Holm Mills

[langbank]

Any info on the Holm Mills, weaving mills in Inverness, between 1871 and 1901?
Thanks
Alastair

[IMBER]

Can't provide the information you want but just to check that you are aware that Holm Mills is still functioning as a retail outlet for woollens etc.

[langbank]

Thanks for that.

[Chortlegirl]

Hi there

In James Miller's book "Inverness" (pub Birlinn 2004) there's not a lot of information on the Holm Mills apart from the owner of Holm Mills (James Pringle Ltd) bought the only other woollen mill in Inverness (situated at Muirtown in Inverness) in 1937 and transferred its work to Holm. However, Miller does quote a reference, namely:

MacAskill, EHL, "Holm Woolen Mills 1798 - 1984" Scottish Industrial History (1984) 7.2: 36-44

Also in Gerald Pollitt's "Historic Inverness" (pub Melven Press 1981) he says that the mill was established about 1798. The Provost of Inverness Dr John Inglis Nicol owned the mill in the early 1800s. Pollitt gives some more information on the mill, based on the following references:

Groome, Francis H, editor Ordnance Gazetteer of Scotland , a survey of Scottish Topography, Statistical, Biographical and Historical (1883), vol 4

Barron, James, Northern Highlands in the Nineteenth Century, (Carruthers and Sons, Inverness) in three volumes 1903 to 1913 1.87, 3.154

Hope this info is of some help. If you're in Scotland, perhaps these publications may be available (or can be ordered) at your local library?

Many thanks
Lynn

[langbank]

Hi
Many thanks for that, very useful. I will try the Mitchell Library in Glasgow. Best wishes.
Alastair

[Alan Macdonald]

Hi there. I could do with more information on Holm Mill myself. I suspect it may be tied in with my family.

Mr great uncle, James MacDonald (1873 - 1966), owned 8 acres of land and leased more on which he grazed around 6000 sheep. This land was on the side of the river between Inverness and Ness Castle. On the top end of his land was a mill. At some point, James went into partnership with James Pringle.

I don't have any more information than that. No dates either. I am surmising that the mill was Holm Mill based on the location and the current owners.

Any help gratefully received.

Alan

[Chortlegirl]

Hi Alan

I've had another look at my books on Inverness to see if they held any further information about Holm Mills. Unfortunately, they don't seem to give anything more than I listed in my reply to Alastair (Langbank) in March. There's no mention of a James Macdonald in these books, but perhaps the references I listed in my previous post may be useful?

Sorry that I can't be of more help
Lynn

[Alan Macdonald]

Thank you Lynn, your references do give me somewhere to start.

Cheers
Alan

[RSMACL]

Interested in your comments re Holm Mills - my husband's uncle Finlay McDonald lives in house right opposite to Holm Mills in Holm Mills road; in fact he is known in family as 'Sonny Holm Mills".  His father and he in turn own Ness Bank Poultry Farm and the  house and land is still occupied by Finlay - running right down to River Ness.