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9 May 2025

Stanley Mills & New Abbey Corn Mill free for National Mills Weekend

This weekend (10-11 May), visit Stanley Mills and New Abbey Corn Mill for free as part of National Mills Weekend, an annual spotlight on the heritage and history of mills

A stone building painted white surrounded by trees with a low stone wall running in front of it. On the side of the building the words New Abbey Corn Mill are painted in black.

Visitors can visit Stanley Mills in Perthshire and New Abbey Corn Mill in Dumfries for free on Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 May as part of National Mills Weekend.

Stanley Mills, a former 18th century mill that closed in 1989, offers visitors an opportunity to step back in time and see life behind the walls of one of Scotland’s best-preserved industrial sites of the period.

Visitors to New Abbey Corn Mill can find out how this 18th century mill worked and hear the stories of some of its millers, whilst admiring the buildings and machinery that are just as the last miller left them more than 65 years ago.

Jon Pagan, Monument Manager for Stanley Mills at Historic Environment Scotland which manages both sites, said:

“We’re thrilled to be taking part in National Mills Weekend, with two of our sites opening their doors to visitors across the country. This year, National Mills Weekend will focus on the way that mills have been recorded in pictorial form with the theme ‘Mills in Time’. We invite you to join us to step back in time, exploring the industrial heritage of these iconic Scottish mills. There will be lots of activities to get involved with throughout the day, plus our knowledgeable site staff will be on hand to explain how the mills would have functioned and their history.”

National Mills Weekend takes place on Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 May, 10am to 4.30pm with last entry at 4pm. Free tickets can be booked online and advanced booking is recommended.

About Historic Environment Scotland (HES) 

  • We are the lead body for Scotland’s historic environment, a charity dedicated to the advancement of heritage, culture, education and environmental protection. It is at the forefront of researching and understanding the historic environment and addressing the impacts of climate change on its future, investigating and recording architectural and archaeological sites and landscapes across Scotland and caring for more than 300 properties of national importance. We are also the lead on delivering Scotland's strategy for the historic environment, Our Past, Our Future.
  • Historic Scotland, Scran, Canmore, The National Collection of Aerial Photography (NCAP), The Engine Shed, Stirling Castle, and Edinburgh Castle are sub-brands of HES.
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For further information, please contact:

Laura Ely
Historic Environment Scotland Media Office
07881 512 379
communications@hes.scot

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