Otterburn Mill

[cessna152towser]

I had to go to Newcastle Airport today for my annual flight crew medical, (which I passed!), so took Ann for lunch en route at Otterburn Mill.
The village of Otterburn features often in military history; the Romans had a fort near here in the early Christian years; William the Conqueror granted land to his cousin for an 11th century Norman Castle; the Battle of Otterburn was fought in 1388 just a mile to the north when the Scots set off to besiege Newcastle. The Scots, led by the 2nd Earl of Douglas were confronted here by the English, led by Harry Hotspur, son of the Earl of Northumberland. Despite Douglas being slain, the Scots won the battle and advanced towards Newcastle. In modern military history, Otterburn is the base for an extensive NATO training range on the moorlands to the north.

The earliest of the present mill buildings date from the mid 18th century, though there has been a mill on this site since the 15th century. The mill stopped producing clothing in 1976 but has been preserved and re-opened as a visitor centre for the Border textile industry, and is a favourite stopover for coach tours.

The raw material is seen grazing adjacent to the car park.

This specimen died of natural causes during the winter of 1966/67 and has been stuffed for display.

Over the years the mill successively used water, steam and then diesel power. Here is Ann in the water turbine room, but it is not possible to get a good photo of the machinery as the room is quite dark, and the machinery is encased behind glass to prevent visitors falling down the pit into the mill lade, so my attempts to photograph the water turbine simply reflected the camera flash off the glass.

During the steam era, a Cornish boiler was used to raise steam; this is the firebox end.

In the 20th century the diesel engine was installed; it is still run up occasionally.

The diesel engine once drove these overhead line shafts which in turn operated the machines via belts and pulleys. The main mill is now a large retail area selling quality clothing besides all the usual tourist tat. They have kids kilts and ladies kilted skirts but they don't appear to do men's kilts; though I did purchase two pairs of hose.