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Glenrothes, Rothes Mills, Power House
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
![Page 8, The Turbine Room 30 Years Ago [circa 1920], Digitsation of publication 'Power and Paper', Tullis Russell, Rothes Mill, Glenrothes, Fife](http://i.rcahms.gov.uk/canmore/l/DP00147194.jpg)
![Page 8, The Turbine Room 30 Years Ago [circa 1920], Digitsation of publication 'Power and Paper', Tullis Russell, Rothes Mill, Glenrothes, Fife](http://i.rcahms.gov.uk/canmore/s/DP00147194.jpg)
First 100 images shown. See the Collections panel (below) for a link to all digital images.
- Council Fife
- Parish Markinch
- Former Region Fife
- Former District Kirkcaldy
- Former County Fife
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
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
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
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
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
