Another Sunday, another paper mill…
Kilbagie Distillery was founded in 1720, and was visited by Rabbie Burns, but the increasing popularity of gin made it unprofitable, so in 1875 it was converted to a paper mill. It passed through various owners, the last to run it as a paper mill was Inveresk, who own the Inverkeithing and Carrongrove mills I’ve reported on before, and it closed in 2002. The site is now owned by the Oran waste group who use the modern water-treatment plant installed by Inveresk, but are trying to sell the rest of the site.
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Researching my family history, I have discovered that my great grandfather, William Law was manager of Kilbagie Paper Mill in the 1870’s. My grandfather Robert Cecil Law was born at Kilbagie in 1872.
My Great Uncle John Hetherington ran the mill, I believe in the 40/50s. He lived in Kilbagie house which I remember visiting as a child in the mid 50s
My great-grandfather, John Forsyth was Head Engineer at Kilbagie until his sudden death in 1907. Family lived at Kilbagie cottage at time of death. My grandfather later became an engineer at Carrongrove Mill after he returned from WW1.
I used to deliver shredded banknotes here in the early 90’s for recycling