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The Plasmon Mill Pond Exhibition

Over the years the Mill made a variety of products. The earliest reference is to the turn of the century when the mill manufactured flour and meal. Meal mills were an important part of local life, as they provided food for humans and animals. Situated by water (a source of power), they were usually within half a day's travelling distance by horse to farm.

press cutting
An advertisement which appeared in the
Forres Gazette in the 1940s

Water from the Mosset Burn filled the Sanquhar Pond and Mill pond.

From there, the water flowed to a sluice gate, which controlled the level of water that powered the mill's machinery.

The water from the lade dropped 6 metres onto one or two of the mill's turbines. After use, the water flowed back to the burn via the outflow lade.

During the early 1920s the plant employed 40 – 50 girls. However in 1925, once the mill could no longer find sufficient female labour, an automatic packing plant was introduced. An extension was added to the east of the main block to house this new machinery. Around eight men were employed to control the milling operations.

When the Plasmon Company bought it in 1919 the machinery was adjusted for the production of Plasmon Oats.

This changed again in 1955 when the mills went over to the production of animal feed and barley, maize and wheat.

Copy of a Plasmon Oats box -
'Britain's Best Breakfast'