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Glenrothes, Rothes Mills, Power House

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Boiler House (Period Unassigned), Turbine House (20th Century)

Site Name Glenrothes, Rothes Mills, Power House

Classification Boiler House (Period Unassigned), Turbine House (20th Century)

Alternative Name(s) Tullis Russell & Co; Boiler House

Canmore ID 320156

Site Number NO20SE 52.01

NGR NO 28075 01769

Datum OSGB36 - NGR

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/320156

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

Tullis Russell and Co. Paper Mill, Glenrothes. Oblique aerial photograph taken facing west.
Tullis Russell and Co. Paper Mill, Glenrothes. Oblique aerial photograph taken facing west.Tullis Russell and Co. Paper Mill, Glenrothes. Oblique aerial photograph taken facing west.Tullis Russell and Co. Paper Mill, Glenrothes. Oblique aerial photograph taken facing north.Page 7, Digitsation of publication 'Power and Paper', Tullis Russell, Rothes Mill, Glenrothes, FifePage 9, Digitsation of publication 'Power and Paper', Tullis Russell, Rothes Mill, Glenrothes, FifePage 20, the ID and FD Fans, Feedwater Filtration Plant images, Digitsation of publication 'Power and Paper', Tullis Russell, Rothes Mill, Glenrothes, FifePage 26,The Main 3.3 kV. Switchboard,, Digitsation of publication 'Power and Paper', Tullis Russell, Rothes Mill, Glenrothes, FifeInterior. Turbine hall, later control roomInterior. Turbine hall. Turbine Control Panel and Gear.Interior. Boiler house. Lower floor. Ash handling area with ash conveyor on left. Dates from the early 1950s. Such hanlding machinery is also used in for other bulk loose material handling such as in flour mills.Interior. Boiler house. Lower level. Set of louvres. These cast iron plates were set on a belt which moved at 8.5-10 inches per minute to ensure equal combustion within the boilers.Interior. Boiler house. Lower level. Set of louvres. These cast iron plates were set on a belt which moved at 8.5-10 inches per minute to ensure equal combustion within the boilers.Interior. Boiler house, lower level, ash handling area. View of chute taking cooled fly ash blown from boiler and onto conveyor and then removed from site by lorry. This ash dust used in breeze block making.Interior. Boiler house, ash handling area, quenching system for heavy ash.Interior. Boiler house. Main conveyor, topside of boilers.Tullis Russell and Co. Paper Mill, Glenrothes. Oblique aerial photograph taken facing north. Auchmuthy Mill left, Power Station top, Rothes Bleachfield bottom and Rothes Mill on right.Tullis Russell and Co. Paper Mill, Glenrothes. Oblique aerial photograph taken facing north. Auchmuty Mill, left, Power Station top, Rothes Bleachfield bottom and west edge of Rothes Mill on right.Tullis Russell and Co. Paper Mill, Glenrothes. Oblique aerial photograph taken facing north.Page 10, The 5000kW set installed in 1929, Digitsation of publication 'Power and Paper', Tullis Russell, Rothes Mill, Glenrothes, FifePage 23, the 5000kW. Turbo Alternator 1951, Digitsation of publication 'Power and Paper', Tullis Russell, Rothes Mill, Glenrothes, FifeInterior. Turbine hall, original Reyrolle generator control panels nest to northernmost generator set AInterior. Boiler house. Control Panel for coal handling and boiler.Interior. Boiler house. Part of the International Combustion Ltd, London stoking plant for Stirling Boilers.Interior. Boiler house. Firebox for Stirling Boiler during operation.Fire engine. Tullis Russell had its own site fire brigade. The company no longer maintain a fire engine on site. This Tulis Russell 1960s Bedford fire engine is now maintained by enthusiasts on site.Interior. Boiler house. Ash handling area. Ash manually barrowed from hopper holding lighter fly ash blown fro the boiler by fan to a further conveyor to remove from the Power House.Interior. Boiler house, coal handling system, 'iron horse' at top of conveyor.General view of site from west showing railway sidings, disused Power House (left) with chimney behind and Biomass Plant (right)Tullis Russell and Co. Paper Mill, Glenrothes. Oblique aerial photograph taken facing north-east. Auchmuty mill (bottom left), Rothes Bleachfield (bottom right), power house (top) and Rothes Mill (top right)Oblique aerial view of Balbirnie Paper Mill, Glenrothes, Auchmuty Mill, Rothes Mills Paper Factory, looking E.Page 13, Digitsation of publication 'Power and Paper', Tullis Russell, Rothes Mill, Glenrothes, FifePage 15, Digitsation of publication 'Power and Paper', Tullis Russell, Rothes Mill, Glenrothes, FifePage 