Finzean

Date 21 July 2016

Event ID 1012440

Category Descriptive Accounts

Type Publication Account

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/1012440

Finzean community forms the southern part of the Parish of Birse (covering 125 sq. kms, population 850) in Lower Deeside, Aberdeenshire. Finzean occupies the upper catchment of the Water of Feugh which is the main tributary to the River Dee.

It is on the Water of Feugh and in the western portion of Finzean that three Grade A listed water powered wood-working mills are located. These are the Bucket Mill and Finzean Sawmill (owned by the Birse Community Trust) and the Duncan's Turning Mill (on Birse Communtiy Trust land). Each of the mills are unique survivals in Scotland and even more so as a group (within 1.6km of each other).

The woodmills have survived due to the forest heritage of Birse parish. The Birse Community Trust manages three forests in the parish (Forest of Birse Commonty (ancient rights), Slewdrum and Balfour (both BCT ownership)) and follow the tradition of 'common good' forests. The management of these produces wood for processing in the mills.

Birse Community Trust, 2015