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Patterson's Spade Mill
Northern IrelandThe last working water-driven spade mill in daily use in the British Isles
751 Antrim Road, Templepatrick, County Antrim, BT39 0AP
Opening times for 23 August 2025
Asset Opening time Spade Mill Closed MTWTFSS2829303112345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031OpenPartially openClosedGuided Tour
Ticket type With Gift Aid Without Gift Aid Adult (18+) £8.50 Interactive Guided Tour
Ticket type With Gift Aid Without Gift Aid Adult (18+) £20.00 Become a member and discover more than 500 places
- Car park
We have a large car park on site with designated disabled parking. The carpark is no more than 50 yards from the front of the Spade Mill.
- Shop
- Toilet
Separate mobility parking, 50 yards. Drop-off point. Adapted toilet adjacent to reception. Dogs welcome on leads. Ramped entrance to building. One wheelchair. Ground floor accessible. Audio visual/video.
- Accessible toilet
There are accessible toilets located in visitor reception.
- Designated parking
- Induction loop
Audio loops in visitor reception.
- Level access to shop
- Narrow corridors
There are some low doorways, and narrow corridors.
- Ramped access/slopes
- Seating available
- Steps/uneven terrain
- Wheelchairs available
A wheelchair is available at Patterson's Spade Mill and Forge. To avoid disappointment, please book in advance by telephoning 028 9751 0131 or by email to rowallane@nationaltrust.org.uk.
- By road
- on Antrim to Belfast road, A6; M2 exit 4Parking: free, 50 yards
- By train
- Antrim 8 miles
- By bus
- services from Belfast to Cookstown, bus stop at gates
- Cycling
Planning your visit
2025 Summer Tours
Join us for Saturday tours of the Spade Mill this summer!
Watch the Mill in action
Click to watch the Patterson's Spade Mill experience come to life.
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Booking your visit to Patterson's Spade Mill
Information on how to book classes and tours of Patterson's Spade Mill.
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Accessibility at Patterson's Spade Mill
The National Trust is for everyone, and at Patterson's Spade Mill our team have been working hard to improve accessibility to enable more visitors to enjoy this special place.
Highlights
Spade Mill and Forge
See history literally forged in steel at the last working water-driven spade mill in daily use in the British Isles, which was built in 1832.
Blacksmithing Classes
Discover the art of blacksmithing with classes at Patterson's Spade Mill. Whether you're looking for a new hobby, or a day out with a difference, Blacksmithing classes at Patterson's Spade Mill are an unforgettable experience. For more information visit our things to see and do pages.
Commisions
Available to order, our experienced team can make you your very own Patterson Spade. We also take commissions for bespoke items forged here at the mill. Whether you need a companion set, a coat rack or even something unusual, our blacksmiths will put metal to flame and work their magic. For more information visit our things to see and do pages.
Water Turbine
The water turbine was brought back into operation by engineer Roy McMeekin in 1994, and it powers some thirty other machines through a system of belts and drives, which between them facilitate the many complex stages of hand-made spades.
Mill Pond
The mill pond is reached up a steep narrow path behind the finishing sheds and consists of a channel some 100m long by 3-4m wide, terminating at a small sluice, controlling the flow of water. Before mains electricity was installed, the site was powered exclusively by water. This was abstracted from the Ballymartin River at a point some half a mile upstream of the mill; a rubble-stone weir diverted part of the flow into the headrace which crosses under the main road just east of a lay-by.
Trip Hammer
Red hot billets of steel are removed from the forge and fashioned into spades using the mills massive trip hammer.
Things to see and do
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Things to do at Patterson's Spade Mill
Discover the last working water-driven spade mill in daily use in the British Isles, learn about the old art of forging and have a go at making something yourself.
Upcoming events
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1-Day Blacksmithing Courses 2025
Take time out of your daily hustle and bustle and have a crack at being a Blacksmith for a day. Select from a range of dates throughout the year.
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Patterson's Spade Mill Guided Tour
Witness over 250 years of spade making history at the last water powered spade mill, in daily operation, in the UK.
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Patterson's Spade Mill Interactive Tour
Experience 250 years of spade making history at the last water powered spade mill, still in daily operation, in the UK. Engage your senses as you feel the heat of the forge, see the flames and hear the ring of hammers on steel.
About Patterson's Spade Mill
Step into Patterson’s Spade Mill and experience the power and craftsmanship of the Industrial Revolution in action. Nestled on a site steeped in industrial heritage, this is the last remaining water-driven spade mill in the British Isles. Feel the thunder of the tilt hammer as it strikes red-hot steel, smell the oil and wood shavings, and watch the belts, governors, and flywheels work in harmony, keeping this historic mill alive.
At Patterson’s, you can witness the age-old process of spade-making, from forging steel billets into blades with a water-powered hammer to skillfully lathing wooden handles. Every tour of the mill takes you back in time, immersing you in the sights and sounds of a working industrial mill. You can even be custom-measured for your own hand-crafted spade, a unique keepsake with the distinctive Patterson label.
Beyond the mill, Patterson’s offers a glimpse into a time when the humble spade was an indispensable part of daily life, helping shape both the landscape and the history of Ireland. Discover the origins of local phrases like “a face as long as a Lurgan spade” and dig deeper into the rich heritage of this remarkable tool.
Our work
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Our work at Patterson’s Spade Mill
Continuing a legacy of hundreds of years of spade making, learn about our work to keep heritage skills alive and fire up a passion for traditional blacksmithing.
Support us
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Volunteering with the National Trust in Belfast
Discover a variety of volunteer opportunities in Belfast, with something to suit everyone.