17, No 2 Boiler, Digitsation of publication 'Power and Paper', Tullis Russell, Rothes Mill, Glenrothes, FifePage 18, Coal Conveyor, Digitsation of publication 'Power and Paper', Tullis Russell, Rothes Mill, Glenrothes, FifePage 30, Text, Digitsation of publication 'Power and Paper', Tullis Russell, Rothes Mill, Glenrothes, FifeInterior. Boiler house. View of fire boxInterior. Boiler house. Control Panel for coal handling and boiler.Interior. Boiler house. Control Panel for coal handling and boiler.Interior. Boiler house, lower floor, ash handling area. Hopper from boiler above. Hot ash drops into hopper and then fed onto reddler and trough quenching system.Interior. Boiler house. Top of boiler.Tullis Russell and Co. Paper Mill, Glenrothes. Oblique aerial photograph taken facing north-west.Tullis Russell and Co. Paper Mill, Glenrothes. Oblique aerial photograph taken facing west.Tullis Russell and Co. Paper Mill, Glenrothes. Oblique aerial photograph taken facing north. This image has been produced from a damaged negative.Tullis Russell and Co. Paper Mill, Glenrothes. Oblique aerial photograph taken facing north.Tullis Russell and Co. Paper Mill, Glenrothes. Oblique aerial photograph taken facing north. The site before the building of Auchmuty machine houses Nos 4 (1957) and 5 (1970s) and the Finishing Building which swept away some of the 19th century Auchmuty Mill area.Tullis Russell and Co. Paper Mill, Glenrothes. Oblique aerial photograph taken facing north-west.Page 4, Digitsation of publication 'Power and Paper', Tullis Russell, Rothes Mill, Glenrothes, Fife. View of Steam turbine 1903 and plan of Rothes MillPage 6, Cross section of power plant 1913 and 1950, Digitsation of publication 'Power and Paper', Tullis Russell, Rothes Mill, Glenrothes, FifeInterior. Turbine hall, no. 2 (for Turbine set B) switchboardInterior. Boiler house. Travelling coal hoppers with bunker above. Rebuilt 1950Interior. Boiler house, long-handled ash rake. This is extra long to keep the operator as far away from the hot ash sa possible when raking ash in the boiler firebox.Interior. Boiler house. Ash handling area, quench system, conveyor belt. The boiler ash drops through the grates into hoppers and into the water cooling or quench system. The ash is then removed manually from the wet to dry conveyors and out of the building. The effluent water is processed on site. This came into operation in 1953. This moves and cools the ash from the boilers from the building. The ash was then recycled in brick making.Interior. Boiler house, top of conveyor carrying cooled boiler ash to remove from lower floor quenching system within ash handling area. This flyash is then removed by lorry.Tullis Russell and Co. Paper Mill, Glenrothes. Oblique aerial photograph taken facing north-west.Tullis Russell and Co. Paper Mill, Glenrothes. Oblique aerial photograph taken facing north. Power station at top. Rothes Mill on right and Rothes Bleachfield on left.Tullis Russell and Co. Paper Mill, Glenrothes. Oblique aerial photograph taken facing north.Tullis Russell and Co. Paper Mill, Glenrothes. Oblique aerial photograph taken facing north-west.Tullis Russell and Co. Paper Mill, Glenrothes. Oblique aerial photograph taken facing south-east. This image has been produced from a print.Inside front cover 'The Power Station Looking West'Page 22, Turbine Room 1951, Digitsation of publication 'Power and Paper', Tullis Russell, Rothes Mill, Glenrothes, FifePage 31, Diesel Engine and generators, Digitsation of publication 'Power and Paper', Tullis Russell, Rothes Mill, Glenrothes, FifePage 32 (Back cover), Boiler House, Digitsation of publication 'Power and Paper', Tullis Russell, Rothes Mill, Glenrothes, Fife, photographs by W. Ralston, Marine and Industrial Photographers, Glasgow, C.2.Interior. Turbine hall, no. 4 / D turbine switchboardInterior. Turbine hall, Parsons three phase alternator, detail of makers plate, generator set D at south end of turbine hallInterior. Boiler house. View of coal bunker fed from coal conveyor (not seen). The travelling coal hopper fed the coal into the Stirling Boiler. This boiler house was rebuilt in 1950.Interior. Boiler house, detail of fireboxInterior. Boiler house. Ash handling area fed from from boiler firebox above. The boiler ash drops through the grates into hoppers and into the water cooling or quench system. The ash is then removed manually from the wet to dry conveyors and out of the building. The effluent water is processed on site. This came into operation in 1953.This came into operation in the early 1950s when the boiler house was rebuilt and