roy brought the 200-year-old mill back to life - a Herculean effort that was completed without grant aid.
A centerpiece of the project seen the full restoration of a working waterwheel at the site. The almost 300-year-old stunning feature finally began turning again near the end of 2023 after copious amounts of dedication, commitment and hard work over a five year period.
A Heritage Lottery project to create a heritage gallery in also currently in progress. The community project is providing a unique opportunity for schoolchildren from the nearby Broughshane Primary School to get involved and learn about the vast and interesting local heritage of the area.
Winner Best Rescue of a Historic Building or Place - Mr Roy McKeown, Raceview Mill, Broughshane, with host Wendy Austin and Award Presenter Helen Mark.
Commenting on what is undeniably a fantastic personal achievement and labour of love, Roy said:
“It was a hard slog, especially at the beginning. Now Raceview Mill is a unique vibrant heritage business park with 35 businesses and employing almost 200 people including The Wool Tower wedding venue and conference centre. It was worth all the effort and I couldn’t have done it without the support of family and friends.”
Reflecting, family man Roy added: “A third of the world’s waste comes from demolishing buildings and half the resources extracted from our planet are used building new. For the sake of our grandchildren we need to find uses for our beautiful old buildings, whether listed or not.
“The industrial heritage wrapped up in the 200 year old buildings in Raceview Mill makes it a unique place to get married, locate a business or come with the family for a meal.”
To find out more about Raceview Mill, please visit www.raceviewmill.com
