Selkirk, Level Crossing Road, St Mary's Mill
War Memorial (20th Century), Woollen Mill (20th Century)
Site Name Selkirk, Level Crossing Road, St Mary's Mill
Classification War Memorial (20th Century), Woollen Mill (20th Century)
Alternative Name(s) Gibson And Lumgair; Imperial Tobacco Co Group; Gucci; Venture Centre; Signum Electronics; Scottish Borders Council Library Hq
Canmore ID 54253
Site Number NT42NE 54
NGR NT 4715 2945
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/54253
- Council Scottish Borders, The
- Parish Selkirk
- Former Region Borders
- Former District Ettrick And Lauderdale
- Former County Selkirkshire
NT42NE 54 4715 2945
During March 1999, RCAHMS conducted a photographic survey of the standing industrial heritage relating to the tweed industry within Selkirk. The purpose of this survey was to enhance and augment the existing holdings of the National Monuments Record Scotland.
Visited by RCAHMS (MKO), February 1999
Having it's foundation in 1907 with the formation of the founding partnership of George D Gibson and Andrew G Lumgair, St. Mary's Mill continued operations as an independent mill until 1957. As with many other mills, the imposition of the policy of "Ultra Protection" by the USA brought about a serious fall in business for this company.
Following a failed merge with Wilson and Glenny of Hawick and William Brown of Galashiels, Gibson and Lumgair was eventually acquired by the Imperial Tobacco Company Group. In 1966, the Imperial Tobacco Company, as part of it's modernisation scheme, closed the nearby Ettrickvale mill and installed new carding and spinning machines at St. Mary's Mill.
Ten years later in 1976, St. Mary's Mill was sold to Italian leather manufacturer Gucci, who subsequently transferred business to Netherdale in Galashiels. Owing to strong opposition in Italy, Gucci's plans came to nothing and he was forced to sell up.
The final curtain came with the spectaular floods of October 1977. The following year the mill was acquired by the Scottish Development Agency. The mill now holds the Scottish Borders Council Library Headquarters, as well as a Venture Centre housing some small local firms. Signum electrons, who have recently begun to move into the premises previously occupied by Via Systems, use the largest portion of St. Mary's Mill.
Information taken from "The Little Guide to Selkirk Mills", c. 2000
Strip And Record (4 April 2023 - 28 April 2023)
AOC Archaeology Group was commissioned to conduct an archaeologically monitored topsoil strip on behalf of Eildon Housing, just of Dunsdale Road, Selkirk, Scottish Borders NT 47061 29402 (centered). The observed works pertained to the stripping of topsoil and the excavation of foundations through made ground, for the construction of a new storage facility.
The monitored area consisted mostly of made ground comprised of demolition material, from nearby structures. This material constituted numerous examples of pre-1970s Scottish brick work from: Preston Grange, Bellside, and Whitehill. The materials debris overlay an alluvial cobble stone natural, formed as a result of industrial and natural processes associated with the Ettrick River.
The works revealed several late modern archaeological assets, that related directly to the 19th and 20th century industrialization of the Ettrick Valley at Selkirk. Key among the assets uncovered was [008] the ‘highly probable’ rear building of the 1907 St Mary’s Mill which was decommissioned in the late 20th century. The works have allowed us to examine the demolition of late 20th century buildings in the Selkirk area of the Scottish Borders. Particular interest regarding demolition should be given to the presence of at least two cut pits [012] and [013], filled with rubble debris. Furthermore, to the
discovery of [008] several pre- 1970s service hatches and root ways were also uncovered during the topsoil strip, which have further informed our understanding of the extent of St Marys Mill.
Information from AOC Archaeology Group.
Sbc Note
Visibility: This is an upstanding building.
Information from Scottish Borders Council.