the turbine house extended and refitted.Boiler house, top of conveyor carrying cooled ash to further conveyor and onto lorry for removal from site.Interior. Boiler house. Conveyor which delivers coal to boiler hoppers. The conveyer is lengthened or shortened by the 'iron horse' on which the operator is sitting, to the left of the image.General view of Tullis Russell site from south west. Building on right, creper house. Brick chimney of disused Boiler House in background. Biomass plant (white tower) on site of Rothes no.4 papermaking machine house (adjacent to Rothes No.1 machine pulp store and machine house)General view of site from west. Disused power house and chimney of left. Biomass Plant on right.Tullis Russell and Co. Paper Mill, Glenrothes. Oblique aerial photograph taken facing north-west.Tullis Russell and Co. Paper Mill, Glenrothes. Oblique aerial photograph taken facing north-west.Tullis Russell and Co. Paper Mill, Glenrothes. Oblique aerial photograph taken facing north-west.Tullis Russell and Co. Paper Mill, Glenrothes. Oblique aerial photograph taken facing north. Auchmuty Mill, left, Rothes Bleachfield ('E' shaped building with range to east) bottom, Power Station top and Rothes Mill on right.Tullis Russell and Co. Paper Mill, Glenrothes. Oblique aerial photograph taken facing north.Tullis Russell and Co. Paper Mill, Glenrothes. Oblique aerial photograph taken facing north. Showing Auchmuty Mill and Rothes Bleachfield (bottom).Tullis Russell and Co. Paper Mill, Glenrothes. Oblique aerial photograph taken facing north-east.Page 5, Digitsation of publication 'Power and Paper', Tullis Russell, Rothes Mill, Glenrothes, FifePage 8, The Turbine Room 30 Years Ago [circa 1920], Digitsation of publication 'Power and Paper', Tullis Russell, Rothes Mill, Glenrothes, FifePage 14, Digitsation of publication 'Power and Paper', Tullis Russell, Rothes Mill, Glenrothes, FifePage 21, Feed Pump Bay and Condensing Plant, Digitsation of publication 'Power and Paper', Tullis Russell, Rothes Mill, Glenrothes, FifePage 25, The Turbine Control Panel and Gear, Digitsation of publication 'Power and Paper', Tullis Russell, Rothes Mill, Glenrothes, FifeInterior. Turbine hall, South end of turbine hall, dating from 1913. View of turbine.Interior. Turbine hall. Turbine Control Panel and Gear in southern end of turbine hall completed 1913.Interior. Boiler house. Stoker for Stirling Boiler. Made by International Combustion Ltd, London. Boiler house reopened 1953.Interior. Boiler house. Firebox interior of Stirling Boiler. Ash was gathered here and raked into ash pit below and onto cooling conveyor..Fire engine. Tullis Russell had its own site fire brigade. The company no longer maintain a fire engine on site. This Tulis Russell 1960s Bedford fire engine is now maintained by enthusiasts on site.Fire engine with fire station behind. Tullis Russell had its own site fire brigade. The company no longer maintain a fire engine on site. This Tulis Russell 1960s Bedford fire engine is now maintained by enthusiasts on site.Interior. Boiler house. Ash handling area, quench system, conveyor belt. The boiler ash drops through the grates into hoppers and into the water cooling or quench system. The ash is then removed manually from the wet to dry conveyors and out of the building. The effluent water is processed on site. This came into operation in 1953.Interior. Boiler house. Ash handling area, quench system, conveyor belt. The boiler ash drops through the grates into hoppers and into the water cooling or quench system. The ash is then removed manually from the wet to dry conveyors and out of the building. The effluent water is processed on site. This came into operation in 1953.Interior. Boiler house, lower level, ash handling area. View of chute (opening below conveyor) taking cooled ash blown from boiler. This material was manually handled into the chute by wheelbarrow.Interior. Boiler house. Top of boilers.Interior. Boiler house. Topside of boiler.Interior. Boiler house, conveyor supplying coal to boilers. Topside of boilers can be seen on right.Tullis Russell and Co. Paper Mill, Glenrothes. Oblique aerial photograph taken facing north.Tullis Russell and Co. Paper Mill, Glenrothes. Oblique aerial photograph taken facing west.Tullis Russell and Co. Paper Mill, Glenrothes. Oblique aerial photograph taken facing north. Power Station at top, Rothes Bleachfield on left and Rothes Mill on right.Tullis Russell and Co. Paper Mill, Glenrothes. Oblique aerial photograph taken facing east.Page 11, Digitsation of publication 'Power and Paper', Tullis Russell, Rothes Mill, Glenrothes, Fife

