Building record MAB23941 - GRANDHOLM MILLS

Former mills (also known as Crombie Mills), established in 1792 as a flax mill, later a woollen mill.

Former mills (also known as Crombie Mills), established in 1792 as a flax mill, later a woollen mill. It is depicted on the OS 1st and 2nd edition maps, annotated as Grandholm Works (woollen): these also show a gasometer, lades and sluices. The site was occupied between 1792 and 1848 by Leys Masson and Co, who were amongst the largest flax spinners in Scotland. The works were taken over by J and J Crombie Ltd from 1895 as the largest vertically integrated tweed mill in Scotland. The complex included the 17 bay flax mill built 1793-4 (NJ90NW1238) with adjoining wing has a mill, engine and wheel house; there are associated water systems, turbines and pumps. A survey was carried out in 2000 prior to housing development, focused on the area of the earliest development of the mills. Many of the original structures had been previously demolished. Some of the buildings were demolished in 2001. A watching brief was carried out by Headland Archaeology in October 2001 during demolition of buildings adjacent to the Old Mill, and on groundworks to the south of the lade and west of the West building. This area south of the lade appears to have been heavily disturbed by later building work and any original mill building foundations are likely to have been destroyed during this phase. A watching brief was carried out by Headland Archaeology in September 2003 during demolition of a mill lade, and the remains of the lade recorded (NJ90NW1169). The south dyke wall of the lade, of drystone construction and surviving up to nine courses high, was recorded photographically prior to demolition. A plan was made of the wall and of the exposed deposits of the excavated lade. The lade was probably V-shaped in section although its base was not reached. A granite stone wall to the south, and parallel brick walls to the north of the bridge, may represent buildings of the former mill complex shown on early maps. A watching brief was carried out by Headland Archaeology in September 2004 and June 2005 during work associated with the development of the old mill site. This recorded the corner of a stone-built structure and evidence for a series of parallel pillar supports, and sections of wall foundation. The finds from this site are in the collections of Aberdeen Art Gallery and Museums. Limited photographic recording was carried out by Headland Archaeology in 2012 on the lade running east from the mills.

Period Notes
Listed 25/11/1991. Flax mill built 1793-4.

Author unknown, , PRESS & JOURNAL, 15/06/1999 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1416.

HEADLAND ARCHAEOLOGY, 2000, DESK BASED ASSESSMENT AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEY AT CROMBIE MILLS, GRANDHOLM, BRIDGE OF DON, ABEDEEM, DBA (Bibliographic reference). SAB4534.

HEADLAND ARCHAEOLOGY, 2000, WRITTEN SCHEME OF INVESTIGATION FOR ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEY AND WATCHING BRIEF OF WORKS AT CROMBIE MILLS, GRANDHOLM, ABERDEE, WSI (Bibliographic reference). SAB4533.

HEADLAND ARCHAEOLOGY, 2002, AN ARCHAEOLOGICAL WATCHING BRIEF AT CROMBIE MILLS, GRANDHOLM, BRIDGE OF DON, ABERDEEN, WB report (Bibliographic reference). SAB4522.

HEADLAND ARCHAEOLOGY, 2003, CROMBIE MILLS, GRANDHOLM, BRIDGE OF DON: ARCHAEOLOGICAL WATCHING BRIEF ON THE MILL LADE, WB report (Bibliographic reference). SAB5796.

HEADLAND ARCHAEOLOGY, 2003, CROMBIE MILLS, GRANDHOLM, BRIDGE OF DON: SUMMARY REPORT OF THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL ISSIES (Bibliographic reference). SAB5795.

HEADLAND ARCHAEOLOGY, 2005, CROMBIE MILLS, GRANDHOLM, BRIDGE OF DON: ARCHAEOLOGICAL WATCHING BRIEF ON THE OLD MILL, WB report (Bibliographic reference). SAB5794.

HEADLAND ARCHAEOLOGY, 2012, HISTORIC BUILDING RECORDING AND PHOTOGRAPHIC SURVEY GRANDHOLM CANALISED WATER COURSE, MILL LADES, DANESTONE POLICY WALL (Bibliographic reference). SAB5810.

ABERDEEN CITY COUNCIL, 2020, DONSIDE HERITAGE TRAIL, No. 22 (Bibliographic reference). SAB8398.

Record last edited

Jun 4 2025 9:04AM