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Scalan, South Steading Mill
Date March 2014
Event ID 1009302
Category Recording
Type Field Visit
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/1009302
South Steading Mill
(See drawings SC1483801 and SC 1483803)
This one-storey (north end, byre) and two-storey (south end, waterwheel and threshing mill), rubble-built, corrugated iron roofed, rectangular steading range with long elevations to the north east and south west dates from the early 20th century. The building in its present extent is not shown on the 2nd edition Ordnance Survey 6-inch map (Banffshire, 1904 (surveyed 1900), Sheet XLI) and so post-dates 1900, but had been built by 1918 (based on graffiti found on the door at the south end, first floor - "FA Matheson ...26/3/1918"). Other graffiti dates from the 1920s and 1930s. The middle section of the current building is on the site of a roofed building depicted on the 1st edition Ordnance Survey 6-inch map (Banffshire, 1872 (surveyed 1869), Sheet XLI). This building incorporated a byre, possible milking parlour and threshing area with straw barn (with opposing doors).
The cast iron waterwheel (3.7m or 12 feet in diameter) which operated the threshing machine (William Alexander, Ribrae, Turriff, millwright and engineer) does not have a wheelhouse. 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 (presumably of wood) has not survived.
The waterwheels in the North Steading Mill (see NJ21NW 21.03) and the South Steading Mill are of the same diameters and type but the starts supporting the floats or paddles are longer on the North Mill. This suggests that more power was needed to operate the threshing machine in this building than in the South Steading Mill.
Visited by RCAHMS (MMD), March 2014.
