Ryan is ready to take to the seas
Residents in Perth are being asked to share their memories of the City Mills.
Perth and Kinross Heritage Trust has moved its offices to the Lower City Mills this week, after being leased the building by Perth and Kinross Council on benevolent terms to support its repair.
As part of this, the trust will be looking to restore some of the “nationally important” building.
The trust is now asking residents in Perth to get in touch with any information, stories or photographs they may have of the mills from any time in its history.
It is hoped this will help the whole population get involved in uncovering the full history of the City Mills.
As an important survivor of the burgh’s agri-industrial past, the 19th century A-listed building straddles the Lade.
Its internal machinery still remains intact, and the water enters through an arch to a large millwheel which measures 4.7 metres in diameter and 3.7 metres in width.
There has been a mill on the site on West Mill Street since the 15th century, as it is a key location where the Lade meets the north-west edge of the burgh.
It was originally partly used to form the town’s defences, and the building initially comprised of two mills, one for oatmeal and one for barley.
The mills were both rebuilt after a fire in 1803 and the designs by John Stewart incorporated medieval fabrics to retain its history.
It continued to be used as a commercial working water mill right up until 1968.
An extensive programme of restoration was then carried out from the mid to late 1980s, undertaken by the then Perth and Kinross District Council with the support of The Gannochy Trust.
Perth and Kinross Heritage Trust was created on the back of the 1980s restoration programme.
The mill was then fitted out as a visitor attraction, and during the 1990s welcomed in visitors and offered craft workshops, a tearoom and a shop. That closed in 2001, and the mills served as offices for VisitScotland until June this year.
Staff from the heritage trust moved in to the Lower City Mills this week, and already have big plans for how they will restore and conserve the historic building.
David Strachan, director of Perth and Kinross Heritage Trust, said: “Perth City Mills is nationally important, with remarkable group value, and the contents of the Lower City Mills are a heritage gem in the heart of Perth.
The structure has been on the ‘Buildings at Risk register’ since 2012, however the heritage trust says as a rare, historical asset, the mills have significant potential to contribute to Perth’s wider cultural offering as a modern city.
Perth and Kinross Heritage Trust says it has a vision of creating a new, sustainable future for the building, and is currently developing a project to repair the building and record and restore its internal machinery.
A key part of this restoration project is gathering stories and photographs of the mills from the residents of Perth.
They hope to be able to offer traditional building skills and other achievements. It’s been the toughest 10 weeks of my life, but so worthwhile.”
With the first phase of his training complete Ryan will transfer to HMS Collingwood in Hampshire for his professional training.
Once fully qualified his role at sea will be to detect threats to his ship, identify targets and make crucial tactical decisions.
The Royal Navy’s initial naval training course is underpinned by nine core maritime skills that are the foundations of naval life and underpin operational effectiveness.
Recruits are taught the basics of naval discipline and customs.
They learn about navigation and are given the chance to take the helm of their own mediumsized inflatable boat during a waterborne orienteering exercise.
Royal Navy personnel can also be called upon to play a vital role in land-based operations, so recruits undergo training in basic combat skills which includes survival in the field. heritage-related opportunities to members of the public.
While the mill will not reopen as a working visitor attraction in the short-term, the project will be able to afford some public access to the machinery and create an exhibition space for visitors.
Councillor Murray Lyle, leader of Perth and Kinross Council, said: “The council looks forward to working with the trust and others to use the building to its full potential as an important historic tourist attraction within Perth and as a centre where heritage skills can be developed to support the repair and improvement of historic buildings throughout the city and surrounding area.”