Building record MAB21869 - CAIESMILL

Former corn mill depicted on historic OS maps.

Former corn mill depicted on historic OS maps. On the 1st edition it is named Kays Mill and comprises an L-plan, a T-plan and a rectangular building. To the southeast is a mill pond. The L-plan building appears to have been removed by the time of the 2nd edition map on which it is names Caiesmills: two new buildings had been added and the T-plan building extended. Caie's mill has a long history stretching back to the start of the 17th century. It is located in the parish of Dyce and on the lands formerly known as Begsley. It is first mentioned in a charter dated 6 July 1615 issued by James VI to George Johnston. The grant included many different lands in and around the parish of Dyce but specifically included 'the mill of Beigisley named Caismylne.' The 1696 Poll Tax returns show 5 people as living on the lands of Begsley. Unfortunately none of them were listed as millers. Strangely almost nothing else is currently known of this intriguing mill. Its next appearance in the historic record is on the 1867 Ordnance Survey Map. This shows it to be a corn mill, known as Kay's Mill. Alexander speculated that the name Caie's Mill comes from 'the surname Caie (Cay, Kay) which in the dialect rhymes with 'high'.' The corn mill burned down in the 1920s or 30s. A standing building survey was carried out by MAS in July 2008 ahead of proposed development. None of the present structure can be attributed to the 17th century mill on the site, but the 1796 datestone on the present building appears to be in its original position. Documentary research suggests that the initials JH on the datestone refer to John Henderson who is mentioned in 1795 and appears to have been tacksman or tenant at that time, and so likely responsible for the rebuilding at this date. The structure of the mill house indicates a 19th century date. A third building shown on the 1st edition map straddling the lade may have been another mill, possibly for a different purpose, but nothing of this building remains.

MURRAY ARCHAEOLOGICAL SERVICES, 2008, CAIESMILL, KINELLAR, ABERDEEN: STANDING BUILDING SURVEY, SBS (Bibliographic reference). SAB7334.

ARCHAEOLOGY SCOTLAND, 2009, DISCOVERY & EXCAVATION IN SCOTLAND, VOL 9, 2008, p. 13 (Bibliographic reference). SAB3496.

Record last edited

Apr 9 2019 2:45PM