Ownership passed to the Patterson family, who had been involved in the spade industry for several generations, converting the mill once again.

Sloan's son, William, took over the paper mill, but by 1864 it had been transferred to a company called Diamond & Steen.

[1] In 1919-1920 the mill once again underwent conversion, this time to facilitate spade production, under the ownership of the Patterson family.

[4] When William George Patterson became first owner of the mill c.1920, he was at least the fourth generation of his family to work in the spade-making industry.

[6][7] William George died in 1929 and his sons John, Ben, Robert and Fred continued to work in the mill.

Arnold ultimately went to work at the spade mill at Ulster Folk Museum, while Jack and Robert continued the trade at Patterson's.

The two-storey former corn mill building was extended to form a rag store and engine room.

[6] After the mill was put up for sale by the Patterson family, there was clear recognition by the Historic Monuments and Buildings Branch of the Department of the Environment (predecessor of the Historic Environment Division of the Department for Communities), that the site and its processes needed to be recorded and preferably preserved.

It was further hoped that an owner could be found who would preserve the historic nature of the site, since it was the last-surviving water-powered spade mill operational in situ in the British Isles.

[2] The National Trust also commissioned Jack Crabtree to paint and draw scenes from the mill prior to restoration.

[1] Since then several buildings have been restored and interpretative materials have been developed to introduce visitors to the cultural and historical importance of spade production.