Architecture Notes

Event ID 835524

Category Descriptive Accounts

Type Architecture Notes

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/835524

NT17SW 182.00 12313 74254

A large complex owned by 'Scotmalt Limited' and devoted in 2001 to the production of malt and malt extract, primarily for use in the manufacture of foods, health-foods and supplements, and home brewing kits. The site includes the partially ruinous remnants of a whisky distillery, but is dominated by a large red-brick block of saladin-box maltings (built in 1947), and at the E end of the site, by the malt evaporator house. At the time of survey, the company was investigating taking its production to a new site, and several components of the site, including the whisky bond, had long-since been demolished.

The complex originated as 'Glen Forth Distillery' in 1795, converting into a grain distillery in c1830 and being taken over by Stewart & Co in 1855, becoming a founder member of Distillers Compay Limited in 1877. The distillery continued to operate pot stills, but by the 1880s, a Coffey still was in production. A maltings block was added in 1857, and was extended in 1914. However, distilling ceased on the site in 1920 following a fire in the distillery, and production was instead diverted to producing yeast and malt extract.

Sources: Dr Ian Tillett of Scotmalt Ltd

Moss, M S and Hume, J R (1981), 'The Making of Scotch Whisky: A History of the Scotch Whisky Distillling Industry', p242 and 280

Information from RCAHMS (MKO) 2001