High hopes for talks over the High Mill

THE owner of Carluke’s historic 18th century High Mill building has stated that he is willing to meet for direct discussions with campaigners fighting to preserve the dilapidated structure.
By The Newsroom
Published 16th May 2012, 12:34 BST

But James Stevenson-Hamilton, speaking exclusively to the Gazette, stressed that he wouldn’t grant a 50-year lease for the A-listed three-storey windmill to “any old tinpot group”.

Mr Stevenson-Hamilton said: “I’m still waiting for somebody to come up with a reasonable suggestion for the High Mill which is viable. I need to speak to sensible, qualified people about it.

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“I would like to see it restored, but I’m not willing to pay for it myself.

“The people of Carluke need to be totally bedded in to any restoration idea. We need hard cash from the local community.”

The merits of fighting to preserve Scotland’s most complete remaining windmill – which was converted from sails to steam power in the mid-1880s and was later driven by a gas engine before finally falling silent around 1930 – were debated at the latest Carluke Community Council meeting.

For more on this story pick up a copy of the Carluke Gazette which is in the shops now.

Related topics:Scotland