Forestry Memories

Saw and bobbin mill — Contin

Saw and bobbin mill — Contin

Date Added: 25 February 2016 Contributor: Norman Davidson Year of Photo: 1913 Picture No: 3201

The image from the Rose family has been submitted by Alasdair Cameron shows what appears to be a large well constructed industrial building with the wall consisting mainly of windows in addition to the skylights. Note that there appears to be some oak logs on the left. It is likely that Mr Rose is seated 4th from left with his son 3rd left.

Very little information is known about this building or the extent of the Rose family operations at this time (1913 is only a guess). Alasdair goes on to say:

‘Obviously a large operation and they also ran a bobbin mill in part of the building. They roughed out the bobbins, mostly birch that were seasoned and went on to be finished in Dundee, ready for the textile industry.

I have been unable to find any of descendents that have any knowledge of the sawmilling operations. The location is on the main road going west from Strathpeffer and was on two known sites which may have been used at different periods. The big shed pictured is believed to have been near the present Achilty Hotel slightly further west and across the river Blackwater. There was a water powered meal mill in Contin on the river bank at an earlier period but nothing to suggest it was used as a sawmill, although the last Rose sawmill was very close to the site’.

Alastair would welcome any information on this building, the saw and bobbin mills and the extent of the milling activities of the Rose family in Contin. Perhaps someone can date the photograph from the style of clothes?

Please see next Rose family photograph in No 3202

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Groups: Groups of people, Sawmills, pulp mills, chipboard mills

11 Comments

Hi, I just happened to come across this, great to see. I can’t give you much information I’d always heard of the Bobbin mill, I was brought up in Contin.
I think it was possibly up Loch Achilty Rd towards now quarry but not sure.
My Grandfather worked at the other sawmill you mention but that was way back in 30’s ,40’s until 1952.
It was between the old road and river that now has 3 houses on it, before that it was a car sales business.
There was Roses that had Contin shop up until possibly mid 70’s. I do recall a Miss Rose in row of cottages beside monument, very elderly then in mid 80’s. Not sure if any help all this Comment left on 05 June 2020 at 21:44 by Keith Williams
My Granny and Grandad MacDonald lived in the Bungalow down on the opposite side from Achilty Hotel I was brought up in that house with my Mother and Father. Comment left on 05 June 2020 at 22:55 by Frank Crombie
I used to live in Roselea which was next door to what used to be called Rose Cottage where Mary Rose and her family lived. Mary stayed in the house till she was just over 100 before going into a home at Rosemarkie until her death at around 102. Before Otter Lodge was built there was a large garage on that site where the lorry was kept. Reading a leaflet called CONTIN 60 to 70 years ago written by Kenneth Cumming in 1996, he mentions there being two sawmills. One where the three bungalows now sit along the main road, run by the estate Forester/Sawmiller, K. Matheson (known locally as Kenny Flutie). This sawmill was water driven, hence that part of the river being known as the mill laide. The sawmill along at Achilty was run by the Roses. Theirs was a very busy sawmill employing many people such as millers, fellers, draggers and carters producing bobbins for the jute industry in Dundee as well as dressed timber for builders and cabinetmakers. Also busy with birch for firewood. Until Mary had to leave her home, her prized possession was a Rose sawmill bobbin which she kept on the windowsill beside where she sat and watched the world go by. Comment left on 06 June 2020 at 15:39 by Judy Grant
I have just looked up Mary Rose. She was born 1898 in Inverness and died in 2002 age 104. her parents were possibly William Rose and Mary Noble who were married in Urquhart and Logie Wester in 1895. Comment left on 08 October 2020 at 11:51 by Phyllis Hannah
In sacred memory/of/MARY NOBLE/died 25th June 1951, aged 88 years/beloved wife of WILLIAM ROSE, timber merchant, Contin/and the said WILLIAM ROSE/who died 25th March 1953, aged 90 years/and their family/ALEXANDER CHARLES L/Cpl. 1/6th Seaforth Highlanders/killed in France July 1916, aged 20 years/MINNIE, wife of DOUGLAS HALL/died August 1939, aged 39 years/["recent"].
There was another name on the gravestone but it has been blanked out as it would have been a recent death when the photo was taken so I suspect this would have been Mary. Comment left on 08 October 2020 at 12:00 by Phyllis Hannah
Hector Rose b. 1899 d. possibly Dingwall 1971
There are another couple of deaths for a Hector on in Forres in 1963 and a Hector Macdonald who died in Glasgow in 1973. Unfortunately, there are no recorded mothers maiden names to cross reference. Minnie was Williamina b. 1900 in Inverness. Comment left on 08 October 2020 at 12:17 by Phyllis Hannah
My father was Douglas Hall married to Minnie I believe her full name was Williamina , there was also another sister called Helen the older sister who lived with Mary till her death don’t know the date. We would visit Helen and Mary when we came north and Helen would visit us in London when visiting friends. Remember seeing the large bobbins by a shed in the garden as we went to the stream. The water for the house was supplied by a tap on the front porch natural water not mains it was used till Mary passsed away I believe. Comment left on 27 December 2020 at 12:44 by Margaret Davison
The Bobbin mill at Achilty was situated just passed the first house on the right after the hotel. There was another floor beneath what you see in the picture which housed a large steam engine that powered all the machinery. My dad Bert Hannah worked there until it burnt to the ground in 1952 with the steam engine blowing up and the boiler landing in the river (probably still there). There was another sawmill up Loch Achilty road just past the first houses on the left, I remember playing in the sawdust there but there was no buildings left. William Rose then bought what was Coul Estate sawmill and flour mill. The sawmill on one side off the "church" road and the flour mill on the other side next to the bungalow where my family lived. This sawmill burnt down as well in 1964/5 and was replaced by 2 mobile sawmills. The flour mill is now a house. William Rose & Son went bankrupt 1968/9. The son John (Jock) Rose also owned a haulage firm based at Contin mains behind the village hall which he sold off early 60's. His 2 sisters Helen and Mary lived in Rose Cottage, Mary was the firms secretary, the office was a shed in her garden. The Roses also owned the village P.O and shop. (in Mrs Roses name). Comment left on 13 January 2021 at 18:09 by Robert Hannah
Hi I have been doing a bit of research into my family history and found my grandfather worked as a sawmill fireman, information from a marriage certificate from 1934. Would this have been with a mobile steam sawmill? I am thinking this was from around the Contin/Achilty area. His name was Kenneth Mackenzie and lived at Wester Moy. Urray.
Thanks Bill Nicholson Comment left on 14 April 2023 at 20:25 by Bill Nicholson
I worked in the timber office of McGregor & Balfour LTD Loons Road Dundee Sawmillers & Jute Mill Furnishers, and remember we bought Scot’s pine railway sleepers 8’6” x 10” x 5” from their small sawmill at te edge of the road, which was a Graham of Perth tractor driven, inserted tooth circular blade, and we got the railway inspector to check they were all boxed heart, and he then hammered the BR before they were shipped. The birch bobbin blanks would be finished in our works in Dundee pair to sale to the jute mills in Dundee and world wide to India and East Pakistan. I was at the M & B
between 1959 and 1967
 Comment left on 04 August 2026 at 18:47 by Bradey Borland
The railway inspector was Joe Irvine for the record non rose of Contin Sawmill Comment left on 04 August 2026 at 19:36 by Bradley Borland
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