7. Dollar Glen and Mill Green

Dollar Glen

This beautiful stretch of woodland has deep gorges, rushing burns, waterfalls, towering trees and, of course, Castle Campbell. There’s a wealth of rare wildlife habitats here, and it is a nationally important location for lichens and ferns. Green woodpecker, dipper and nuthatch are three of the many species of birds that live in the lush, wooded gorges.

Mill Green

At the end of the 18th century a petition from the people of Dollar was taken by William McLeish, the miller at Dollar Mill, to the Duke of Argyle in Inveraray, the owner of the land in Dollar, to grant a piece of ground for a public bleaching green. Mr. McLeish was kindly received by the Duke and the result was that a free grant, in perpetuity, was given of the piece of ground, now known as the Mill Green.

In 1938 it was proposed that the Mill Green should become a park, but a poll showed that the people of Dollar felt the cost was too high and it would attract the “wrong type of people”. There were also fears that the area would be “civilised” with the grass cut and such facilities as picnic tables and swings provided!

Formerly under the care of Dollar Town Council the Mill Green is now looked after by Clackmannanshire Council. Silver birches were planted along the bluebell path at the time of the Silver Jubilee and a plaque on a stone commemorates a visit by Princess Anne in 1979.

Dollar Mill

Dollar Mill (remains)

All that remains of the mill and dwelling houses are some small overgrown mounds just below the wood near the steps at the east slope of the Mill Green. Excavations by Dollar Academy in 1979 found remains going back to medieval times. The mill wheel was powered by water conveyed above ground in a wooden trough known as a trow, a source of fascination and danger to the village children. Traces of the lade can still be seen running from the waterfall known as the Black Linn below the old waterworks weir further up the glen.

The mill was owned by the Barony of Campbell to which all tenants would be thirled – made to take their grain for grinding. The miller or multurer would take a portion of the hard-earned grain for himself as a charge and consequently millers were often disliked and regarded as dishonest. As an extra chore the tenants were required to keep the mill in good repair and also fetch millstones from the nearest suitable quarry – a dangerous job accomplished by rolling them with a beam through the centre hole. The district thirled to a mill was known as the sucken.

The last known millers were William McLiesh and John Hall early in the 19th century, after which the mill closed and the dwelling houses deteriorated into a slum.