Mill Of Bonnyton
Grain Mill (19th Century), Watermill (19th Century)
Site Name Mill Of Bonnyton
Classification Grain Mill (19th Century), Watermill (19th Century)
Canmore ID 120275
Site Number NJ62NE 65
NGR NJ 68305 29331
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/120275
- Council Aberdeenshire
- Parish Rayne
- Former Region Grampian
- Former District Gordon
- Former County Aberdeenshire
Mill of Bonnyton, early 19th century. Practically sited, scarped into slope, an L-plan building in which nothing is superfluous. A plain two-storey-and-attic meal mill in squared and pinned whinstone rubble with gabled loft opening to bank at north. Iron, six-spoke, mid-breast wheel: '1833 Grandholm Foundry'.
Taken from "Aberdeenshire: Donside and Strathbogie - An Illustrated Architectural Guide", by Ian Shepherd, 2006. Published by the Rutland Press http://www.rias.org.uk
NJ62NE 65 68305 29331
(Location cited as NJ 683 293). Early to mid 19th century. A 2-storey and attic pinned-rubble building on an L plan, with a kiln on the angle of the L. There is a 6-spoke, wood and iron, single-ring, mid-breast paddlewheel, 1ft 11ins (0.58m) wide by 10ft 6ins (3.2m) diameter.
J R Hume 1977.
2-storey and attic, L-plan Meal Mill built into the bank. Squared, pinned, granite rubble. Single frame 6-spoke mid-breast iron wheel dated "1835 Grandholm Foundry" in west gable. Gabled loft entrance opening to bank at north. Small lean-to on south beside 2 doors and windows. Straight skews, slate roof, chimney over kiln (temporarily removed 1984). Still retains 2 pairs of meal stones, oat bruiser, pearl barley machine and drying kiln.
2 fires in late 19th century and the 1920s damaged modern machinery which has been repaired or rebuilt. Mill lade and dam still exist to north. Ceased working in 1940s. Wheel 1ft 11 inches wide by 10ft 6 inches diameter. The projecting arm ruinous. (Historic Scotland)
Project (April 2006 - October 2006)
The proposed underground cable runs from N of Kirkton Farm, Colpy, AB52 6XD to Blackhall Road (adjacent to Westburn Gardens), Inverurie, AB51 5SN. The National Grid Reference of the NW end is NJ64961 33749 and the SE end is NJ75620 21721. The proposed cable is in Culsalmond Parish (NW end) and Inverurie (SE end). The height is 245-250m OD (NW end) and 95-100m (SE end). 1.2 The work was commissioned by Gordon McConachie, CKD Galbraith LLP for SSE. All the archaeological work will be carried out in the context of Scottish Planning Policy (SPP) Planning Advice Note (PAN 2/2011) and Scottish Historic Environment Scotland’s Policy Statement (HESPS), which state that archaeological remains should be regarded as part of the environment to be protected and managed.
Following a Desk-Based Assessment, a walkover of the entire length of the cable trench, carried out 30 April - 5 May 2016, revealed no new sites on the route but a number of Scheduled Monuments and archaeological and historical sites have been identified on the route and a watching brief was required in six areas. Six trenches were monitored between 14 June and 26 September 2016. At least two and possibly four prehistoric ring ditches with associated pottery were identified in two trenches and these were retained in situ and a clear path identified in each case for the cable trench. The base of a possible rock-cut ditch was uncovered at Durno and this was recorded, sampled and backfilled. At this area of the Roman camp the cropmark is not visible as the underlying geology is bedrock.
One ring ditch was found at the N end of the pipeline associated with prehistoric pottery and one definite and two potential ring ditches at Glenniston. In the road within Logie Durno Roman Camp, the base of a possible ditch was identified in an area where the cropmark is not visible as the underlying geology is bedrock. The watching briefs are now complete and the cabling being laid. A Post-Excavation Research Design (PERD) will now be prepared for the post-excavation works required.
Standing Building Recording (9 February 2011)
NJ 68301 29327 A standing building survey was carried out on 9 February 2011 prior to restoration of this Category B listed building. The Mill of Bonnyton is shown on the 1st Edition OS map of 1867 as a corn mill, consisting of an L-shaped building, an F-shaped building to its S and three small single buildings around an enclosure to the E. A mill pond lies to the N with a lade leading from it to the mill. By the 2nd Edition OS map the three small buildings had gone and an L-shaped structure lay in this area, which is shown as a saw mill. The current layout is seen in the 2nd Edition OS map of 1900. Two fires in the late 19th century and the 1920s damaged machinery which was later repaired. The mill ceased working in the 1940s.
Archive: RCAHMS
Funder: Mr and Mrs D Rook
Cameron Archaeology, 2011
