Caithness and Welsh slate top off £4m Castletown mill conversion
The local owners of a 19th-century Caithness mill who have been converting the dilapidated ruin into a whisky distillery will be celebrating on Wednesday with a topping out ceremony.
Castletown Mill is being renovated by Dunnet Bay Distillers, a company set up by Caithness husband-and-wife duo Claire and Martin Murray. The firm plans to produce its own Stannergill Whisky from the new venue.
The mill has two distinctive roofs, which have both been painstakingly replaced with stone as close to the original as possible. The older part of the complex, dating from 1818, has a Caithness flagstone roof, while the extension from later that century has a Welsh slate roof.
In 1991, Castletown Mill was added to the Buildings at Risk Register for Scotland maintained by Historic Environment Scotland, where it was classified as “derelict”.
However, in November 2020, Dunnet Bay Distillers purchased the mill and are giving it a new lease of life through a £4 million project to conserve and revitalise this important Grade B listed building.
Renovation of the grain mill, one of the largest and most imposing in the north Highlands, is largely being funded by Historic Environment Scotland.
Martin Murray, co-owner and founder of Dunnet Bay Distillers Ltd, said: “Castletown Mill, an iconic vernacular building, is very much anchored into the landscape of the Dunnet Bay area with its thick Caithness stone walls, and Caithness and Welsh slate roofs.
“We are grateful to Historic Environment Scotland for awarding us grant funding that has enabled us to preserve the rich history and unique character of Castletown Mill and revitalise it to become the home of Stannergill Whisky.”
The Grade B listed, north-south wing of Castletown Mill with its Caithness slate roof was originally built as a water-powered grain mill circa 1818 by James Traill (1758-1843), pioneer of the Caithness flagstone industry, as a starter enterprise for his heir George Traill (1788-1871).
The mill ground grain grown on James Traill’s Castlehill Estate into flour to cater for the growing number of workers employed at his nearby Castlehill Pavement Works. In the late 19th century Castletown Mill was extended, with the addition to the south of a large three-storey range which had a Welsh slate roof.
Dr Susan O’Connor, head of grants at Historic Environment Scotland, said: “We are delighted to have supported conservation of this nationally important water-powered grain mill through our Historic Environment Repair Grants Programme.
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“By repairing and reusing Castletown Mill’s historic structure, including use of distinctive Caithness slate, we not only celebrate its industrial past but also safeguard its future for generations to come.”
Castletown Mill will be using a 100 per cent renewable electricity supply complemented with on-site solar electricity generation, battery storage, and an air source heat pump for all the distillery’s heating requirements.
The new distillery and visitor centre is expected to create several new jobs in the area.
Claire Murray, co-owner and founder of Dunnet Bay Distillers Ltd, said: “Based on visitors to our gin, vodka, and rum distillery we anticipate that Stannergill Whisky at Castletown Mill will attract circa 25,000 visitors in its first year of operation and will create 12 new full-time equivalent jobs in addition to the people we already employ at Dunnet Bay Distillery.”
The topping out ceremony takes place on Wednesday, when invited guests will get to see first-hand the progress on the new visitor centre and distillery, which is due to open to the public in summer next year.
The project has welcomed visitors on tours of the building as works have progressed, including taking part in Doors Open Day events.
• Look out for more coverage of the ceremony later in the week.
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