The Salmon Leap and Mill at Coleraine

Artist(s) : Henry Adlard (Engraver)

The salmon leap and nearby mill on the River Bann, at the place now known as the Cutts, near Mount Sandel, south-east of Coleraine. The view is taken from below the waterfall. The mill, topped by a weather vane in the shape of a salmon, stands on the right-hand side of the image, on the riverbank, with two other structures. One is a low thatched building just beside the weir and jetty. On the far bank is a smaller simpler structure, probably a water-bailiff's hut. A man and a woman with a dog, and a woman with a child, proceed along the road that runs past the mill. An adult and a child are standing on a bridge that partly crosses the river. The locality’s main activity is suggested by several other figures: a man with a net approaches a rowing boat, with oarsman, beside a jetty below the waterfall, while another man fishes with a rod from the bridge. The countryside beyond the river is hilly, and well wooded, with conifers and other trees.

Inscribed in Image

Signature – Engraved by H. Adlard
Caption outside of boundaries of image –
The Salmon Leap and Mill at Coleraine.
The property of the Hon^ble. Irish Society.

Image Details

Genre	Landscape
Technique	Engravings
Subject(s)	Rural life
Geographical Location	The Cutts - Named locality - Near Mount Sandel, south-east of Coleraine Derry - County Ulster - Province
Keywords(s)	Boats, Bridges, Buildings, Cabins, Children, Dogs, Fishing, Hats, Men, Mills, People, Rivers, Trees, Waterfalls, Women
Colour	Monochrome
Dimensions	8.9 cm x 14.5 cm
Published / created	1825

Bibliographical Details

Travel Account	A Narrative of an Excursion to Ireland
Contributor(s)	Gilpin Gorst — Role: Author of travel text
Print or manuscript	Print
Location of image in copy	opp. title page
Source copy	National Library of Ireland J 9141
Alternative source This is a link to a digital copy hosted by an external website.	http://hdl.handle.net/2027/hvd.hnznvg?urlappend=%3Bseq=6
Permalink	https://ttce.universityofgalway.ie/irelandillustrated/?id=ii_image_1367400681&object_type=image&ttce_function=5
Rights	Courtesy of the National Library of Ireland

Related text from travel account

The road was literally covered with the Parsons on their way to Coleraine, "thick as
locusts, blackning all the ground." We now got a peep at our Salmon leap, the ruins of the Mill, and Mr. Richardson's house, and at ten minutes before seven, we reached Coleraine, and were hospitably // received by Mr. Beresford. At dinner we had a Salmon, which had been caught that morning. It was served up boiled and broiled, and was so crimp and curdy, that it was not admired, except by our worthy host and myself. After dinner we went in a boat up the Banu to the Cuts, as the chasms in the rocks, forming the Salmon leap, are called. It is a beautiful romantic place, embosomed in a woody amphitheatre We found the men just going to fish the ponds, into which the fish had passed through the traps. We saw several large ones force their way up the stream, endeavouring to get through the hecks or gratings, which imprisoned them. The net used tor catching the Fish in these ponds, is called a loop net, and resembles a large landing net, only the hoop is oval and flexible. Mr. Richardson offered me one, and instructed me how to place my hands, and to use it, by drawing it quickly down the stream, and I caught a good sized fish at the first attempt. The rest of the party also joined in the sport, and were successful, but Mr. Noy had nearly fallen into the water, for a heavy fish nearly overbalanced him. It was a murderous kind of sport, but, altogether, we were very much amused here; and having distributed some silver among the men, we returned to our boat, after we had inspected the ruins of the Flour Mill, which was burnt a few years ago by accident. It was one of the objects of our commission to Coleraine, to ascertain how far the conversion of this to a Cotton Spinning Mill might injure the fishery, which is a very valuable one. Mr. Little, the tenant, and who was present, sent us a fish to the boat, and be afterwards informed us that they took a ton and a half there that evening. We grazed some of the sunken rocks in returning, but landed safely, and, after a little Chinese soup, as Dr. Kitchener calls it, we retired to rest, not a little fatigued. [pp. 62-63]