Building record MAB6727 - OLDMILLS, OLDMILLS ROAD, ELGIN

Meal mill and kiln, built in the late 18th - early 19th century on the site of earlier mills and to the East of a farmhouse and granary (NJ26SW0212).

Meal mill and kiln, built in the late 18th - early 19th century on the site of earlier mills and to the East of a farmhouse and granary (NJ26SW0212). A mill is mentioned at this site in the 12th century, built by King David I, and known at the time as the 'King's Mill', it was later given to Pluscarden Priory (NJ15NW0006). It is also the site of a former brewery. The current structure (thought to date from 1793-4) is a two-storey and attic mill, constructed from whitewashed rubble, with tooled dressings. The kiln and storage area were added around 1850. The kiln is at the North end of the North wing, with a square sectioned louvered ventilator with a pyramidal slate roof at the apex. There is a six-spoke, iron, low breast paddlewheel on the West elevation, and the frame of a second wheel on the East elevation. The roofs have various slates, including Welsh and Bannfshire slate. It is gabled to the South, and the kiln at the North end has a pyramidal roof. In use until 1967, the mill was restored in the late 1970s and a visitor centre created. The former grain store was damaged by fire in 1983, but subsequently reconstructed. It closed in 1997 and the mill has lain derelict since this time, and was subject to fire damage in January 2014. Limited photographic recording was carried out in 2011 ahead of Elgin flood alleviation works. There is a whitewashed rubble store and cart shed built on arches spanning the mill lade, with a weather-boarded first floor and a slate roof. A broadsword (NJ26SW0045) was found while cleaning out the mill lade.

Period Notes
Built in the late-18th/early-19th century on the site of earlier mills, with the earliest mention of a mill here in the 12th century. It was restored in the late 1970 to a visitor centre, and closed in 1997. It was damaged by fire in January 2014. Listed designation given on 26/01/1971.

Author unknown, , PRESS & JOURNAL, 13/09/85 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1416.

Author unknown, , PRESS & JOURNAL, 16/06/86 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1416.

Hume, JR, 1977, Industrial Archaeology of Scotland, 231-2 (Bibliographic reference). SAB730.

HERBERT, C, 2007, ELGIN FAS ARCHAEOLOGICAL ATTENDANCE - GROUND INVESTIGATIONS, p.4 (Bibliographic reference). SAB2731.

Jan 1 1978 , MOD/81/4, MOD/81/4 (Ground Photograph). SAB30567.

Mar 15 2011 , ELGIN FAS, ELGIN FAS (Ground Photograph). SAB30864.

Author unknown, n.d., THE NORTHERN SCOT, 06/11/82 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1270.

Author unknown, n.d., THE NORTHERN SCOT, 09/07/83 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1270.

Author unknown, n.d., THE NORTHERN SCOT, 12/11/83 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1270.

Author unknown, n.d., THE NORTHERN SCOT, 13/08/83 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1270.

Author unknown, n.d., THE NORTHERN SCOT, 22/03/80 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1270.

Nov 1 1984 , DW 13-15, DW 13-15 (Ground Photograph). SAB30566.

Nov 1 1984 , DX 1-5, DX 1-5 (Ground Photograph). SAB30565.

Record last edited

Jul 26 2022 11:12AM