Balnagowan No 1 Sawmill 1938
Photograph courtesy of Robbie Bruce, Drummuir. Little is known about this photograph but it is possible that this came from Robbie Bruce’s mother who was a Cameron from over Nethybridge way and whose family had some forestry or sawmilling connections.
There is reference to Balnagowan sawmill in some of the Nethybridge names but equally this could be at other Balnagowans such as Easter Ross where Scots pine also grows well.
This is quite a large team of men and one assumes this is at least a double bench outfit. Note the well made and tidy roofing structure and also the chimney of the steam engine used to power the whole setup.
The location has now been confirmed by Alastair Cassie, Ballater, as Balnagowan, Tarland Road, in Deeside and possibly working on timber on Coul Estate. Alastair has asked around and people remember it as a James Jones mill which had a row of accommodation huts behind the mill.
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Groups: Forestry in Action, Groups of people, Mystery and unknown, Sawmills, pulp mills, chipboard mills