Garrabost Mill

About

The mill is currently undergoing restoration as a historical visitor attraction and is currently closed to the public.

In 1893, Lady Matheson (the owner of Lewis) granted a charter for the ground at Alt-na-Gall, Garrabost, upon which a mill was to be built and was for the benefit of local crofters in Point. Crofts at the time were fully cultivated producing oats, barley, potatoes and turnips. For most of the early and mid-20th century barley was the principal cereal crop.

The process of milling started with the grain crop being threshed and dried in the kiln for 4-5 hours to remove all moisture, then transferred to the upper floor of the Mill. Here it was crushed between two stones, the upper rotating and the lower stationary to crack the husk and separate the kernels from husks and chaff. The grain now drops to ground level for sifting and winnowing and is now ready to be milled. The grain is transferred upstairs by an elevator to the milling stones which produce a very fine meal. Water from Allt-nan-Gall was sometimes scarce and so in 1908 a Oil Engine was purchased and fitted.

The Mill was owned by Graham Morrison of Garrabost until 2023, whose grandfather took over the running of the Mill in 1914: at that time it was running at full capacity producing barley meal and oatmeal. Graham’s father, John Morrison, later took over the running of the Mill. It ceased commercial operation in 1956 as crofting declined and Graham much later restored it as a hobby.  In 2023, the mill ownership was transferred to the Garrabost Mill Trust with a view to fully restoring the mill.