Glen Quoich

Sawmill destroyed. All that remains are the modern building footings, the mill-lade and wheel pit. Last used about 40 years ago; impossible to say whether it incorporated part of the 1695 structure, which was almost certainly sited here.

Visited by OS (RL) 18 October 1967; Information from Mr Grant, Pinewood Cottage, Inverey.

The remains of a mill, its lade and three buildings lie along the line of the footpath to the Linn of Quoich, on the NE side of the Quoich Water. The saw mill and the three buildings are depicted as roofed on the 1st edition of the OS 6-inch map (Aberdeenshire 1867, sheet xcviii). The lade which fed the mill is also depicted, running across the chord of a bend in the Quoich Water immediately downstream of The Linn of Quoich; there is now no trace of the weir and dam which are also shown on the 1st edition (ibid). The superstructure of the saw mill may have been timber and only the wheel pit (MAR93 203), the mountings for the wheel and, to the NNE, the saw mountings survive. Immediately to the WNW of the wheel pit there are two overflow channels running off the S side of the lade.

To the WNW of the saw mill and on the NNE side of the lade there are the footings of a building (MAR93 204) which is depicted as roofed on the 1st edition map (ibid). Two further buildings and an enclosure on a terrace were recorded to the N of the saw mill, both buildings are depicted as roofed on the 1st edition map (ibid); the E building has been heavily robbed. The enclosure is marked by a low scarp and an intermittent rickle of stones, and was presumably bounded by a fence. The W building (MAR93 205) was constructed on a platform levelled into the slope and the footings that are visible represent a stance for a timber building, probably similar to Cairn na Drochaide (NO19SW 15, NO 1235 9147), where a predominately timber, two-storey building rests on stone footings. The footings at the Linn of Quoich are faced on the exterior of the building only; the SSW end wall (1.75m in thickness) contains a hearth, while a platform for a porch extends from the ESE side. The hearth is paralleled at Cairn na Drochaide (NO19SW 22.01), where the central portion of the two gable-ends are stone-built, presumably to accommodate a chimney.

(MAR93 203-205)

Visited by RCAHMS (DCC) 8 June 1993.

NO 115 912 The remains of a building and enclosure were located on the E bank of the River Quoich, possibly part of the saw mill (NMRS NO 19 SW 4) depicted on the OS 1st edition map (1869).

A terraced platform was located on the slope above the river, and a low stone wall was visible to the S. An enclosure surrounded by a one course high stone wall lies to the W.

Sponsor: National Trust for Scotland

S Bain 1998

NO 115 912 A fieldwalking survey located a possible mill site (NMRS NO 19 SW 4) on the S bank of the Quoich. The remains consist of a channel or lade forming a C-shape, with a possible bypass channel. A number of large irregular boulders lie on the bank and in mid-stream, possibly forming the remains of a dam. A mid-18th-century estate map depicts a mill on both sides of the river.

Sponsor: National Trust for Scotland.

S Bain and N Healey 2001