Freedom For Scotland

Scotland's Ma Hame

MOTHERWELL MILL

“ The sleepy pool above the mill The pool beneath never still” Motto hanging on a wall A busy miller doesn’t grumble If life is a continuous grind

Motherwell Mill or Dalziel Mill as it was first known, is situated on the west bank of the South Calder Water, at the foot of Braidhurst Street which runs from Miton Street (originally known as Milltoun Road) and is half a mile below Coursington Bridge. It was one of six Mills, from the one at Carfin in the south to Holm Ford Mill just below the old Holm Ford Bridge on the Motherwell/Bellshill Road. The others were Jerviston Mill, Braidhurst wauk Mill and Brigbrae Mill all of these were grain mills with the exception of Braidhurst which did not need water power, it only needed a small supply of water to wauk the cloth, this was supplied by the Ghillies Burn which ran nearby.

Kirk session records references to it is around the seventeenth century Originally- and until the property was taken over by Braidhurst- it was the Mill for Dalzell Estate and accordingly farmers and tenants on the estate were “firthirled” to the Mill. Through the centuries despite improvements and alterations the basic way of working remained unaltered. The oats were still placed in the kiln heated be coke or anthracite, dried and shelled, and then the groats were stone ground. Oatmeal for porridge !!! 1599 The ealiest record of Motherwell Mill, taken from the Hamilton papers is the 13th July 1599, when Archibald Dalzell of Dalzell, carried off Jean Dalzell a girl of fourteen daughter of Nichol Dalzell, miller of Dalziel Mill and compelled her to marry him in the Kirk of Dalserf  (3 miles away). The commissaries of Edinburgh discerned him to adhere to her, On the 22 May 1600, but she subsequently recovered her liberty, and, revoked the whole proceedings on 25th December, thereby gaining her freedom. He was put to the horn as the result of complaints to the Privy Council against him by John Morrison and the above named Nicol Dalzell. However, on the 4th August 1603, he obtained a dispensation until 20th November, because of his activity against the Clan MacGregor

1674 A heads of the household of Dalziel Parish, states that they’re residing in Motherwell Milne were Alexander King, a stonemason, his wife and daughter. 1691 A hearth tax records that Motherwell Milne had three hearths and the tenants were David Hamilton and John Hamilton. 1724 On March 15th there was baptised Hugh and Alex Hamilton twin sons of John King in Motherwell Milne. 1726 On January 30th there was baptised James King son to John King of Motherwell Milne. 1828 On January 28th there was baptised George King son of John King in Dalzell. 1749 On March 9th there was baptised John King son of John King and Margaret Nilson in Motherwell Milne.

1750 On March 9th there was baptised Bethia King daughter of John King and Margaret Nilson in Motherwell Milne. 1785-1786 A stone above the Mill door records the date probably this was when the Mill was extended. 1791 An account from the Hamilton papers records that John King and William King of Motherwell Mill paid £91.7 shillings annual rent. 1820 The king family seem to have given up tenancy of the mill. 1829 General Hamilton of Dalzell gave Walter Black a nineteen-year lease of the mill. 1841 Walter Black retained tenancy of the Mill the census of Dalzell shows that James Forrest was the Miller.

1851 Census shows Thomas Allison was the miller. 1861 The Macgregor family were tenants who had come from Avonbridge Mill in Hamilton (2 miles from Motherwell). The Mill had two rooms in the Mill proper with three others adjoining the building. 1880 The Mill collapsed and the MacGregors had it completely re-built. 1881 The Mill had five rooms in addition to the main building. 1891 Census shows George MacGregor aged fifty-five was a corn miller and grain merchant.

1890-1901 These are some names of customers taken from Motherwell Mill Ledger. Lord Hamilton of Dalzell, David Colville: of Jerviston House, Robert C. Foulis: Spirit Dealer Motherwell, Matthew Brown: North Motherwell Farm, John Ford: Nether Johnston Farm Motherwell, Dr Moffat: Motherwell, Dr Fotheringham: Hamilton Road Motherwell, William Chambers & Co.: Motherwell, William Hamilton: High Motherwell Farm, John Colville: Motherwell House Jerviston Motherwell, John Howatson: Shields Farm Motherwell, Rev. David Scott: Parish Church Manse Motherwell, The Misses Addie: Braidhurst House Motherwell, Joseph Edwards: Butcher Avon Street Motherwell, Thomas Paterson: Hillhead Farm Motherwell, James Smellie: Coursington Farm Motherwell, James Hamilton: Braidhurst Farm Motherwell, Robert White: Thornisuite, Donald Stalker Mossend Farm Bellshill, David Nelson: Jerviston Farm Motherwell,

Courtesy of Ron Porteous Motherwell Historical Society

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