Mansell lands £1.9 million historical restoration project in Scotland

May 17, 2010

Mansell has been awarded a £1.9 million restoration project at Knockando Woolmill, Knockando, Aberlour for Knockando Woolmill Trust. The community has formed the trust to save the mill which is the oldest working district woollen mill in the UK.

The works will comprise restoration of an existing woolmill, byre, cottage, mill house, mill pond, lade and ancillary structures. The whole site will be transformed into a visitor and education centre telling the story of the Woolmill. The mill and its historic machinery will be restored back to fully working condition. The former byre will house visitor facilities and exhibitions, the cottage will provide education space and the mill house will be used as the office and design studio.

Mansell will also construct a new conservation training workshop and make alterations to the original shop which will once more be used for that purpose. Restoration will be achieved by using traditional methods of construction in line with the original building. The workshop will be built using a timber kit and used to renovate the old machinery as well as future manufacture and training. 

Knockando Woolmill has been the site of a mill for over 200 years and is a very rare example of an integrated vertical mill. The charm of the site will be carefully preserved whilst the failing fabric of the buildings is stabilised.

The site is considerably complex and extraordinarily fragile which has lead Historic Scotland to designate the Mill and its machinery as A-Group listed, which is a standard applied to buildings of national or international importance and will supervise and approve the works.

Protecting and enhancing the environment is at the very heart of this development; all materials used will be from sustainable sources. Biomass heating will be installed and the existing water wheel will be used to generate energy which will contribute to the heating system. Existing trees and wildlife will be monitored.

Work has recently started on site and is due for completion in spring 2012.