Auchenblae: Mill History and Historic Architecture
Accommodation in Auchenblae
Auchenblae’s local history spans themes from an early planned mill town to a much older religious tradition. The town developed as a mill town in the late 18th century. At the same time, Auchenblae has a variety of architectural styles, periods, forms and details. This offers different historical perspectives to consider when planning your trip: religious history, former industries and the varied townscape.
Mill Town and Former Industries
Its development as a planned mill town gives the town’s history a specific timeframe. Mayfield in Auchenblae is an example of the different uses found in the town: the site was initially a mill and was later used as a distillery. A spinning mill and gasworks also form part of its historical picture. These connections make Mayfield a starting point for exploring Auchenblae’s industrial history, without grouping its different uses into a single period.
Waterworks are also part of this history. At Mayfield, parts of the mill lade and sluices appear to have survived. A mill lade, also called a lade, channels water to a mill; sluices are part of the water-management infrastructure. Together, these features offer another perspective on the site’s connection to milling.
St Palladius’s Chapel and the Older Tradition
St Palladius’s Chapel takes us back to a much earlier period than the history of milling. The chapel probably stands on the site of a cell established by the saint in the 5th century. The historic pilgrimage tradition is also associated with the chapel: people came from near and far to venerate the relics associated with it. Thus, alongside the industrial history is a religious tradition whose timeframe reaches back to early history.
The chapel remains were consolidated in 2006 as part of Aberdeenshire’s Historic Kirkyards project.
Kirkton of Auchenblae and Waterworks
Kirkton of Auchenblae adds a former 18th-century inn to these themes. The site also includes a millpond and a mill lade running northwest. The pond and water channel offer a different emphasis from Mayfield’s former use as a mill and later as a distillery: here, the features of the mill site stand alongside the former inn in the historic picture of Kirkton of Auchenblae.
Historical Highlights for Your Trip
If you are especially interested in religious history, the tradition surrounding St Palladius’s Chapel offers a distinct focus. For the history of mills and industries, Mayfield’s various former uses are relevant; its mill lade and sluices add the perspective of waterworks. Kirkton of Auchenblae combines a former inn with a millpond and a mill lade running northwest. These differences help you organise Auchenblae’s history by theme, rather than treating the chapel, industries and waterworks as similar attractions.
The variety of architecture also contributes to this picture. Its styles, periods, forms and details make for a townscape that cannot be reduced to a single building period. Along with the historical connections to St Palladius, Mayfield and Kirkton, this creates a clear focus for anyone looking to put history and architecture at the heart of their choice of destination.
For the broader travel overview: Aberdeenshire.
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