Knockando Woolmill Trust

Completion of building works

Great news! The Woolmill buildings have now all been completed!

They were handed over to the Trust on 22 December 2011 by our main contractor, Mansell plc. The buildings look fantastic and we'll be moving in over the next month. We'll make sure we post some photos of the process.

The landscaping and some of the external works are not quite finished but that should be complete by the spring (weather permitting). We open to the public on 1 June 2012!

And although we didn't get a chance to blog before it was broadcast, this week saw the Woolmill feature on BBC Radio 4's "Open Country" programme. Helen Mark visited the Woolmill in December to record the programme. 

You can listen to the programme again via the BBC Radio 4 website.

Our next Open Day

It's been a busy summer down at the Woolmill and on Sunday 28th August 2011 between 10.30am and 5.00pm we'll be giving organised tours of the work to date as part of our latest Open Day.

All tours will leave Margach Hall in Knockando at half-hourly intervals and booking is essential. To book a place on the tour please call Brenda Harvey on 01343 563476 or e-mail brenda.harvey@moray.gov.uk

We'd also love to see you at Margach Hall in Knockando if you have a story to tell us.

There was a tradition of giving Woolmill blankets as wedding presents and also farmers bringing their wool to the mill to have it processed into blankets. We would love to hear from anyone who still has a Woolmill blanket.

Elidh, our Learning and Outreach Manager, will be collecting and recording people’s stories and memories of the Woolmill.  There will be an opportunity to view and purchase some new products developed at the Woolmill - and a chance to create your own unique bookmark from Woolmill fabric and yarn.

Machinery removal begins...

The Teasel Gig in transit to it's temporary home in the Conservation Training Workshop. 

This is the first machine to be removed from the old mill buildings in a process that is expected to take six weeks. 

This wheel's not on fire!

Never fear - that's not smoke!

What you are actually seeing is the  vapour mist from the high pressure water jet that was used to clear the underground pipe that forms the Tailrace.

It was normal practice to plant trees so that they cast a shadow over the wheel and helped to stop the wood that formed the buckets from drying out.  Unfortunately the horse chestnut, to the right of the picture, has overgrown and been dropping its leaves and nuts into the pit ever since the wheel stopped turning.

A remote-controlled buggy with a camera attached will be sent up the pipe to ascertain the condition before restoration work on the pit begins.

Visitors swarm to the Woolmill

Last week a swarm of native black bees descended on the Woolmill to re-inhabit an old hive that had been built and maintained in the wall of the shop for decades. 

It was feared that the large colony could disrupt works and even make the site a no-go area.  Luckily the bees were quite content and left contractors alone, despite the attraction of hi-vis jackets! 

After consulting with the Moray BeeKeepers Association, Gerry Thompson from Tamdhu arrived to attempt to coax the queen and swarm into a bait hive to remove them.  

Here, Jana Hutt looks on as Gerry checks the bait hive to see if the swarm are settling in ready for transporting. 

Fingers crossed this works as the other option is to destroy the colony which would be a real shame.

 

New Tartan

As part of some cloth development we are doing at the moment, we thought it about time we made our own tartan.  I've made very little tartan over the years, just special orders from time to time - luckily we have have a few thriving tartan weaving mills in Scotland, so no point trying to compete!

This one, however, is ours, and as ever it's always exciting to see a new pattern weaving for the first time.  Here it is in the loom - hope you like it...

Paying invoices - Winter 2010-style

As a charitable trust we need two signatures on each cheque. This winter's weather has posed some challenges as both signatories (chairman and treasurer) live high in the hills and up farm tracks.

Speyside has had three months of continuous snow cover. We do try our best to pay invoices on time using Land Rovers, milk box drops and other stratagems. Yesterday was particularly horrible.

Our application for internet banking is well underway! As is the restoration work at the Mill. If you'd like to be kept up to date with regular news, do sign up for our e-mail newsletter.

We've done it!

Wonderful news - the Knockando Woolmill Trust has just been told we can start the project!

We have raised the £3,500,000 to carry out the restoration and have all the necessary permissions. It's taken 10 years to get this off the ground... and thousands of volunteer hours.

The contractors should be on site at the beginning of February, weather permitting.

Thank you all for your support. We couldn't have done it without our Friends and sponsors.

We'll keep you informed of progress and hope to have a webcam on the site so you can see what is happening.

Merry Christmas to all and we look forward to an exciting 2010!

Scotland on Sunday

The Scotland on Sunday magazine featured the Mill earlier in November. Read the article in full on the document downloads page of our website.

BBC Homes & Antiques

We're delighted that BBC Homes & Antiques have featured our efforts as the main news feature in November's issue:

"Much of the machinery is from the 18th century and - although this hasn't hindered Hugh Jones, who has produced tweed here for the past 30 years - it is finally in need of restoration."

> Read the article in full here

If you'd like to help us raise the final £200,000 needed to trigger the restoration process please consider becoming a Friend of Knockando Woolmill.

Becoming a Friend enables you to join the increasing and dedicated group of people from all over the world who are committed to the restoration project so that future generations can enjoy its heritage and keep the traditional art of weaving alive.