Old Photograph Deanston Scotland

Old photograph of Deanston near Doune, Stirlingshire, Scotland. The name comes from Walter Drummond, Dean of Dunblane in 1500, originally called Deans Town. Deanston Cotton Mill was built by the Buchanan brothers of Carston, near Manchester, in 1785, and utilised the River Teith to power the mill. In 1808 James Finlay & Co bought the mill and developed it into the industrial leader of its time, which included the construction of a 1500 yard long Lade. James Smith, a manager of the mill, was a successful entrepreneur and inventor. He built unusually designed accommodation over four levels for his workforce, called the divisions, which was new in its day. At its peak, the mill had over 1000 workers and had the largest waterwheel in Europe, Hercules. The cotton mill closed in 1965. On the site, the Deanston Whisky Distillery opened in 1966. David Richmond was born in Deanston,in about 1843, the ninth of ten children to James King Richmond and his wife, Mary Lauchlan, both originally from Ayrshire. His parents moved to Glasgow when he was an infant. He was educated at St James Parish School then Glasgow High School.In 1865, he travelled to Australasia but returned in 1868 to set up his tube works, which was located at Aytoun Court in Glasgow. In 1879, he joined the Glasgow town council representing the 14th ward. In 1891, while a city Bailie, he attended a large banquet combining a wide range of famous parties together including Sir Henry Irving and his then-secretary Bram Stoker, Buffalo Bill Cody, and Harry Furniss. His most important contributions as Lord Provost were the building of the People's Palace and laying the foundation of the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum. He was also greatly involved in the expansion of electricity through the city and building of several public baths and fire stations. He also organised the building of Tollcross Park and Richmond Park, named in his honour. He was knighted in 1899 by Queen Victoria. He died at 53 Albert Drive in Glasgow on 15 January 1908.


All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.

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