The Heritage Fund has announced £144,497 for the restoration of Balmacara Old Mill Hall.

The news of the Heritage Fund support brings a significant funding boost and provides a vital link in the Trust’s plans that will release further investment. It means Balmacara Community Trust has now secured more than £1 million for the project.

The Old Mill Hall sits at the centre of Balmacara Square, the only unrestored building in the otherwise picturesque historic setting.

The condition of the building not only detracts visually it also creates a gap in the story of a pivotal point in Highland history with the grouping of buildings reflecting an early stage in industrialisation of agriculture that continued through the 1800s.

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.”

The Old Mill Hall was bequeathed to the community in 1946 by Lady Hamilton. It forms part of Balmacara Square, an early example of the Model Farms that were developed through the Victorian era.

The Old Mill Hall started life as a watermill and features of that historic role will be reflected in the restoration. Work to date, carried out to help retain features and for safety reasons, has already uncovered many lost features, including: 

    • 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 1940s.

While reflecting the important heritage of the site it is also part of the restoration plan to bring back its post-1946 role as a centre for community life.

After falling out of use as a watermill the hall was used for storage, education and then a community gathering space over the years. There are images of community events in the hall on www.balmacara.scot. Some of the people pictured as children, still live in Balmacara and their stories of the hall being open for dances and parties are fascinating.

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, on 21st February 2022.

The Hall is in the middle of Balmacara Square and is surrounded by National Trust for Scotland (NTS) estate land. This land was bequeathed to NTS by Lady Hamilton at a similar time to the hall being passed to the community.