A former factory which made more than a million pairs of Wellington boots for soldiers in the First World War is a step closer to being saved after receiving a lottery grant.
Castle Mills, in Fountainbridge, Edinburgh, supplied 1.2 million pairs of Wellington boots to the front to help soldiers deal with the appalling muddy conditions in trenches.
The factory pioneered the use of India Rubber to make the Wellington boot and later the iconic fashionable Hunter boot, now made in China.
The British-made Wellington boots were said to be the envy of the German troops and made a significant contribution to the war.
Now the former headquarters of the North British Rubber Company, birthplace of the British Wellington boot, is closer to being saved from demolition following a £5 million grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund.
The North British Rubber Company also made the modern motor car tyre, and the first ever traffic cone.
Built in stages between 1856 and 1897 beside the Union Canal, Castle Mills is the last visible reminder of an industrial heritage which played a central role in Edinburgh’s development and economy, and in the livelihood of its population for over five generations.
At its peak, the North British Rubber Company employed 8,000 people and covered a vast 20 acre site. Even as late as the 1950’s, it was still the city’s largest industry employing over 3000 people.
Plans are to turn the headquarters into a printmaking facility and arts centre for hundreds of artists as well as a cafe.
Colin McLean, Head of the Heritage Lottery Fund said: “Castle Mills was once at the heart of a thriving community but now stands empty and neglected and whilst much-loved, its restoration presents huge financial challenges.
“We are delighted to be able to help unlock its potential so that it can once again be a centre for new ideas and productivity and a catalyst in the regeneration of Fountainbridge.”
Source: Heritage Lottery Fund press release
Images courtesy of the Heritage Lottery Fund
Posted by: Mike Swain, Centenary News