£140k restoration of historic mill uncovers lost features

The National

18-07-2025

The Heritage Fund has announced £144,497 for the restoration of Balmacara Old Mill Hall in Lochalsh.
Built to support new industrial approaches to agriculture in the early 1800s and given to the community and used as a gathering space for four decades after WW2, the hall fell into a derelict state.
The hall is the only unrestored building in the historic setting of Balmacara Square.
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The Old Mill Hall started life as a watermill and features of that historic role will be reflected in the restoration. Work to date features:
The wheel pit and mill lade.
The internal fly wheel pit, hidden beneath a raised ground floor.
Evidence about the original front façade which was changed in the 1940's.
With the trust's grant, Balmacara Community Trust has now secured more than £ 1million for the project.
Caroline Clark, the National Lottery Heritage Fund director for Scotland said: 'Balmacara Old Mill Hall has stood witness to changing ways of life over two centuries. Throughout most of that time it was a hub of community activity, first through industry then from 1946 as a shared gathering space.
'Sadly, mounting repairs forced its closure in the 1980s and we are delighted that thanks to National Lottery players we can support this project led by local people to restore the Old Mill Hall and see it back at the heart of life in their community.'
Mike Shucksmith, chair of Balmacara Community Trust, said: 'We are delighted to secure The National Lottery Heritage Fund's support for the restoration. We are grateful to National Lottery players who made it possible and to all of our funders who have helped us reach this stage in the project and who continue to support us.'
After falling out of use as a watermill the hall was used for storage, education and then a community gathering space over the years.
The hall was betrothed in trust to the community in 1945/6 by Lady Hamilton Balmacara Community Trust acquired the title for the Hall, on behalf of the community, in February 2022.