Carrongrove Paper Mill
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Carrongrove Paper Mill dates back to 1840 and was the birth place of Scotlands paper manufacturing industry.
Founded by Andrew Duncan of the Herbertshire Estate. The mill covered 38 acres and housed its own power plant as well as the home of Andrew Duncan. Which was named Carronglen House.
Carrongrove continued operating under its founder until 1924. When Inversk purchased the site. The mill remained under control of Inversk until 2005 when the company closed the mill due to slumps in the paper industry.
Since 2005 the mill laid derelict until Mactaggart & Mickel. The family owned housebuilder, completed an £11m purchase of the site.
Since their acquisition of the site. It has slowly been demolished. The only buildings that remain now are the power plant which once fuelled the massive 38 acre site and Carronglen House. Which is now a Grade II listed building.
The site is being transformed into housing including a coversion on Carronglen House.
Fortunatley the power plant still boasts some impressive features which are at the present still explorable.
When we initially arrived at this historical icon we were expecting industrial greatness. Sadly virtually all of the site has now been demolished.
Luckily the power plant still has some real treats left inside and is pretty much intact. The plant was coal fired and still has the original loading bays still in situ with the overhead crane still in place with its giant shovel.
The furnaces and boilers still proudly sit in place too whilst at the heart of the plant sits the huge chimney which bellowed smoke for over 200 years and created Scotlands paper industry.
Although this was the only building we could explore it did not disappoint. In some areas its very reminiscent of Inverkip Power Station with its high walkways and giant boilers.
Sadly we didnt get to explore Carronglen House as that currently is being used as offices by the demolition company and security company.
Its just a shame that such and iconic and industrial giant like Carrongrove has fell victim to yet another property development.
That said though we did at least get to explore some of this legendary place even though it wasnt much.
