Darvel, in the Irvine Valley, was once one of the largest lace producing towns in Scotland and Darvel Lace was known throughout the world with India being one of the biggest markets. In the 1970s the factories began branching out into other textiles but ultimately couldn't compete with the similar products being manufactured in the far east and India and nowadays there is only one remaining mill left in nearby Newmilns. The mill occupied by Loudoun Manufacturing Co. was originally built in 1895 and associated with Stevenson Lace and featured an expansive single storey weaving sheds area as well as, originally, a two storey office block at the front. The works closed around the turn of the millenium, and at some point in the last few years a fire ripped through the offices which was later demolished leaving just the weaving sheds behind.
I love my old fashioned industry and this location is an absolute gem. It's a bit bashed and battered having been closed for nearly two decades but the weaving sheds are in a class of their own, literally everything is left inside right down to the half-finished product on the machines. For the most part it's an absolute pig to light as the windows of the sawtooth roof have all been covered over and there are only a couple of areas with any natural light - one part of which sadly includes a horrific amount of pigeons and their associated leavings - but overall it's an absolutely incredible place, of the sort which just shouldn't exist any more.
Visited on a recent, long overdue long weekend in Scotland stomping around @Brewtal 's turf for a few days. To say I needed the break was an understatement! I must thank him also for use of his lighting implements as otherwise I really would have struggled in here.
Thanks for looking
I love my old fashioned industry and this location is an absolute gem. It's a bit bashed and battered having been closed for nearly two decades but the weaving sheds are in a class of their own, literally everything is left inside right down to the half-finished product on the machines. For the most part it's an absolute pig to light as the windows of the sawtooth roof have all been covered over and there are only a couple of areas with any natural light - one part of which sadly includes a horrific amount of pigeons and their associated leavings - but overall it's an absolutely incredible place, of the sort which just shouldn't exist any more.
Visited on a recent, long overdue long weekend in Scotland stomping around @Brewtal 's turf for a few days. To say I needed the break was an understatement! I must thank him also for use of his lighting implements as otherwise I really would have struggled in here.
Thanks for looking
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