Aldernaig Mill Archaeological Evaluation

An evaluation was undertaken. The survey has identified and recorded several surviving elements of the mill that may provide clues to its function and use. The route of the lade was also confirmed and recorded. This survey found that the mill was likely to be an overshot mill utilising the high ground behind the building with an iron bar supporting the final portion of the lade. The location of the wheel is also possible to discern from the blocked-in shaft hole. Other small metal fittings were also noted and recorded on this gable. The excavations confirmed the survival of the wheel slot retaining wall on the NE side of the mill. Contrary to the 1st Edition OS map, there was no evidence for the tailrace at the N end of the gable. The wheel slot had a retaining wall on the E side, with roughly dressed stone and lime mortar similar to the mill building. The base of the mill slot was slightly sloping but had no cobbling or stone. There was also no evidence that a base had been removed, and the cut was level with the base of the retaining wall and the mill building foundation. The current owners have confirmed that the previous owner had excavated part of the mill race and wheel slot with the intention of reinstating it. This was borne out by the excavation which revealed lots of modern material backfilling the wheel-slot, and the retaining wall appears to have been truncated which suggests that it has been lowered to create the level ground to the E of the mill. This disturbance is likely to have removed layers contemporary with the use and abandonment of the mill which may have contained artefactual evidence. It is likely that the retaining wall would have originally been as high as the wheel shaft to support the outer side of the wheel. It is also likely to have been topped with capping stones to shed water. The excavations confirmed the survival of the wheel slot retaining wall on the northeast side of the Mill. Contrary to the 1st edition map, there was no evidence for the tailrace at the north end of the gable. The Wheel slot had a retaining wall on the east side, with roughly dressed stone and lime mortar similar to mill building. The base of the mill slot was slightly sloping but had no cobbling or stone. There was also no evidence that a base had been removed, and the cut was level with the base of the retaining wall and the Mill building foundation. The current owners have confirmed that the previous owner had excavated part of the mill race and wheel slot with the intention of reinstating it. This was borne out by the excavation which revealed lots of modern material backfilling the wheel-slot, and the retaining wall appears to have been truncated which suggests that it has been lowered to create the level ground to the east of the Mill. This disturbance is likely to have removed layers contemporary with the use and abandonment of the Mill which may have contained artefactual evidence. It is likely that the retaining wall would have originally been as high as the wheel shaft in order to support the outer side of the wheel. It is also likely to have been topped with capping stones in order to shed water.