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Deanston, Deanston Mills, Spinning Mill

Distillery (20th Century), Spinning Mill (18th Century), Still House (20th Century)

Site Name Deanston, Deanston Mills, Spinning Mill

Classification Distillery (20th Century), Spinning Mill (18th Century), Still House (20th Century)

Alternative Name(s) Deanston Distillery; Still House

Canmore ID 128863

Site Number NN70SW 43.02

NGR NN 71558 01600

Datum OSGB36 - NGR

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/128863

Ordnance Survey licence number AC0000807262. All rights reserved.
Canmore Disclaimer. © Bluesky International Limited 2025. Public Sector Viewing Terms

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Digital Images

Oblique aerial view of Deanston Mills, taken from the NE.
Oblique aerial view of Deanston Mills, taken from the NE.Interior. Turbine house, view of lade and cast iron column with archInterior. Turbine house, view of ladeInterior. Turbine house, view of north gable with gantryInterior. Still house, view showing original floor levelInterior. Still house, view showing storeage tank behind copper stillsInterior. Still house, copper still, detail of manufacturer's plaqueInterior. Mash house, detail of inside of mash tunInterior. Spinning mill, 2nd floor, staircase hall, view from westView of gatehouse from north eastSluice gates and grill, view from southLaid, view from north west with wear beyondFilter screens, general view from northInterior. Spinning mill, 3rd floor, main room, detail of cast iron columnInterior. Spinning mill, 3rd floor, main room, view from southInterior. Spinning mill, 3rd floor, main room, detail of end wall in north east cornerInterior. Spinning mill, 4th floor, main room, detail of opening in wall for drive shaftsView of site from northDeanston Mills, DouneInterior. Main mill building, view of staircaseSpinning mill, view of upper floors from foof of bonded warehouse to westInterior. Turbine house, view of ladeInterior. Still house, lower level, view of spirit receiverTurbine house and boiler house, view from northInterior. Spinning mill, 3rd floor, main room, view of lift in south west cornerInterior. Spinning mill, 4th floor, main room, detail of windowView from W showing SW front of houses with part of workshops in foreground and part of waterwheel house and main block of mill in backgroundInterior. Main mill building, floor 4, detail of column headSpinning mill, view of lower floors from roof of bonded warehouse roof to westInterior. Turbine house, upper level, detail of louvres on ladeInterior. Mash house, view of mash tunInterior. Spinning mill, 2nd floor, staircase hall, view from westInterior. Spinning mill, 2nd floor, main room, view showing original floor levelsInterior. Spinning mill, 2nd floor, main room, view showing kiosk and window to stairInterior. Spinning mill, 3rd floor, main room, detail of column head and beamInterior. Spinning mill, 4th floor, main room, view from southDeanston Mills, Cotton Mill
View from NWView from SE showing SE and NE fronts of main block of mill with part of distillery in foregroundInterior. Main mill building, floor 4, detail of windowSpinning mill, view from roof of bonded warehouse to south westInterior. Turbine house, upper level, view showing top of ladeInterior. Still house, view of copper stillsInterior. Still house, detail of stillInterior. Spinning mill, ground floor, staircase hall, view from westInterior. Spinning mill, 1st floor, staircase hall, view from westView of tank containing pot aleSluice gates, view from north westFilter screens, view from northInterior. Spinning mill, 3rd floor, staircase hall, view from westInterior. Spinning mill, 5th floor, main room, view from north westView from E showing part of SE and NE fronts of main blockView of the Old Mill, DeanstonInterior Main mill building, view of staircaseSpinning mill, view from roof of bonded warehouse from westInterior. Turbine house, view of gantry at roof levelInterior. Turbine house, upper level, detail of cast iron archInterior. Still house, view of copper stillsInterior. Still house, detail of spirit safeAutomated sluice gates, view from eastSluice gates and grill, view from south westFilter screens, view from south eastInterior. Spinning mill, 2nd floor, main room, view from southInterior. Spinning mill, 2nd floor, main room, view of windows at south endInterior. Spinning mill, 3rd floor, staircase hall, view from north eastInterior. Spinning mill, 3rd floor, staircase hall, view of arch and underside of stairsInterior. Spinning mill, 4th floor, staircase hall, view from westInterior. Spinning mill, 4th floor, main room, detail of openings ar floor levelInterior. Spinning mill, 5th floor, main room, detail of centre bracket of roof tieInterior. Main mill building, view of attic floor (floor 5)Spinning mill, view of middle floors from roof of bonded warehouse to westSpinning mill, view from roof of bonded warehouse to south westSpinning mill, view from roof of bonded warehouse to south westInterior. Turbine house, upper level, detail of lade control wheelsInterior. Turbine house, upper level, view of roof trussInterior. Turbine house, view of cast iron columns and underside of ladeInterior. Still house, lower level, view of feints receiverGeneral view of site from northSpinning mill, view from south eastTurbine house and boiler house, view from eastWear and salmon ladder, view from southAutomated sluice gates, view from eastInterior. Spinning mill, 2nd floor, main room, view from north westInterior. Spinning mill, 3rd floor, main room, view from north westInterior. Spinning mill, 4th floor, main room, view from northInterior. Spinning mill, 5th floor, main room, detail of tie rod anchor points on wall headSpinning Mill: fourth floor plan and section Y-Y1Deanston Mills, Cotton Mill
View from SE showing SE and NE fronts of main block of mill with part of distillery in foregroundView of the Old Mill at Deanston.General oblique aerial view of Deanston Mills, taken from the ENE.Interior. Still house, view of copper stillsInterior. Still house, view of copper stillsInterior. Still house, view of copper stillsInterior. Still house, view showing arched windowsInterior. Still house, detail of spirit safeInterior. Spinning mill, 2nd floor, staircase hall, view showing arch and underside of stairView of site from northSpinning mill, bonded warehouse and spinning mill, view from south eastGeneral view of site from south eastOffice block and bonded warehouse, view from south eastSpinning mill, view from south east

