The first national mills conference, Milling Matters, ran on the weekend of 7-8 May 2022 and was a resounding success! Organised by Perth and Kinross Heritage Trust with the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (Scotland) and hosted at Mercure Hotel and Lower City Mills, the conference delighted attendees with talks, discussion groups, pop-up cafe and bookshop, exhibition, rare access to Lower City Mills and a coach tour of local mills.
With thanks
We’d like to say a huge thank you to:
Our speakers and discussion hosts, David Strachan (PKHT), Sian Loftus (Birse Community Trust), Gordon Black (Learning Hydro), Mark Watson (Historic Environment Scotland), Andrew Whitley (Scotland the Bread), Karen Mason (Warwick Bridge Corn Mill) and Helen Martin (New Lanark Trust), Colin Tennant (Historic Environment Scotland), Dr. Alisdair Bachell (University of Dundee), and Ian Mitchell Davidson (Chartered Surveyor and Heritage Consultant).
The amazing volunteers that supported us on the day (including students from Perth College UHI who stocked and helped run the café).
All groups and individuals who facilitated our access to the mills on Sunday (including Historic Environment Scotland, the Thomson family and Mr Tim Copeland).
PKHT Director David Strachan started us off with a talk about Lower City Mills
Sian Loftus of Birse Community Trust was second up
Third in line, Gordon Black gave a great talk about Hydro Power
Just before the break Mark Watson spoke about Water Power Mills
Time for tea!
After a short break, Andrew Whitley wowed with a talk about Scotland the Bread
Andrew Whitley on Scotland the Bread and Flour to the People
Following Andrew Whitley, Helen Martin gave a talk about New Lanark Trust
Finally, Karen Mason thrilled us with a presentation on the practical side of becoming a miller
Lower City Mills all ready to welcome guests!
The afternoon was hosted in Lower City Mills
Our Scottish Mills Exhibition was put together by a volunteer graphic designer
Our pop-up cafe with goods baked and served by students from Perth College UHI
All products were baked by students from Perth College UHI using flour and oats from Barony Mill, Golspie Mill and Scotland the Bread
Fresh bread for sampling dips and oils!
All products were baked by students from Perth College UHI using flour and oats from Barony Mill, Golspie Mill and Scotland the Bread
It all smelled delicious!
Attendees enjoying the cafe!
Attendees browsing our pop-up bookshop
Attendees having a coffee break between discussion groups!
Flour for sale in the pop-up cafe
Discussion groups underway
Discussion groups underway
Discussion groups underway
Discussion groups underway
The conference attendees exploring Stanley Mills - credit to the John O'Groats Mill Trust
