Around the Mill

There are some interesting old names for the various little areas close to the mill, on the east side of Mill Wynd.  At the first bend in this road is 'Dunkirk' (later known as Dunkirk Place then Dunkirk Cottages).  Facing this building if you turned right back in the late 19th century you would have come to 'Paradise' (a row of cottages).  Or if you had continued left further along Mill Wynd you would have landed at 'Picardy'.  In Mrs Menzies memoirs, she recalls the mill itself as follows:

"Even then it must have been past its heyday though the mighty wheel still turned.  It was wonderful to see it in action.  I remember getting a wooden box filled with newly ground oatmeal.  The lade, the weir and the deep water near the mill constituted forbidden territory but by the way of compensation there were three big pig sties complete with occupants on our way to the bridge over the burn and up the Back Steps.  These steps were irregular but efficient and once we were on them we were at the eastern extremity of the village."

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The 'Back Steps' or 'Jacob's Ladder' are the narrow steps leading from the low-lying mill by the Keil Burn up to Largo Road.  This old path way still exists but is no longer at the edge of the village, as much development has taken place over the years to the east of the steps.  There is still a row of 19th century cottages immediately to the west of the steps on the south side today.

In the next post, we will complete the 'tour' of late 19th century Lundin Mill with a look at The Wynd.  Then will be an overview of the whole village at that time, complete with a map to help fit all the pieces together.

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