Building record MAB3908 - EAST GRANGE MILL

Farmstead and mill, depicted on the 1st and 2nd edition OS maps.

Farmstead and mill, depicted on the 1st and 2nd edition OS maps. The OS 1st edition 25 inch map shows a group of buildings named Easter Grange. A U-plan steading and long rectangular building are sited just North of the road, with a house to the North of the steading. To the West are two rectangular buildings, one a smithy. North of these is a corn mill complex, with additional buildings to the North. The millpond lies to the South, with a lade leading to the mill, and then on the North and East. By the time of the 2nd edition 25 inch, much of the U-plan steading had been removed, as had the smithy and other building to the West. The mill had been further extended, and two of the buildings to the North have been removed. The present main building of the mill is a mid to late 19th century construction, but probably incorporates fabric of the mill known to have been standing in 1746. It is a long, rectangular, two-storey building, with a central kiln and a tall slated rest. It is built on a sloping site, and has long elevations to the East and West, with an approach ramp at the South gable giving access to the loft. It is constructed from harl pointed rubble with tooled rubble dressings. There are the remains of an eight spoke, overshot wood and iron wheel at the East elevation, which is served by a raised lade. There are various doorways and windows in the long West elevation, and a small, single-storey, lean-to extension. It has a tall octagonal ridge kiln vent and a slate roof. Inside, all the machinery is complete and in reasonable working order. There are 2 sets of millstones, with 1 pair dating from circa 1898. East Grange mill ceased full-time working in 1975-6, following the retirement of the miller, but continues in partial farm use for bruising cattle feed. A mill is indicated at East Grange in circa 1590 on a map drawn by Rev Timothy Pont. There may have been an earlier one serving the medieval Cistercian Abbey at Kinloss, East Grange then being part of the abbey lands, and the name may indicate the site of a monastic grange. Site visit by SUAT in 2001 noted that there was no visible sign of any earlier grange buildings.

Period Notes
A mill is shown on the site on a map drawn in circa 1590, and there may have been an earlier one. A mill is known to be standing in 1746, and parts of this are probably incorporated in the mid to late 19th century construction. One pair of millstones are dated to 1898. The mill stopped working in 1975-6, but continues to be used as a farm building. It was designated on 25/04/1989.

Hume, JR, 1977, Industrial Archaeology of Scotland, 234 (Bibliographic reference). SAB730.

SUAT, 2002, A GAZETTEER OF MONASTIC GRANGES IN SCOTLAND (Bibliographic reference). SAB1735.

Author unknown, n.d., THE NORTHERN SCOT, 28/08/76 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1270.

Record last edited

Aug 22 2024 11:17AM