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Birsay, Boardhouse Mills, New Mill
Watermill(S) (Period Unassigned)
Site Name Birsay, Boardhouse Mills, New Mill
Classification Watermill(S) (Period Unassigned)
Canmore ID 1783
Site Number HY22NE 29
NGR HY 25511 27476
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/1783
- Council Orkney Islands
- Parish Birsay And Harray
- Former Region Orkney Islands Area
- Former District Orkney
- Former County Orkney
HY22NE 29.00 25511 27476 New Mill
HY22NE 29.01 25475 27472 Threshing Mill
HY22NE 29.02 25489 27475 Old Mill
The Burn of Boardhouse was harnessed to power a series of corn mills at Barony Mill. This was noted as a bichopric mill in the 16th century, was mentioned in the (Old) Statistical Account, and presumably was one of the four 'mel-mills' in the parish mentioned in the New Statistical Account (NSA). It is still a working mill.
Stat Acct 1795; NSA (Orkney); A Fenton 1978; C D Morris 1989.
(Location cited as HY 253 274). Boardhouse Mills, Birsay, 18th to 19th century. A remarkable complex, consisting of three mills.
The main block (New Barony Corn Mill) is still in use and is a massive three-storey rubble structure, built in 1873, with a large kiln-vent; there are three pairs of stones driven by an iron overshot wheel with wooden buckets of about 14ft (4.3m) diameter.
The other two mills are smaller with mid-breast wheels. The smaller (Old Barony Corn Mill) has the skeleton only; the larger (Boardhouse Threshing Mill) a complete iron wheel with wooden buckets.
J R Hume 1977.
Standing Building Recording (1981 - 1987)
The Boardhouse Mills consist of three mills, 2 of which are corn mills, and the third a threshing mill. The New Barony corn mill (HY 2551 2747) is still in use, and consistes of a massive 3 storey rubble structure, including a kiln with a fixed square ventilator. The mill dates from 1873, whilst the neighbouring mills are considerably older, possibly dating back to the 18th century. Bere and oatmeal are still produced by the new mill, which continues to employ its waterwheel (overshot, cast iron, approx. 430cm in diameter driving 3 pairs of millstones and full complement of machinery) as the major source of power. The older mills are smaller with mid-breastshot wheels. Only a shell remains of the Old Barony corn mill (HY 2549 2747). The larger Boardhouse threshing mill (HY 2547 2747) nearby retains its iron waterwheel with wooden buckets. Attached to this mill are a complex of byres and an extra kiln.
There is also a sluice and a mill pond and additional buildings. There are also millers' houses, stables and cart sheds to the S of the site.
Visited by Scottish Industrial Archaeology Survey, October 1981 and May 1987.
NMRS MS/500/35/17 for details.
Note (28 July 2010)
This site has been restored. Now known as 'Barony Mill'.
Visited by RCAHMS (MMD/IA) 28 July 2010.
