Nether Corn Mill, The Miller's Knowe, Kilbirnie

Nether Mill was a corn and meal mill that dates from at least the 1750s. It was owned by the Earl of Glasgow in the 1850s with George Dickie as the miller. Dickie found a stone coffin when he was building a road at the site and used it in the construction. By 1909 the mill had expanded with new building, possibly a cottage or grain kiln was built next to the old lane and an iron waterwheel was installed. The 1909 OS shows the mill to be disused and it appears to have been abandoned and mostly demolished.
The iron waterwheel mostly survines in situ in its wheel pit and the splash wall stands with the wheel that was driven off teeth on the wheel rim and turned the millstone.

[@OutandAbout1]

Oooh now thats a good one added to our visit list ,thanks Roger 👍👍👍

[@rogergriffith286]

Better make it soon - a housing development is planned and the mill will be obliterated :-(

[@OutandAbout1]

@@rogergriffith286 oh no more history down the pan

[@Urbexy]

Impressive find. Especially with the remnants of the wheel and gearing still in place. Might need to pay this place a visit before "progress" happens. 😞 nicely put together video.

[@rogergriffith286]

Many thanks. I have a Wikipedia article as well called 'Nether Mill'. I was surprised that the official report is said to regard the mill as of no interest. I would have hoped for a bit of consolidation and an information board instead of demolition. I haven't seen this gearing system before. Do make a video - I was reluctant to visit the old mill pond above the wheel - mobility problems.

[@legandrydirk]

Progress never happens in Kilbirnie its the land that time forgot

[@rogergriffith286]

@@legandrydirk The main street looks very sad that's for sure. Great library though :-)

[@legandrydirk]

@@rogergriffith286 Kilbirnie is a shit show happy to gotten out off there years ago still some good people there though but its a back water got more shops and stuff to do in Glasgow not even the City centre

[@legandrydirk]

@@rogergriffith286 Would been good if you documented this stuff in the 80ties when I moved still had dye works Stonyholm mill and parts off the railway sheds and works all been leveled now still had off shoots off steal works and church all gone and the pub fell down when they pulled the jubilee building down big tenement Knoxes had bomb shelters out back to all gone

[@jaculton2641]

There was an attempt to clear this site in the mid 70's. It never happened. Walk on and it brings you to the 'killing house '. Visited the mill many times with my grandfather. It was on his memory lane. He was parks superintendent and planned to clear the place. Let people see what was there.

[@rogergriffith286]

A pity that it was never tidied up. It's a nice bit of industrial technology - an unusual millstone drive mechanism.

[@richiec9077]

Which 1750 map are you referring to?I had a look on the James dorret one of that year but couldn't find a "Neth mill" , I did notice Nether mill and Unthank on the Victorian six inch map. Thanks Roger

[@rogergriffith286]

maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=15.0&lat=55.75151&lon=-4.67978&layers=4&b=1

[@rogergriffith286]

It's on NLS maps together with many others if you are not familiar with that site.

[@richiec9077]

@@rogergriffith286 thanks ,yes that's the site I'm using I like the side by side feature as you can compare various maps to a modern day satallite image , interesting to note the 1843-1882 six inch map notes of stone lined coffins being found there in 1792.

[@richiec9077]

Thanks for sharing that link , I know that particular map as the "Roy lowlands 1752-1755" map. It has a better scale and is far more detailed than the James Dorret one

[@rogergriffith286]

@@richiec9077 If you are interested in the mill I have greatly updated the Wikipedia, Nether Mill, article with details of it being the barony mill, etc.