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Deanston, Deanston Mills

Cotton Manufacturing Site (18th Century), Distillery (20th Century)

Site Name Deanston, Deanston Mills

Classification Cotton Manufacturing Site (18th Century), Distillery (20th Century)

Alternative Name(s) Deanston Cotton Works; Adelphi Mill; Deanston Distillery; War Memorial Plaque

Canmore ID 24775

Site Number NN70SW 43

NGR NN 71540 01580

NGR Description Centred on NN 71540 01580

Datum OSGB36 - NGR

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/24775

Ordnance Survey licence number AC0000807262. All rights reserved.
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Digital Images


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Administrative Areas

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

Archaeology Notes

NN70SW 43.00 71540 01580

NN70SW 43.01 70620 02332 (From NN 70265 02664 to NN 71390 01760) Lade

NN70SW 43.02 71558 01600 Spinning Mill

NN70SW 43.03 71512 01612 Water Wheel House

NN70SW 43.04 71496 01633 Houses

NN70SW 43.05 71519 01557 Old Weaving Shed

NN70SW 43.06 70309 02667 Weir

NN70SW 43.07 71483 01646 The Old School

NN70SW 43.08 71533 01654 Pellet Store

(Location cited as NN 715 017). Deanston Mills (cotton) and village; founded 1785. Oldest parts of the mill complex are: a 5-storey attic and basement, 7-by 8-bay block on an L plan, dating from c. 1827, with cast-iron columns and beams supporting wooden joists and floors; the contemporary vaulted weaving shed; and the water-wheel house, which still contains the wrought-iron flume and shuttles for 4 large water-wheels, as well as 2 Gordon turbines of 1926 and a Gilkes turbine. The 2-storey workshop building survives in derelict condition.

J R Hume 1977

The building has been utilised as a distillery and in particular as bonded warehouse storage since 1967.

Information from letter from RCAHMS (GDH) 10 November 1987 to RCHME, York

[see MS/744/69]

There are similarities between Deanston and Marshall's Temple Mill, Leeds. "It [Deanston] is clearly a highly significant site".

Information from letter dated 13 November 1986 from Dr I H Goodall, RCHME, York. [see MS/744/69]

Architecture Notes

EXTERNAL REFERENCE:

University of Glasgow Library Archives

James Williamson 1949 - Measured Survey

NMRS REFERENCE:

Catalogue to Glasgow University Library Archives - Typescript

Activities

Aerial Photography (17 June 2003)

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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