Clackmannanshire
Carsebridge Distillery was founded in 1799 by John Bald and his business partner John Primrose. It was later considered one of the largest in Scotland and in 1877 was a founder member of The Distillers Company Ltd (DCL) of Edinburgh. By the mid 1880s it occupied ten acres and had an average annual output of over 1.5m gallons of grain whisky. It later produced yeast and by 1927 had a workforce of 220, was virtually self-sufficient and had twenty bonded warehouses. Distilling ended in 1983 and it became solely a cooperage and cask store; the distillery buildings were demolished in the 1990s.
A new cooperage was built in Cambus and in 2021 most of the site was cleared; only Carsebridge House, originally the distillery manager's home; its walled garden; stables; the so-called "Napoleon" Pillar and the former office buildings, known as Ochil House and Harvey House, remained. Carsebridge House and the stables were demolished in 2024, following persistent vandalism and a devastating fire.
Ochil House and Harvey House are virtually all that survive of a place once a vital part of the industrial life of Alloa, Resonate Together is now transforming them carefully into a vibrant Cultural Campus. This community-led regeneration project blends heritage, creativity and wellbeing.
Visitors will be able to explore the many architectural features, from the original tiled entrance floor, curved staircases, stained glass and ornate ceilings, to the now iconic "Napoleon" Pillar, which has been rescued, restored and relocated. Guided tours will reveal some of the secrets discovered during the transformation work.
Resonate Together will be showcasing its exciting and innovative vision for the future development plans, which will blend contemporary, accessible design with characterful heritage preservation.
They will also reveal a hidden part of the site’s wartime past — the old air raid shelter beneath Carsebridge, inviting curious minds, local historians and volunteers to help reimagine this forgotten space. Could you help uncover and share its story?
Everyone is welcome to join Resonate Together in imagining what is possible when new life is breathed into old buildings.
Facilities
Additional Access Information
Please note that the ground floor of the main building of Ochil House is accessible, but there are stairs to other areas and access to Harvey House is via steps, though part of the interior is accessible. .
Gallery
Key Information
There will be guided tours at 10.30am, 12.00pm and 2.00pm and informal walkabouts throughout the day.
Where to find us
Address
- Carsebridge Cultural Campus
- Carsebridge Road
- Alloa
- FK10 3LU