During investigations around Rosemarket village, the possibility of a previously unknown mill was identified from an old map from 1842.  It is located on the western side of the old railway not far from the Rath (Hill fort).  There was known to be a tucking (or fulling) mill located in Rosemarket, identified in the Censuses from 1841-1861 and this is the most likely location.

Tucking is a step in woollen cloth making which involves the cleansing of cloth (particularly wool) to eliminate oils, dirt, and other impurities, and to make it thicker. The practice died out with the modernisation of the industrial revolution.

Tucking mills processed cloth by beating it.  A water wheel drove a spinning shaft which had cams on it.  These lifted and then dropped wooden hammers onto the cloth.   This was followed by stretching the cloth on great frames known as tenters  to which it is attached by tenterhooks.

This map is reproduced with the permission of the National Library of Scotland

A closer inspection of this map suggests either a building or a pond and what appears to be a water wheel (highlighted in yellow), with water which has been intentionally diverted to the location (highlighted below).  Local information has it that a “paddle wheel” did exist here in the past.

This map is reproduced with the permission of the National Library of Scotland

Update June 2022

A Tithe Map of 1779 was found and this shows the mill below.  The map was in poor condition and quite faded, but confirms the location.

Census information

• In the 1841 Census, the occupier was John Evans (aged 50) with eight other Evans's living there.  His occupation is listed as "Clothier". 
• In 1851, David (his son) was present with his wife and eight others.  His Occupation is listed as "Pauper Labourer".
• By 1861 David is missing from the Census and his wife Frances was listed as "Head of family".
• No Census information exists for the mill after 1861.

Location Today

A visit to the location suggests that water was dammed into a mill pond, and it is possible to identify a likely location for the mill wheel. 

Investigations into this location are ongoing.