 | This article includes alist of references,related reading, orexternal links,but its sources remain unclear because it lacksinline citations. Please helpimprove this article byintroducing more precise citations.(August 2010) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
55°28′04″N4°13′14″W / 55.467767°N 4.220587°W /55.467767; -4.220587
Bello Mill (also speltBellow Mill) was a mill dating from the 18th century on the river called theLugar Water, on the estate ofJames Boswell, Lord Auchinleck inAyrshire, inScotland. Before being rebuilt in the 1940s, it had three different sets of mill stones. It had one pair of millstones for rough grinding, and the two pairs of millstones for grinding oatmeal,
The neighboring Bello Mill Cottage is famous for being the birthplace ofWilliam Murdoch, who was born in 1754. Murdoch invented gas lighting and did experiments on steam engines in the nearbyMurdoch's Cave. Murdoch's father John Murdoch was tenant and millwright at Bello Mill, which he had taken over in 1754.
In 1760, John Murdoch installed the first iron-toothed gears used in a mill in Britain at Bello Mill. These gears were cast at Carron's Foundry inFalkirk. Bello Mill was at that point the most technically sophisticated mill in the UK.
Bello Mill no longer is intact, but the gears are still visible. It was used until the 1960s. The roof is now missing and it is in danger of falling into the river.
The Bello Mill Cottage is still inhabited.