Mill Of Doune

NN 7303 0117 A watching brief was undertaken on 14 June 2014 during the excavation of a small trench to locate a burst water pipe at the Historic Scotland depot at Doune Steading, between Doune Castle Farm and Mill of Doune. No finds or features of archaeological significance were recorded.

Archive: RCAHMS (intended)

Funder: Historic Scotland

Paul Fox, Kirkdale Archaeology, 2013

(Source: DES)

OASIS ID: kirkdale1-311426

An archaeological watching brief and metal detecting survey was undertaken for the upgrade and widening of existing paths at the Mill of Doune and the erection of a new pedestrian footbridge across the Ardoch Burn. A watching brief observed footpath formation works. Including works to the Northeast of Doune Castle towards the Mill of Doune ruins where footpaths were widened to 2m and a new pedestrian footbridge across the Ardoch Burn was erected. The monitoring of the footpaths revealed a stone wall which is likely to have been part of the old footbridge. A metal detecting survey was carried out prior to the watching brief. No significant finds were recovered from the survey.

Information from OASIS ID: cfaarcha1-435676 (Melanie Johnson, Duncan Watson, H Francis, C Shelley, D McNicol, M Kirby and G Carruthers) 2022

NN 73032 01136 A ‘Detailed’ historic building survey, based on ALGAO (2013) standards, was required by HES of the mill building. References to a grain mill associated with Doune Castle date back to the 15th century and the 18th century historic mapping suggests a mill resided on or near the present site at that time, although the maps are far too small scale to note a definite position or layout of the mill. It was probably in its present position by the end of the 18th century. By the 19th century, the historic mapping shows the expansions to the mill, which included the addition of a large square kiln building tacked on to the west side. The mill closed in 1939 and was still roofed by the 1970s, albeit very overgrown with vegetation and trees growing around and within it; it had clearly not been repurposed since it becoming vacant.

The mill is a water-powered grain mill powered by an overshot water wheel served by a timber mill lade running alongside the south elevation of the building before being dispensed back though a tailrace to the Ardoch Burn. There was also an overflow for the lade on banks of the burn. Today, nothing of the timber mill lade or the water wheel has survived, although there may be remnants of them in and around the overgrown wheel pit. Similarly, there may be remnants of previous fixtures and fittings, and indeed original or early floor surfaces, within the interior of the mill beneath the layers of rubble forming the collapse of the upper walls and the roof structure.

The survey has identified at least seven phases of development dating from its likely 18th century origins to the 2020s remedial works, and has established the likely functions and movement around the mill based on other known examples of mill complexes and the on site evidence itself.

J. Humble & D. Sproat - AOC Archaeology

(Source: OASIS ID: aocarcha1-520985)