Scottish grist mill ?

[Tartan Hiker]

You get the strangest questions when walking about kilted....

A gentleman stopped me the other day. He began with the old "I see you are interested in Scots heritage...." preamble. To make a very long story short --

He has property here in western NC with the foundations of a very old grist mill (1700's) built by one of his ancestors who emigrated from Scotland. The foundation, rather than stacks of rocks in the corners or solid walls that would have supported the floor, is a solid, rectanguar platform approximately 12 x 25 feet. I would have been a monumental task to move that many large rocks into this pattern, so he is wondering if this is some kind of traditional construction method back in Scotland. He's searched and found nothing to verify or refute this hypothesis. I suggested that perhaps he had no saw mill to produce lumbrer for the flooring, but that seems unlikely as had been other buildings of the same vintage built of sawn lumber.

Any ideas?

[Jock Scot]

Many Scots in the old days would have been quite used to building with large,huge even,rocks.You only have to look at the castles,crofers houses etc. to see plenty of examples.I have never heard of a floor such as you describe though.It is also worth bearing in mind, that there are plenty of examples of splendid building work done with large rocks that are spread all over the world that even the Scots cannot claim any credit for!

[demobud]

It is possible the rock could have been in or very near the place already. I would imagine stone foundation would handle the wiegth and vibration of a grist mill even better than a frame floor would.

[Arlen]

I couldn't say for sure, but a few of the old mills locally had floor like this.
From what I've been told, it was more likely they'd be build that way if there was a lot of heavy work going on. That way, the floor and building in general could handle it better.

[creativeaccents]

Not sure about that specific site, but most of the mountains are dirt atop stone. In Lake Lure, where I used to live, the rock was just a few feet down and can be well seen throughout the gorge. Is it possible that the builders just located the site where there was natural bedrock already there?

[beowulf67]

I remember seeing a mill like that before, but for the life of me I can't remember where it was.

Sorry.

[macwilkin]

Has he checked with the local public library? Most public libraries have a local history section. I know mills are a popular subject in these parts, and we had a plethora of information on many individual ones in the area. A local historical society might be a good source as well.

Todd

[Tartan Hiker]

Thanks everyone. I'll send all these ideas along.

[Archangel]

One of the links I googled suggested that such a floor was used when there was a distillery. A solid floor prevented vibration which would spoil the process.

[Tartan Hiker]

One of the links I googled suggested that such a floor was used when there was a distillery. A solid floor prevented vibration which would spoil the process.

Now that is interesting. Thanks.