South Mill, Scalan, Braes of Glenlivet, Speyside Glenlivet, Moray

Description

An early 20th century, single storey, rectangular plan mill and byre, built on two levels with long northeast and southwest elevations. The south end was the mill and is slightly taller than the longer north end. It is constructed in rubble with harl pointing. The roof has been replaced in corrugated iron and has ventilators. There is an under-shot cast iron mill wheel at the south end of the southwest elevation served by a concrete lade.

The interior was seen in 2016 and has a free standing threshing machine, probably early 20th century, which is labelled 'William Alexander, Ribrae, Turriff, millwright and engineer'. The former byre (north end) has timber stalls with troughs and a cobbled floor.

Statement of Interest

The South Mill at Scalan is an important component of a remote group of domestic and agricultural buildings that together with the Former Roman Catholic Seminary (LB8453) and the North Mill (LB8484) evidence the historical and social development of Scalan from the 18th century to the early 20th century. Scalan is of outstanding historical significance because of the critical role it played in preserving the Catholic faith in Scotland during the 18th century as well as its agricultural interest. The surviving fabric and fixtures, including a wheel with lade, threshing machine and timber stalls, clearly indicate how this building functioned.

Age and Rarity

The precise date of this mill and byre building is not known but it likely dates to the early 20th century. The previous listed building record, written in 1972, dates the two mill buildings at Scalan to the early 19th century, but possibly incorporating earlier fabric. However these two mill buildings are not on the 1st Edition Ordnance Survey Map (surveyed 1869). On this map the Seminary is shown with a number of small outbuildings to the north and south and a pair of rectangular-plan buildings on the opposite side of the Crombie water (a stream about 70m to the west of the seminary). The South Mill itself is not shown on the 2nd Edition Ordnance Survey Map (surveyed 1900). The interior timberwork of the building has graffiti and the earliest date seen is 1918. The mill was therefore probably constructed between 1900 and 1918.

From 1716 to 1799 there was a Roman Catholic Seminary at Scalan. Roman Catholicism was outlawed following the Scottish Reformation in 1560 and its practice was theoretically punishable by deportation. Scalan is located in the Braes of Glenlivet, which were sufficiently isolated and remote in the 18th century to shelter Catholics. The Seminary was built in 1767 (listed at category A, LB8453). Farming at the Seminary was key to their survival during the period of persecution and constant harassment of Roman Catholics. Roy's map of 1747-55 depicts rig and furrow cultivation patterns around Scalan, indicating that farming did take place. Addison refers to the seminary records that suggest that meal was imported to Scalan, but believe that it was possible that some of the later threshing was done here and the early threshing machine was already in use for their survival and for sharing essential cereal foods with the community.

Scalan was closed by the Catholic Church in 1799 when the repeal of the Penal Laws made it feasible to set up a larger and more visible seminary. The seminary was transferred to Aquhorthies near Inverurie in 1799 and then to Blairs College near Aberdeen in 1829. It is recorded that the Holy Fathers took their farming skills with them to both locations.

After the priests moved in 1799 the seminary became a farmhouse and it is likely that it was previously assumed that the two mills were constructed at this time. In the Ordnance Survey Name Book of 1867-69, Scalan is described as "A commodious dwelling house, with some cottar houses offices, garden, and farm attached - the property of the Duke of Richmond. This place was some seventy years ago, a popish Seminary but is now converted into a farm steading."

Farm buildings are not a rare building type and can be found across Scotland, however those that survive with machinery and original fixtures and fittings are becoming increasingly rare. Dating from the early 20th century the design of the south mill is not innovative for its date and is similar to early 19th century mills. However it is an important component of an outstanding group of buildings at Scalan and the surviving fabric and fixtures, including a wheel with lade, threshing machine and timber stalls, clearly indicate how this building functioned.

Architectural or Historic Interest

Interior

The survival of the threshing machine and the timber stalls are of interest as they add to our understanding of the function of the building. The threshing machine is an important comparative with the earlier example in the nearby North mill. This pair of threshing machines are very rare.

Plan form

The long rectangular plan form of the building is typical for a mill building and it is, of course, built close to a water source (the Crombie water) for water to be supplied to the mill lade.

Technological excellence or innovation, material or design quality

The rubble construction and elongated plan of this mill is typical for a rural mill building of this date. The building has been altered by the replacement of the roofing material and the addition of ventilators.

The survival of the waterwheel is an important feature and is significant in listing terms. The waterwheel is a breastshot 'start and awe' waterwheel. The term 'start' refers to the piece of wood secured in the rim and projecting from it, onto which the 'awe' or the wooden float or paddle was attached at a 40 -45 degree angle. The launder fed the water directly onto the floats or paddles at the mid-point of the wheel, moving the waterwheel in a clockwise direction. The surviving portion of the lade and the launder feeding the wheel are of concrete. The elevated lade has not survived and the previous listed building record, written in 1987, indicates that this was of timber.

Setting

The South Mill is part of a small group of farm buildings, informally arranged, which are set in a remote highland, upper moorland valley in the Braes of Glenlivet, a setting which has not changed since the early 20th century. Together these buildings evidence the historical, social and agricultural development of Scalan from the 18th century to the early 20th century.

Regional variations

The materials used in the construction of the mill buildings are local to Scalan including limestone and use of Tomintoul slates.

Following the introduction of the threshing machine in the late 18th century the layout of agricultural buildings became more formal. The informal arrangement of the farm buildings at Scalan is, however, typical of pre-industrialised 19th century farm steadings in Morayshire that remained the norm longer into the 19th century than in other parts of Scotland.

The New Statistical Account refers to limestone being quarried and used for agricultural purposes and 'lime kilns are seen on almost every farm to provide peat fuel' (p.127). A lime kiln at Scalan is marked on the 1st Edition Ordnance Survey map. It is likely that this locally sourced stone may also have been used in the construction and repair of buildings, because the remote location of Scalan would mean it would have been difficult and expensive to transport stone for these buildings.

Close Historical Associations

Scalan is an important ecclesiastical site in Scotland and is renowned for its critical role in helping to preserve Roman Catholic faith and worship in Scotland during the 18th century. Roman Catholicism was outlawed following the Scottish Reformation in 1560 and its practice was theoretically punishable by deportation.

Scalan is located in the Braes of Glenlivet, which were sufficiently isolated and remote in the 18th century to shelter Catholics. Founded by Bishop James Gordon, the seminary at Scalan was in operation from 1716 to 1799 and trained around 100 Catholic priests. It also served as an administrative centre for the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland.

The category of listing was changed from B to C on 09/11/1987. Statutory address, category of listing changed from C to B and listed building record revised in 2016. Previously listed as 'Braes Of Glenlivet, Scalan, South Steading With Mill Wheel'.

External Links

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