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

Administrative Areas

  • Council Fife
  • Parish Markinch
  • Former Region Fife
  • Former District Kirkcaldy
  • Former County Fife

Activities

Construction (1902 - 1913)

Power house first phase begun in 1902, completed 1913

Further Details

Publication Account (1953)

The central power house was completed in 1913. Begun in 1902 with the installation of a small Parson's Turbine (150kW) ordered for Auchmuty Mill (NO20SE 52.03) and which was relaced in 1903 by a 300kW capacity steam turbine, it drove two dynamos in tandem.The two generators supplied Auchmuty Mill at 220 volts until 1906 when the machines were arranged in series and a current of 440 volts was transmitted by overhead cables to Rothes Mill as well.

The four Stirlingwater-tube boilers were installed by 1912 to supply steam at 200 p.s.i. and at 760 degrees Farenheit to two turbo generators. A coal handling plant was installed and a new chimney built (200ft in height and 10feet in diamter). The turbo generators were supplied by Westinghouse producing low pressure steam for paper drying and for generating electricity.The generators wree directly connected to turbines and ran at 2500 r.p.m. and generated direct current (DC) 460 volts and this current was conveyd to the mills by overhead cables(aluminium).

Tullis Russell and Co. 1953

Further Details

Modification (1953)

Power house enlarged

Further Details

Publication Account (1967)

Enlargement of the Power House. There had been a substantial growth in the requirements of power during the 1930s and plans had been made to enlarge the power house before the war (pre 1939). Messrs Blyth and Blyth were appointed to the do the engineering work. In 1946 orders for three Stirling Boilers Stirling Boiler Co. Ltd and the new Power House completed in 1953. Each of the three boilers evaporated 75,000 lbs water per hour at a pressure of 425 p.s.i. and at a temperature of 750 degrees. Fired by twin stokers of the International Combustion Ltd and using washed duff from Fife coalfields as fuel. The 5,000kW Parsons turbo-alternator was of the single cylinder type running at 3000 rpm and in 1952 a duplicate set was ordered to replace the two old 1,000kW. sets. The old water turbine was replaced and a higher efficiency generating 160kW. and continuing in the old tradition of using water.

CDM Ketelbey, 1967

Further Details

Publication Account (2011)

Timeline: Power and Environment

1829 First paper machine installed at Auchmuty Mill powered by water wheel

1890 A new 208ft chimney stack erected

1895 The soda recovery for the Esparto Mill at Auchmuty is reported to be working well to cut down on the amount being discharged to River Leven

1897 Mill Engine is installed . Reported as being equal to 1000 horsepower, the engine is constructed by Douglas Grant of Kirkcaldy. The mill engine shut down in 1930

1912 Work starts on a Power Station at Markinch. Completed by 1914 and enlarged in 1921.

1927 A new Parson's Steam Turbine is installed at the Power Station.

1930 The mills become electrically driven

1951 A new water turbine installed. Still in operation (2009)

1954 New Turbines installed in the Power Station and new boilers in 1959

1971 Work is completed on the erection of a new 225ft chimney as part of the extension work to the Power Station and in 1972 a new oil fired boiler is commissioned

1980 Tullis Russell purchases the Balgonie Turbines and a cable is installed back to the mills to augment the power supplies. Built in 1922 by the Balgonie Colliery upto the time of closure in 1959. Power is also supplied to the Rothes Coliiery sub-station until the pit closed in 1973

1987 New coal handling system is installed at Markinch

1997 As part of investment, one boiler at the power station is converted to gas. Grit arresters are fitted to two of the other coal boilers. 2006 further grit arrester installed this time to No.2 boiler

2009 Biomass CHP plant begun reducing annual fossil fuel carbon emission by 250,000 tonnes

Tullis Russell Coated Papers Ltd, 2011

Further Details

Note (2013)

RCAHMS recorded the power house boiler house, ash and coal handling plant and turbine hall photographically in 2012 in advance of the boiler house was being decommissioned in 2013.

A new biomass plant has been built on an adjacent site.

Information from RCAHMS (MMD), 28 November 2013

Further Details

Standing Building Recording (20 November 2017 - 21 November 2017)

NO 27751 01702 A photographic and written historic building survey of the upstanding buildings within the former paper factory was carried out 20 – 21 November 2017. The factory, which ceased operations in 2015, consists largely of a collection of mid- to late 20th-century industrial buildings, offices and a biomass plant. However, there are some earlier elements, most notably the main mill lade which runs through the site and its associated sluice gates and operational machinery. In addition, there appear to be some elements of earlier buildings to the N side of one of the larger machine plant buildings; although a brief inspection of the interior suggested minimal survivals, with a few walls and windows (blocked) which were possibly 19th-century in date.

Rothes House, a listed building, is also located within the development area. The building is an early to mid-late 19th-century country house with some interesting and fine architectural detail, although its setting has been severely compromised by its proximity of the biomass plant.

Archive: NRHE (intended)

Funder: Advance Construction

Diana Sproat – AOC Archaeology Group

(Source: DES Vol 19)

OASIS ID: aocarcha1-309030

Further Details

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