Sandy's Mill

Heritage listing

Category A Date Added 05/02/1971 Local Authority East Lothian Planning Authority East Lothian Parish Prestonkirk NGR NT 55024 75300 Coordinates 355024, 675300 — Mid-late 18th century. 3-storey meal-mill, roughly rectangular in plan with later single storey threshing mill abutting to W. Random rubble with stugged ashlar dressings. N ELEVATION: entrance at ground floor, with further 1st floor doorway above. Window to 2nd floor. Kiln to right with small opening to centre below eaves. S ELEVATION: noteworthy low breastshot waterwheel to main block, measuring 426cm (outside diameter) by 150cm (width) originally with 30 wooden paddles each 3cm thick. Window at 1st and 2nd floor. Gabled 2-storey single bay and single storey piend-roofed threshing mill butt joined to W. Red pantiles to mill, threshing mill and to steep truncated pyramidal roof of kiln (ventilator missing). INTERIOR: much of machinery survives; waterwheel drove 2 pairs of millstones, one for grinding, the other for shelling. A grain bruiser, pearl barley wheel and gearing also remain. The sack hoist is of interest; could be operated from any floor, has a dog clutch and automatic and manual disengaging device. Kiln floor is 30cm below 2nd floor level of the mill; constructed of cast-iron perforated plates. Single bagging outlet from kiln floor to mill. Access to kiln firebox external; internal route blocked. — Existing mill probably built on the site of former mill to serve the Gilmerton estate; mill buildings appear on Forrest map 1799. Wheel drive unusual; as is the absence of shaking conveyors and bucket elevators. Milling ceased by early 1940s, waterwheel pit now silted and the lade diverted to power a generator. Mill and accompanying cottages recently sold; proposals made for restoration (1989).

From Historic Environment Scotland under OGL v3.