Building record MAB11104 - STRATHISLA DISTILLERY, KEITH

Distillery, founded by George Taylor in 1786 as Milltown Distillery, which was mainly rebuilt in circa 1880, circa 1890 and in the 1950s.

Distillery, founded by George Taylor in 1786 as Milltown Distillery, which was mainly rebuilt in circa 1880, circa 1890 and in the 1950s. There is an irregular and varied range of associated distillery buildings, which are mainly constructed from grey rubble, with tooled ashlar dressings and slate roofs. The office block is a single-storey U-plan range converted from other uses, probably in the 1950s, when window openings were enlarged and new doors slapped through. There is regular fenestration to the court, and a pair of entrances with modern timber canopies. There is a further rear entrance with a shallow portico, supported by a pair of slender cast-iron columns. The court is closed at the east by a short length of coped rubble wall, with a pair of cast-iron carriage gates and a similar single pedestrian gate, flanked by plain square rubble gate piers with stepped pyramidal caps, which were installed in circa 1980. There are re-set dated armorials in the east gable and projecting canted window. The re-used armorial datestone is dated 1695, and other carved fragments set in the east gables of the office block were taken from Milton Tower (NJ45SW0003). There are paired kilns with twin slated shaped roofs, terminating in louvred pagoda apex vents, with a cast-iron weathervane to one and a decorative finial to the other. The east gable of one kiln is fronted by a re-used waterwheel adjoining a four-storey building constructed as malt bans, converted in 1950s for other uses. Undershot waterwheel, by James Abernethy of Aberdeen, and dated 1881, has been added as a feature, and is re-used for decorative effect being motivated by electricity. There is a rubble-built stillhouse on the south, with a double finialled gable, twin dormers and a louvred ventilator. The roof is alternate slated. The stillhouse is one of the oldest in the industry. The rear elevations are harled, with a painted circular-section brick chimney to rear. No. 12 duty warehouse is probably from circa 1890. It is a two-storey rubble-built warehouse, with five gabled bays to Seafield Avenue to the east, and a four-bay return south elevation. It has slate roofs and a tiled ridge. There is also a late 19th century cast-iron drinking fountain, with a cup attached by a length of chain, which is inscribed 'T Kennedy, Patentee, Kilmarnock'. In March 2006, a buildings survey was carried out on the former filling store before its development into a visitor centre. A photographic survey was carried out in 2023 prior to proposed redevelopment of Warehouse No. 12 into a warehouse visitor experience.

Period Notes
Built in 1786 as Milton Distillery. mostly 19th century buildings, with rebuilding taking place in circa 1880, circa 1890 and in the 1950s. There is a re-used datestone from 1659, and a waterwheel from 1881. The wall and gates enclosing the court were added in circa 1980. Listed designation given on 24/03/1971.

Hume, JR, 1977, Industrial Archaeology of Scotland, 180 (Bibliographic reference). SAB730.

GEDDES, G., 2006, BUILDINGS SURVEY, FILLING STORE (Bibliographic reference). SAB2185.

BUILDINGS SURVEY

GEDDES, G, 2007, DES VOL7, 2006, P.111 (Bibliographic reference). SAB2589.

ETTLES, B, 2021, HISTORY OF KEITH (Bibliographic reference). SAB498.

Aug 30 2006 , AAS/06/3/DG591-601, AAS/06/3/DG591-601 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB31946.

Jan 12 2023 , 22/01806/LBC, 22/01806/LBC (Ground Photograph). SAB36464.

Author unknown, n.d., THE NORTHERN SCOT, 17/07/87 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1270.

Record last edited

Mar 21 2023 2:58PM