logo image

New Abbey Corn Mill

RS Home

New Abbey Corn Mill is 7 miles south of Dumfries, in the small Village of New Abbey, on the A710 road.

The mill can be visited 1 April to 30 September: Monday to Sunday, 9.30am to 5.30pm. 1 October to 31 March: Daily except Thursday and Friday, 10am to 4pm. Small entry fee. Postcode: DG2 8BX

For Images on Mobile swipe right

Map Large Images Website

Click On Map for area Attractions

Camping & Touring Parks in area

1200s - the first Corn Mill was built on this site by the Monks of Sweetheart Abbey, with the Abbey being at the other end of the Village, a popular attraction.

1700s - the Mill that can be seen today was built on the site of the earlier Mill. The original Water System and Holding Pond is used in this Mill.

The Mill is operated some days so visitors can view it working.

The earlist way of Grinding Corn, Oats, Barley, and Wheat was with a Stone and a Stone Bowl, a slow way of pounding them into Flour.

Quern-Stones were used next, small Top and Bottom Stones with Groves in the Top Stone. The Top Stone was turned by hand to Grind the Corn. These were used in most Homes, taking two or three hours a day to produce enough Flour to make Bread for a family.

1100s - Water Mills, Wind Mills, and Animal Powered Mills were then used for Industrial use in Scotland, many by Monks of Abbeys.

These Mills used large Grinding Stones with groves cut into the Top Stone, so as the Top Stone turned, it would Crush the Corn into Flower.

The speed of the Stones, and how close together they were, produced finer Flour. Fine and Course Flour was needed to produce differet foods.

Farmers then took their Corn to the Mills to be Dried in a Kiln, then Ground by the Large Stones in the Mills.

Modern Mills now use Electricity to turn Metal Rollers to Grind the Corn. Some of the Rollers have Grooves in them.

1948 - the New Abbey Corn Mill was closed down.

Historic Environment Scotland now runs the Mill as a tourist attraction.

RS Home





.



New Abbey Corn Mill Images
.