Documents

There are no additional online documents for this record.

Summary

Description

Later 19th century, eastern kiln, dated 1869, with later alterations and additions. 3-storey and attic, 15-bay, former saw and meal mill, now converted as flats (see Notes), comprising 12-bay central section with raised, crowstepped-gabled, flanking kilns; 2-storey, 3-bay (later) house abutting W end; single storey, 3-bay store abutting E end. Harled to W end; squared and roughly course rubble to E end. Cornice course between floors to W end; eaves course.

N (PRINCIPAL) ELEVATION: bays grouped 2-6-6-1. 6-bay group to left of centre: boarded door at ground in bay to penultimate right. Regularly disposed windows in each bay at each floor remaining, (blocked window at ground in bay to centre). 6-bay group to right of centre, (7-bay at ground): modern, part-glazed door in bays 1, 5 and 7 (from left) at ground; regularly disposed windows in each bay at each floor remaining. 2-bay kiln to outer left: boarded door at ground in bay to right; small attic window above. Window at ground floor in bay to left; small attic window above. 2-bay kiln to outer right: large sliding door with modern part-glazed door flanking to left at ground; window at 1st floor; 2 evenly disposed circular motifs at 2nd floor above. 3-bay house to outer right: modern part-glazed door with small-pane fanlight at ground in bay to centre; window at 1st floor above. Windows at each floor in each bay flanking. Single storey store to outer left: sliding boarded door with 2 small window flanking to right.

S (REAR) ELEVATION: irregularly fenestrated with single storey range spanning central bays at ground; piended addition to outer right; 6-bay single storey pitched-roofed addition projecting at right angles to outer left.

E (SIDE) ELEVATION: store addition projecting from ground to left of centre; tall central stair window; 2 evenly disposed attic windows above.

Variety of glazing patterns including fixed small-pane timber-framed windows, uPVC windows, replacement small-pane timber-framed windows with top-hung upper lights, 4-pane timber sash and case windows to W end house. Grey slate roof; stone ridge; stone skews; harled, coped gablehead stack to W end of mill complex; predominantly uPVC rainwater goods.

INTERIORS: not seen, 1998.

Statement of Special Interest

Originally constructed as a saw mill, a wheel designed by Thomas Platt in 1839 to rise and fall with the tide was used to power it. The Oyce mouth at this time was open and flowed freely in and out of the bay; the tidal wheel was housed in a timber shed to the west. It was later converted to a meal mill and was variously powered by steam, gas and diesel, formerly having a square brick chimney to the rear. In 1942 Ayre Mills was again converted to an egg-grading station, a vital part of the huge Orkney egg industry. Egg production had always been important in the islands, but their export increased to almost 100 million eggs in the years 1950-51. At this time it was probably Orkney's biggest industry. However, in 1952, a 125 mph hurricane swept the majority of the scattered hen houses and hens on Orkney out to sea, and the industry never really recovered. By the 1960s, the development of cheaply produced battery eggs in the south finally killed off the industry permanently. The mill buildings have since been partly converted to flats.

References

Bibliography

About Listed Buildings

Historic Environment Scotland is responsible for designating sites and places at the national level. These designations are Scheduled monuments, Listed buildings, Inventory of gardens and designed landscapes and Inventory of historic battlefields.

We make recommendations to the Scottish Government about historic marine protected areas, and the Scottish Ministers decide whether to designate.

Listing is the process that identifies, designates and provides statutory protection for buildings of special architectural or historic interest as set out in the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) (Scotland) Act 1997.

We list buildings which are found to be of special architectural or historic interest using the selection guidance published in Designation Policy and Selection Guidance (2019)

Listed building records provide an indication of the special architectural or historic interest of the listed building which has been identified by its statutory address. The description and additional information provided are supplementary and have no legal weight.

These records are not definitive historical accounts or a complete description of the building(s). If part of a building is not described it does not mean it is not listed. The format of the listed building record has changed over time. Earlier records may be brief and some information will not have been recorded.

The legal part of the listing is the address/name of site which is known as the statutory address. Other than the name or address of a listed building, further details are provided for information purposes only. Historic Environment Scotland does not accept any liability for any loss or damage suffered as a consequence of inaccuracies in the information provided. Addresses and building names may have changed since the date of listing. Even if a number or name is missing from a listing address it will still be listed. Listing covers both the exterior and the interior and any object or structure fixed to the building. Listing also applies to buildings or structures not physically attached but which are part of the curtilage (or land) of the listed building as long as they were erected before 1 July 1948.

While Historic Environment Scotland is responsible for designating listed buildings, the planning authority is responsible for determining what is covered by the listing, including what is listed through curtilage. However, for listed buildings designated or for listings amended from 1 October 2015, legal exclusions to the listing may apply.

If part of a building is not listed, it will say that it is excluded in the statutory address and in the statement of special interest in the listed building record. The statement will use the word 'excluding' and quote the relevant section of the 1997 Act. Some earlier listed building records may use the word 'excluding', but if the Act is not quoted, the record has not been revised to reflect subsequent legislation.

Listed building consent is required for changes to a listed building which affect its character as a building of special architectural or historic interest. The relevant planning authority is the point of contact for applications for listed building consent.

Find out more about listing and our other designations at www.historicenvironment.scot/advice-and-support. You can contact us on 0131 668 8914 or at designations@hes.scot.