Scalan Seminary & Mill Buildings
Moray
Come along and discover the hidden histories of the atmospheric site of Scalan. Look around the seminary building and see the rooms that were once used to secretly train young men to be priests during the 1700’s. See inside the two mill buildings, including areas that are usually closed to the public. Catch a glimpse of what everyday life was life was like for those living in and working there during the 19th and 20th Centuries from their own hands. The wooden walls are daubed with handwritten, dated snippets and left behind objects tell their own tales. Marvel at the restored waterwheel turning, bringing back sounds of the past.
Volunteers will be on hand to answer any questions and to share stories and memories of this beautiful and evocative site. Videos will also provide information on the history of the site and the surrounding Braes of Glenlivet.
The Scalan relates to this years theme as it is a site of resistance and preserves a sense of collective identity historically and today. Through the Catholic heritage of the site, it played a role, albeit secretly, in preserving the faith in Scotland, itself a significant part of the broader social, political and cultural history of Scotland. Today it remains a site of faith and togetherness.
It is a site that allows people to immerse themselves with all the senses as people will have done in the past. The conservation works of the Mill Buildings used traditional skills and techniques to preserve and will see the buildings long into the future. We are about to embark on further maintenance and conservation works of the seminary building to allow future generations to still come to the site and experience the sense of history.
The works will draw on traditional building techniques and will allow us to continue to tell the multiple stories of this site, from preserving faith to working the land and the personal stories of individuals that lived and worked this site, giving light to the social and cultural significance of the Scalan.
Facilities
Additional Access Information
Parking is offsite at the Carrachs Car Park with a 0.5mile (approx) walk along a farm track to the site. There is one parking space for restricted mobility only onsite, but this is accessed via a rough farm track and the site is not fully wheelchair accessible.
Please contact scalanassociation@gmail.com if you have any access queries.
Gallery
