Pencil on polyester film, 1983
Survey by RCAHMS
This mill stands on the east bank of the River Sorn on the island of Islay. Built in 1883, it is L-shaped on plan, three storeys high with a single-storey wing. Driven by water-power in the form of an all-iron waterwheel, the mill is primarily of interest for the rare machinery it contains and the traditional methods used.
The ‘piecing’ machine allowed carded wool to be joined to lengthen and strengthen it. Illustrated here, it is a particularly rare textile machine which replaced hand piecing, an activity mostly done by children. The machinery on each floor of Redhouses woollen mill was belt-driven from pulleys linked to a shaft overhead which in turn was attached to the main drive from the waterwheel. The mill still operates, making high quality woollen fabrics.