Deanston Village.....

........ sits on the south bank of the River Teith between Doune and Callander. The village evolved due to the close proximity of Deanston Cotton Mill built by the Buchanan brothers of Carston in 1785. In 1808 James Finlay & Co bought the mill and developed it into an industrial leader of its time.

At its peak, the mill had over 1000 workers and had the largest waterwheel in Europe called Hercules.

James Smith, the mill manager, was a successful entrepreneur and inventor and he designed and built this unusual accommodation over four levels for his workforce, which he called the divisions.

The village had the first gas lighting in the UK, outside London, installed in 1913.

This is First Division.

Sorry I've not been around for a while, a combination of horendous weather, lack of inspiration, long working hours, and labirynthitis. I'll get back into the full swing of blip tomorrow.

PS: I've had an email saying that one of my pics is through to the next round in the Velux light comp but I'm unsure if it's genuine - has anyone else had one?