Building record MAB38974 - BOLSHAN WINDMILL

Farmstead and remains of a windmill.

Farmstead and remains of a windmill. The mill is a slightly tapered tower, 11.3 m high and 5.1 m in diameter at ground level, constructed of roughly squared and coursed rubble. The top course of masonry is 23 cm deep, projects 20 cm and is rounded. The tower is capped with a flat cover and the openings are blocked, except a door at the north face at ground level. It has been converted into a water storage tank. Probably originally used as a threshing mill, it dates to the late 18th to early 19th century. The windmill pioneered the use of the self-governing mechanism eventually fitted to all forms of manned windmill. The tower here has also served as a steam engine flue and the support of a water cistern. The windmill is part of a large farm complex, depicted on the 1st edition OS map as a large square steading with central open courtyard into which a wing projects from the inner north face. A further series of buildings lies to the north, while a farmhouse is shown to the west. By the 2nd edition OS map, the steading area has been roofed over, with all of the buildings amalgamated into one large structure, with the exception of the farmhouse. Today, the steading buildings appear to survive, but much of the farmhouse is shown as roofless. A new farmhouse has been built to the west of the old one.

A 37726 PO (1974), A 37726 PO (1974) (Ground Photograph). SAB28352.

A 37727 PO (1974), A 37727 PO (1974) (Ground Photograph). SAB28353.

DOUGLAS, G, 1984, SCOTTISH WINDMILLS - A SURVEY, P.22; ILL P.29-30 (Bibliographic reference). SAB4037.

Record last edited

Jun 11 2021 2:30PM