New Abbey Corn Mill

The old mill by the stream
Beside the Pow Burn in the pretty village of New Abbey stands a three-storey whitewashed mill building. It was built around the end of the 18th century by the Stewarts of nearby Shambellie House. But the site probably reaches back to the late 13th century, when the Cistercian monks established their monastery of Dulce Cor (‘Sweet Heart’ ) at the far end of the village. The present mill is still known locally as ‘Monks’ Mill’.

Agricultural improvements in the 18th century enabled farmers to improve their crop yields dramatically. This led to the building of the present mill. It was originally just two storeys high. During the 19th century, the mill was heightened and improved, increasing the number of millstones from two to three. Thomas Millar is the first recorded miller, in 1825. The last miller, John Clingan, closed his ledgers and stopped the waterwheel soon after the Second World War.