Mill of Towie

{{short description|Historic mill in Moray, Scotland}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}

{{coord|57|30|41|N|2|59|27|W|region:GB|display=title}}

{{Infobox building

| name = Mill of Towie

| native_name =

| native_name_lang =

| logo =

| logo_alt =

| logo_caption =

| image = Mill_of_Towie,_near_Drummuir_-_geograph.org.uk_-_162228.jpg

| image_alt =

| image_caption = The Mill of Towie, in the background. The chimney of the kiln can be seen rising above the outbuilding in the foreground.

| map_type =

| map_alt =

| map_caption =

| map_size =

| map_dot_label =

| map_dot_mark =

| relief =

| former_names =

| alternate_names =

| etymology =

| status =

| cancelled =

| topped_out =

| building_type = Watermill and kiln

| architectural_style =

| classification =

| location = Near Keith, Moray

| address =

| location_city =

| location_country = Scotland

| coordinates =

| altitude =

| current_tenants =

| material = Rubble

| size =

| designations = Category A listed building

| known_for =

| rooms =

| parking =

| website =

| embed =

| embedded =

| references =

| footnotes =

}}

The Mill of Towie is a nineteenth-century mill building, with an attached kiln, situated close the River Isla, approximately {{convert|2|mi|km|sigfig=2}} south of Keith, Moray in Moray.

The mill is a rubble-built rectangular building, three bays long by two wide, with a kiln projecting at its east end to form an L-shape. The main building is of two storeys, with loft space above, and was probably built in the early nineteenth-century having been built on the site of an earlier mill.{{Historic Environment Scotland|num=LB2303|desc=Mill of Towie|cat=A|accessdate=7 July 2019}}{{cite book |last1=Hume |first1=John R |title=The Industrial Archaeology of Scotland 2. The Highlands and Islands |date=1977 |publisher=B.T. Batsford Ltd |location=London |isbn=978-0-7134-0809-6 |page=178}} There is a wheel house at its west end, protecting a wood- and iron-built breastshot paddle wheel. {{convert|1|m|ft|sigfig=2}} in breadth and {{convert|4.3|m|ft|sigfig=2}} in diameter, with eight spokes, it was built by Barry, Henry and Cook of Aberdeen. The mill's machinery, including the millstones and hoists powered by the wheel, remains operational, and the waterwheel has been described by John R. Hume as being in "excellent condition".

The mill underwent restoration in 1987–1988, and was designated a Category A listed building in 1988.

The Scottish country dance, The Mill of Towie, is named for the building.{{cite web |title=The Mill of Towie |url=https://www.scottish-country-dancing-dictionary.com/dance-crib/mill-of-towie.html |website=Scottish Country Dancing Dictionary |accessdate=12 October 2019}}

NOTE placed 8th May 2022. Towie Mill is officially listed as the birthplace of James Milne 1629 d.1712 at the same location. His father was Thomas 'Tacksman of Towie Mills' 1599 - 1653. James had a son John who became 'Portioner of Urquart' 1659 - 1709. Along with James wife Margaret, they all lived at the Mill Of Towie. The records above state that the mill was erected C 1820, but there appears to have been a mill there from the 16th century or earlier.