Weisdale Mill facts for kids
Weisdale Mill is a special building located in the village of Weisdale on the Shetland islands in Scotland. It's a type of mill called a watermill, which means it used the power of water to do work. You can find it near the top of Weisdale Voe, which is a narrow inlet of the sea. It's about a 20-minute drive from Lerwick, the main town in Shetland.
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What is Weisdale Mill?
Weisdale Mill was built in 1855. It was the biggest corn mill (also known as a gristmill) in Shetland. This means it was a place where farmers brought their oats and corn to be ground into flour or meal. Imagine a giant blender powered by water! Around 1900, old maps called it the "Mill of Kergord."
How the Mill Worked
Weisdale Mill was very busy until the early 1930s. Farmers and "crofters" (small-scale farmers) traveled from far away to get their crops ground. Getting there wasn't easy back then because there weren't many cars or good roads. People often walked long distances, carrying their crops. They would leave their oats and corn at the mill and come back later to pick up the finished meal or flour. Some even came by boat up Weisdale Voe, then walked the rest of the way to the mill.
From Mill to Butcher Shop
In 1936, a local farmer named Tony Anderson bought the mill. He changed it from a corn mill into a place for processing meat.
- The basement, where the cafe is now, became a slaughterhouse. This is where animals were prepared for meat.
- The ground floor was turned into a butcher shop. This is where the meat was sold.
- The top floor was used for storage. People often used it to salt sheepskins before selling them.
The butcher shop was very busy, especially during World War II. Many soldiers were stationed nearby, and they needed food. Tony Anderson also had a large butcher van. This van traveled around many areas of Shetland every day, selling beef and lamb to people.
A Close Call During the War
During World War II, there was a story that the mill was hit by enemy fire. Some bullets reportedly came through the back door, which was open at the time. Luckily, no one was hurt!
Weisdale Mill Today
In 1982, the building stopped being a butcher shop. It was empty for a while, but then it was completely renovated. The renovations finished in 1994. Now, the building is managed by an organization called Shetland Arts. It's a lively place with a few different things to see and do:
- Bonhoga Gallery: This is an art gallery. Its name means "my spiritual home," which is a lovely name for a place that shows beautiful art.
- The Mill Cafe: A nice place to get something to eat or drink.
- A Gift Shop: Where you can find souvenirs and local crafts.
