Documents

Where documents include maps, the use of this data is subject to terms and conditions (https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/termsandconditions).

The legal document available for download below constitutes the formal designation of the monument under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979. The additional details provided on this page are provided for information purposes only and do not form part of the designation. Historic Environment Scotland accepts no liability for any loss or damages arising from reliance on any inaccuracies within this additional information.

• Type

  Legal Documents

  Title

  SM90076_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600014612)

Summary

Description

The monument consists of a horizontal mill, or "click mill" and associated structures.

The Click Mill near Dounby dates from the 19th century, and was restored by the Orkney Archaeological Society before being taken into State care in 1932. It is a small rectangular building standing on the E bank of a stream. It measures overall some 6m by 3.2m and is of drystone constuction with a low-pitched roof covered with flagstones and turf.

The mill machinery, including a horizontal paddle wheel, grind-stones, cowling, hopper and meal bin, is intact and in working order. Remains of the stone-lined lade survive to the NE, though water for operating the mill is now piped. A stone causeway with a lintelled bridge crosses the stream to the NW.

The area to be scheduled includes the mill, lade, bridge and the fence enclosing them, representing a kite-shaped area of ground measuring some 27.5m on the E, 12m on the SE, 16m on the SW and 25.3m on the NW, as shown in red on the accompanying map.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance as the last horizontal or 'Norse' mill in Orkney to remain in working order. The type is technically less sophisticated than the vertical mill, which required a system of gears to transfer the rotary power from the wheel to a horizontally mounted grind-stone. In the horizontal mill the power is transmitted straight to the stone, which is located directly above the wheel.

Although horizontal mills are still found throughout the E Mediterranean area, the Orkney examples belong to a N European group with a distribution within the British Isles taking in Shetland, the Western Isles, Caithness and Ireland. The origin of the type in this area is obscure, but there seems to be no particular reason to suggest any direct connection with the East.

References

Bibliography

About Scheduled Monuments

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.

Scheduling is the process that identifies, designates and provides statutory protection for monuments and archaeological sites of national importance as set out in the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979.

We schedule sites and monuments that are found to be of national importance using the selection guidance published in Designation Policy and Selection Guidance (2019)

Scheduled monument records provide an indication of the national importance of the scheduled monument which has been identified by the description and map. The description and map (see ‘legal documents’ above) showing the scheduled area is the designation of the monument under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979. The statement of national importance and additional information provided are supplementary and provided for general information purposes only. Historic Environment Scotland accepts no liability for any loss or damages arising from reliance on any inaccuracies within the statement of national importance or additional information. These records are not definitive historical or archaeological accounts or a complete description of the monument(s).

The format of scheduled monument records has changed over time. Earlier records will usually be brief. Some information will not have been recorded and the map will not be to current standards. Even if what is described and what is mapped has changed, the monument is still scheduled.

Scheduled monument consent is required to carry out certain work, including repairs, to scheduled monuments. Applications for scheduled monument consent are made to us. We are happy to discuss your proposals with you before you apply and we do not charge for advice or consent. More information about consent and how to apply for it can be found on our website at www.historicenvironment.scot.

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