A request for information about the old mill stones which form a permanent feature on Main Street in Stevenston prompted us to do a bit of research into the old corn mill.

The Stevenston corn mill appears on the 1856 ordnance survey map behind Main Street, Stevenston, but appears to have been built at a much earlier period, which was confirmed by the 1845 Statistical Account for Stevenston which stated that the Stevenston Grain Mill was of “great antiquity”.

The old mill dam and lade which powered Stevenston Mill was built in the late 17th century to control the supply of water which powered the waterwheel used to draw water out of the Deep Shank Mine from 1678 until the mine closed in the early 1700s.

The Stevenston Distillery which produced ‘Lowland single malt scotch whisky’ operated from 1816 to 1817 in the centre of Stevenston.  Although unconfirmed, it is possible that the distillery was converted into the corn mill, after it closed.  The distillery and later the corn mill were powered by water from the lade, flowing down the Stevenston Burn from Kerelaw.

In 1826, an extremely hot summer led to a severe reduction in the growth of corn, which was so short that it had to be harvested by hand, resulting in a knock-on effect in the production of cornmeal at the Stevenston Mill.  Farmer’s carts returning from the cornmill were intercepted and the cornmeal sent to local shops to feed the population. 

From Pigots Trade Directory and the valuation rolls we find that Mrs Sarah Kenneth ran the Stevenston Corn Mill from 1837 until 1874.

On 6th June 1838 ‘The Scotsman’ ran an advertisement regarding the sale of the Grange Estate, belonging to the late Alexander Hamilton, which included half of the Stevenston Mill and the Miln House, presently occupied by Mrs Kenneth.  The rent for half of both Stevenston Mill and the Miln House was £15 per annum.  The 1855 Stevenston Valuation Roll reveals that Stevenston Mill was owned by the Heirs of the late Patrick Warner and Gavin Fullarton.  By 1865 the mill was solely owned by Patrick Warner of Ardeer. 

The 1875 valuation rolls reveal that the miller was David Deans.  On 12th January 1884 the Ayrshire Weekly News and Galloway Press ran an advertisement for a new tenant for Stevenston Mill, although David Deans was still the resident tenant at the time.  From 1885 until 1904 the miller was Hugh Smith.  From 1904 to 1911 the miller was William Muir.

In 1912 the mill was owned by the trustees of the late Patrick Warner and was leased by J. F. Longmuir and Company, grain merchants, which consisted of partners James Findlay Longmuir and John Anderson.  From 1914 to 1930 John Anderson, grain merchant, was the sole tenant.  In 1931 his business became John Anderson & Sons Limited, grain merchants.  He continued to lease Stevenston Mill until 1934. 

When the 1935-36 valuation roll was taken, Stevenston Mill was lying empty.  By May 1936, the old corn mill with its giant waterwheel had almost disappeared, with only the walls of the old mill still standing.  The old mill was finally demolished at the end of July 1946.  The millstones were preserved and stand as a testimony to the old corn mill where the Stevenston Burn meets the Main Street.

Further Reading

  • Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald 29 May 1936.  ‘One famous landmark has now almost disappeared’
  • Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald 02 August 1946.  Old mill at the Mill-end was being demolished this week.
  • https://scotchwhisky.com/whiskypedia/14496/stevenston/
  • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQ7QtFuizr8
  • The Ayrshire Directory 1851-1852
  • Pigot & Co.’s National Commercial Directory of the whole of Scotland. Dated 1837
  • Ayrshire Weekly News and Galloway Press, 12 January 1884.  [c. The British Library Board]
  • Stevenston valuation rolls 1855 to 1936.
  • Stevenston Past and Present
  • The Scotsman, 06 June 1838.  ‘Sale of Grange Estate’