buildings (B) were commenced in 1785, but saw significant changes over the years, including a serious fire in 1796. The Spinning Mill (the large five storey building) was constructed 1830 – 31, the Weaving Shed c.1830, both Category A. The mill finally closed in 1965, but was re-opened the following year as a whisky distillery, hence all the buildings have been re-purposed. Evidence of some of the original functions still remain, for example the water wheel pits. Deanston House (C) was built c.1820, but subsequently significantly extend in 1881 - 83. The grounds were extensive, again seeing considerable change over the years. Deanston Villa (D) built for the Mill Manager still stands, as do much of the walls of the original walled garden. Much of the former grounds to the west of the House have been given over to extensive C20 housing. Perhaps the most extraordinary feature of the village is the 1.5 kilometre long mill lade (E - only part shown on plan), built circa 1826. This replaced an earlier shorter mill lade and was built to channel the waters of the River Teith to power a series of five large waterwheels. The open lade terminates 200 metres short of the Mill, continuing underground. It was evidently designing in this manner as the Ordnance Survey map of 1862, Sheet CXXV surveyed 1862, shows this. The Significance of the village is that it is one of only a few Scottish planned villages founded in the Eighteenth Century based on fabric/cotton spinning, along with New Lanark (South Lanarkshire), Stanley (Perthshire) and Catrine (Ayrshire). This was apparently as a direct result of a mission by Richard Arkwright, the towering figure of the early Industrial Revolution, to set up cotton spinning factories in Scotland according to his principles. No single one of these four villages is any longer complete but together they provide a very full picture of how these villages were designed and operated. Notable people Oddly as a small village, Deanston links to two Lord Provosts of Glasgow: Sir John Muir and Sir David Richmond. Deanston is the birthplace of the pioneering documentary maker John Grierson after whom a street in the village is named. John Grierson built the first play-park in Deanston and his grandmother's ashes were scattered underneath the swings. James Tod of Deanston WS FRSE laird off Deanston from around 1830 to 1858. References External links Undiscovered Scotland