First 100 images shown. See the Collections panel (below) for a link to all digital images.

Administrative Areas

  • Council Stirling
  • Parish Kilmadock
  • Former Region Central
  • Former District Stirling
  • Former County Perthshire

Activities

Publication Account (19 February 2018)

Deanston cotton mill was establishd in 1785, the year that Richard Arkwright's patents were quashed (Richard Arkwirght's water frame could now become part of continuous preparation machinery). Modenisation in 1947 destroyed the 18th century mill range. The surviving spinning mill, weaving shed, wheel house and weir of c.1826 are of great interest as a late phase of water-powered mill construction. Workers housing still survives in a relatively unchanged state.

JR Hume (1977)

Change Of Use (February 2018)

Deanston Cotton Mill was converted into a distillery in 1966. The distillery actively uses its industrial heritage and archives as part of its branding.

Information from Survey and Recording Section (Architecture and Industry), Heritage Directorate, HES, 19 February 2018.

Desk Based Assessment (19 February 2018)

Deanston Mills

Timeline

1785: Archibald and John Buchanan founded Adelphi Cotton works

1792 – Buchanan and Co warehouse cotton water twist/common weft/cording /mule twist

1793 - bankruptcy and passed to Benjamin Flounders (until c.1804)

1806 – Deanston bought by James Findlay and Co.

1807 – 17 year old nephew of Archibald Buchanan, James Smith, becomes manager

1822 – agreed that water drawn fro further up the River Teith

1825 – foundation stone for new dam laid

1830 – 2 wheels begin work

1832 – third wheel installed

1833 – fourth wheel installed

March 1834 first arch of loom shed begun – by October 50% complete

May 1834 – first self-acting mule completed

1851 – 796 persons in Deanston

1852 street lighting and lighting in Deanston homes

1852 1,535,412 lbs cotton used (£33,000)

Early 1860s mill idle for a time

1871 – 529 workers

1900 mostly towelling and cotton sheeting

1930-40 – cotton bedding

1940s – cotton and spun rayon goods

1945 – foundation stone laid

Asbestos weaving carried out

Closed 1965

Distillery went into production 17th October 1966 James Finlay and Co and Brodie Hepburn Ltd

Information from Survey and Recording Section (Architecture and Industry, MMD)), Heritage Directorate, HES, 19 February 2018

References

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