Dally Castle Mill in 1965. Photo by Ken Major from Eric Griffith’s manuscript
The main buildings of this mill still stand by the Chirdon burn and, although now put to other uses, evidence of the mill remain. The wheel site suggests an overshot or breast shot wheel of 12 feet or 14 feet diameter served by a leat from the Chirdon burn some 200 to 250 yards upstream. Remains of the fire tunnel for a kiln and grain shoots are discernible and the stone of a pearl barley machine stands in the grounds of a house called ‘Birks’ nearby.
It is thought that the mill was built during the eighteenth century from the stones of the ruinous Dally Castle which stood on a mound just across the lane from the mill.
Michael Scott, of Dally Castle Mill, was the leader of the Presbyterian Secessionists at Bellingham in 1803.
1827 William Scott, corn miller
1855 Adam Gillespie, farmer and corn miller
1886 James Robson, gamekeeper
From: Griffith, E.P. 1974, A History of Northumberland Water Mills. Unpublished.
North East Mills 