One of the country’s best-preserved relics of the 18th Century Industrial Revolution was at the centre of a national celebration at the weekend.
Stanley Mills, which was established as a cotton mill on the Tay by local merchants with support from the English cotton baron Richard Arkwright, was one of two historical Scottish watermills celebrating more than 300 years of milling history.
At the weekend Stanley Mills and New Abbey Corn Mill in Dumfries, which dates back to the late 1700s, marked National Mills Weekend with special mill-themed events.
The annual celebration, which is coordinated by the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings, champions the UK’s diverse milling heritage and encourages people to explore their local windmills and watermills.
Visitors had the opportunity to discover more about these surviving examples of Scottish watermills and their role in local life and industry over the centuries.
Founded in the 1780s, Stanley Mills processed cotton and produced textiles for over two centuries. Visitors to the mill had the chance to explore the mill’s history and learn what mill life might have been like for its workers.
A series of activities during the weekend showed visitors how waterwheels work and they were able to try their hand at special weaving sessions.
Lorna Ewan of Historic Scotland said: “Whilst both of these visitor attractions can be enjoyed for the majority of the year, National Mills Weekend is a fantastic opportunity to explore and discover more about Scotland’s rich and varied milling heritage.”