Living history at Barry Mill

• The Larder
• 11 July 2012

One of the last working mills in Angus is a link to the way we used to eat

Scots still have great respect and use for the humble oat, yet of the 140 traditional mills that once dotted the Angus landscape, only a couple are still working.

Barry Mill, a lovely old watermill in a timeless setting by the Barry Burn, was the last water-powered mill to operate commercially in Angus, producing oatmeal and animal feed until 1982. A National Trust property from 1988, the mill was restored to its 1811 state.

Resident miller Peter Ellis says: ‘This mill would have been the heart of this local community, and would have been a predominant source of food for the people living here.

'One school pupil visiting here said to me: “But your flour is dirty” – he didn’t understand the concept of wholemeal. We need to keep the process alive to show people where real food was made in the past.’

● For information on visiting, and times of demonstrations, see nts.org.uk/Property/Barry-Mill