Forfar, St James Road, Works
Mill (19th Century)
Site Name Forfar, St James Road, Works
Classification Mill (19th Century)
Alternative Name(s) Strathmore Woollens, St James Works; Don Brothers
Canmore ID 87650
Site Number NO45SE 104
NGR NO 45650 50450
NGR Description centred
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/87650
- Council Angus
- Parish Forfar
- Former Region Tayside
- Former District Angus
- Former County Angus
NO45SE 104 4565 5045
(Location cited as NO 458 505). Strathmore Woollens, mid to late 19th century. A large group of 1-, 2- and 3-storey buildings, with a one-storey, 6-bay renaissance office block.
J R Hume 1977.
This is a mid-to-late 19th century textile works, comprising single-, two- and three-storeyed mostly sandstone buildings, fronted by a single-storeyed six-bay Renaissance style office block. By the date of visit, it had partially been converted into premises for Angus Council's Planning Department.
Visited by RCAHMS (MKO) 28 January 1998.
This site is noted as a linen/woollen mill with an office block dating to 1877. Originally belonging to 'Don Brothers Buist & Co', the building was was occupied by Strathmore Woollens by 10 May 1974.
(John Hume negative numbers H74/109/9-11).
NMRS, MS/744, filed under Angus county, Forfar parish.
Watching Brief (11 April 2011 - 3 May 2011)
NO 45641 50458 A watching brief was carried out, 11 April–3 May 2011, during topsoil stripping and the excavation of foundation and drainage trenches, associated with the construction of a new supermarket. The 1st Edition OS map of 1846 shows a linen handloom factory on the SE part of the site, a First Free church on the NW part, a house on the E part, and assorted properties and gardens around the perimeter of the site. The 2nd Edition OS map of 1888 and subsequent maps show the site occupied by Strathmore Woollens Mill. The mill was described by Hume in 1974, as a mid- to late 19th-century mill consisting of a large group of 1- 2- and 3-storey buildings, with a 1-storey, 6 bay renaissance office block. Remains of this mill were identified but no earlier archaeological remains.
Archive: RCAHMS
Funder: ASDA
Cameron Archaeology, 2011
Information also reported in Oasis (camerona1-101154) 16 August 2011
Publication Account (2013)
From 1845 the winding and warping department of Don Brothers was an essential part of their putting out system to hand loom weavers. Once Don Brothers, Buist was formed in 1865 (see Ward Mills Dundee, D4, which provided the yarn) a weaving shed was built here for 700 power looms. Beside the winding building, which runs north-south and has a bellcote, there are other buildings and a boardroom, recently Angus Council HQ. The modernised factory has closed and is expected to be redeveloped. Associated company tenement housing lies to the SE, built in 1877 by McLaren and Aitken.
M Watson, 2013