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Latest from Instagram
Our new website is now live – and you can book mill tours for Doors Open Days 2026 on the 19th & 20th September.
The mobile version will launch soon, but we`ve been so busy with weir repairs it`s taken a little bit longer than we hoped to get this live. Patience wins the day…
To book tours for Doors Open Days, book tickets in the online shop. Tours are free but we ask (and are very grateful for) a £10 donation per person. Link in bio.
This website has been made possible thanks to the generous support of the Shannel Trust. Web design is by @wildcroftskerray
Aug 25
Farewell to contractors @rjecameron and Troy @holt.from.the.blue who joined us for the last two weeks and threw themselves at the work and as tutors for last week`s skills placements.
Thanks to their sterling efforts we are now ahead of schedule! All main timber work on the weir is complete, with around two thirds of the stone work finished.
We now turn our attention towards fabricating the mesh screens required to meet SEPA stipulations and gearing up to host a visit from this year`s @spab1877 Fellows and Scholars, who are travelling the UK, in a week`s time.
Aug 21
The Bucket Mill`s weir is taking shape nicely in the Water of Feugh.
We`ve been blessed with fair weather. The nationwide drought is good for us as it means the river level is as low as can be, which makes work much easier.
In the mill, @jacknesbitblacksmith has been inducting volunteers in using the lathe to turn the two foot long pegs we use to pin logs together.
In the river the weir frame is taking shape with @rjecameron leading the work. Much of the new fish pass is close to completion.
Over the weekend @holt.from.the.blue and @zafiropoulosalexis finished off the drystane butresses which hold a new screen to prevent salmon swimming up the outflow lade. More on that soon.
Please note: the Bucket Mill is closed to the public. As a construction site all visits are to be by prior arrangement only.
Aug 18
Week two complete on repairing the Bucket Mill`s weir.
A staggering amount of work has been completed this week by an ace team. We say farewell to skills placements Meg and Hayden who threw themselves into the work this week. Given that we started behind schedule owing to it taking a while for our consents to come through, the injection of labour this week has been rocket fuel to getting the work completed before the window to work in the river closes on 15th October.
More to come next week.
Aug 14
A huge thanks to our new volunteers Shaun, Clive, Angus, Mark, Rob and Adrian who answered the call to help peel logs this week. We have four more in the stack, which probably leaves one or two to do by Friday to keep the team in the weir fed with logs. We also have posts to cut (which support logs in the river) and pegs for both the weir and waterwheel to turn.
If you would like to volunteer, please email enquiries@bucketmill.co.uk to register interest in the first instance. Regrettably we can`t yet welcome turn-up-and-go volunteers to the mill so be in touch first.
Aug 13
Today was our first day in the river, which was pretty sweet given the 18 months of planning, paperwork and fundraising to get to this point. Thanks to @histenvscot and the @spabmills Repair Fund for supporting these works and @thetradeswidowsfundcharity for enabling the background infrastructure to make it all happen.
Last week`s head start on the log peeling meant our specialist roundwood timber framer @rjecameron and skills placements Hayden and Meg spent no time getting the first log in place by the end of the day. And to volunteer Clive for peeling more logs to keep the river works fed. Hopefully a good omen for the rest of the work.
We still have some slots for skills training placements in August and early September. These placements are suitable for those with practical or trade experience but who are wanting to learn more about the building crafts and conservation and are motivated to help us with our project at the Bucket Mill. Unfortunately we only have very basic facilities at the mill for camping so placements are best suited to those accustomed to outdoor living, with a bursary of £200/per week to support travel and sustinence costs. If you would be interested please email enquiries@bucketmill.co.uk for more information.
Aug 10
Would you like to help us with our work to reinstate the Bucket Mill`s weir?
Thanks to funding from the @thetradeswidowsfundcharity we have now developed some of the essential infrastructure required to welcome volunteers to the Bucket Mill.
Next week (w/c 10th August) we would be especially grateful for help to peel logs to keep our specialist roundwood timber framers fed with material.
We can now offer a limited number of sessions, AM, PM (or both), with full task training and site induction. All you need to do is email enquiries@bucketmill.co.uk for more information.
You`ll need your own steel toe capped boots and work clothes but all other protective equipment can be supplied.
Aug 7
Work on the weir has begun!
After obtaining final consents last week we have wasted no time in getting to work. Today we put these brilliantly fabricated log stands made by the talented @jacknesbitblacksmith into use.
These frames let us work on logs at a comfortable height and the screw jack means they can be adjusted on uneven ground – perfect for scribing joints by the riverside.
These logs will form the frame of the weir, which is a unique roundwood log construction, packed with river stones. The weir channels water down our lade to bring water to the waterwheel of the mill. As part of the work, we are including a fish ladder in the weir to enable salmon to climb the weir.
Unfortunately it is not possible to visit the mill whilst work is ongoing. However, keep your eyes peeled for our website launching soon, where you will be able to book tickets for tours of the Bucket Mill for the upcoming @doorsopendays.scot on 19th and 20th September.
Aug 5
