The mill in December 2023
The roof is complete!
The completion of the roof on Castletown Mill marks a fabulous end to the year! This milestone not only preserves the historic charm of the mill but also ensures that the building stands strong and proud once again. It's a testament to the hard work and dedication of everyone involved.
The kiln vents were finished and the last of the Caithness slates from Norse Stone were added to the 1818 wing earlier in December and completed with the ridge tile. The scaffolding has been taken down around the building and to stand in the courtyard looking at the once again solid building fills us with pride.
A wonderful opportunity to learn...
Gavin and Jordie from GKM Roofing Ltd are all smiles as they near the completion of the roof. Jordie, pictured on the right, is Gavin's apprentice and is set to finish his apprenticeship next year. This project has been particularly exciting for him, as it was his first time working with Caithness stone from Norse Stone and his first experience with a diminishing roof. These types of roofs are rare, making this a valuable learning opportunity for him. He has just completed his portfolio with the help of photos from his work on the mill roof. We are really delighted that Gavin was able to provide this opportunity to his apprentice
Now that the roof is complete, their hard work has truly paid off. The roof looks stunning, and the slates are already beginning to weather, revealing beautiful hues that add character and interest to the structure. It's a job well done, and the mill stands strong and proud once again.
Kiln vents and that view!
The kiln vents, originally part of the building on the 1818 wing, have now been expertly reinstalled for use in our project. This important task was completed by Mark from A9 Plumbing, ensuring that the vents are both functional and in keeping with the building's historical integrity. Their addition not only enhances the building's aesthetic but also supports its practical needs, making it ready for future of whisky distilling.
At our December design team meeting we had one last venture up on the scaffold on the sea facing side of the mill. The view is tremendous from that height and we will miss getting up there now that the scaffold has come down!
We had to take a wee photo of us all up there on quite a chilly December morning! Standing from left – right is Martin & Claire Murray (Dunnet Bay Distillers), Andrea Wise (Organic Architects), Callum Chisholm (Morham & Brotchie), Joanne Howdle (Dunnet Bay Distillers), Trish Bremner (Norbloc Construction), Michael Blunsden (Narro Associates), Gavin Sinclair & Jamie Rogers (Norbloc Construction).
Topping Out
We were very proud to host a Topping Out Ceremony to celebrate the roof of the mill being completed! The last slate on the 1818 wing was laid on Tuesday 10th December.
We invited a few people along to come and raise a glass to toast the new roof and to witness our signing of a wee document which will be hidden in the roof of the building alongside a bottle of The Saga of James Traill - like a time capsule to be discovered in many years to come!
It was lovely to be joined by Alice, who was the last person to born at Castletown Mill, and some of the Calder family also! We enjoyed the most delicious sausage rolls, mince pies and shortbread baked for us by Castletown Hotel.
A big thank you to our design team Narro Associates, Organic Architects and the construction team Norbloc Construction, GKM Roofing, Chambers Stoneworks and A9 Plumbing & Heating.
Thank you to Historic Environment Scotland for the funding and support of the restoration.
