The project

The design and development of a new tartan weaving mill within the Highlands and Islands.

The Black House Mill is destined for the beautiful peninsula of a similar name. The Black Isle, found within Ross and Cromarty in the Scottish Highlands. With a rich agricultural history, this will be first weaving mill to be based in this area and the first purpose built mill for over 20 years to exist in the whole of the Highland region.

Innovation

Five Inverness College UHI architectural technology students have come up with the winning design for a planned new mill for weaving tartan.

Clare Campbell, founder of tartan design studio Prickly Thistle, has proposed converting a disused farm steading on the Black Isle.

Clare launched a successful ‘Build the Mill’ crowdfunding campaign in early 2018 to help bring the students’ design to reality and at the same time bring tartan weaving back to its traditional Highland home. She has since secured a temporary pop-up mill for the in-house manufacturing of her bespoke tartan, while the development of the farm steading takes place.

She set Inverness College UHI students a challenge to design the mill. Rory MacFarlane, Martyn Donaldson, Andrew Maggs, Stuart Miller and Ryan Nelson created the winning design.

The plans will now be submitted to Highland Council for full planning permission and building warrant consent.

Outcomes

The development has been postponed due to COVID-19.