Distillery Plans

 

By conducting ongoing research and utilising the resources available at the Highland Archive Centre in Inverness, I have been able to access a significant number of plans associated with Glen Albyn Distillery. 

Each of these will be considered individually, uploaded below, with full credit and watermarks to the Highland Archive Centre, and discussed with Alan Winchester. It is our hope that these plans will provide new insights into this previously lost distillery, facilitating further discoveries and discussions.

Additionally, it is noteworthy that the earliest known plan of the original Glen Albyn, which stood for less than a decade, was inadvertently included in the Caledonian Canal plans conceived between 1840 and 1844. Regrettably, I am unable to provide you with the original document, which is indeed remarkable, but we can delve into this matter further. 

August 1884 - Plan of Alterations 

These are a highly distinctive set of plans, particularly in comparison to those of other distilleries in the Inverness area that I have had the opportunity to examine. The document is entitled 'New Distillery Buildings, Muirtown' and its primary focus is to illustrate the location of block drains and floor levels. It seems reasonable that this plan was necessary in order to assess the series of developments that were incoming for Glen Albyn. 

4th July 1892 - New Warehouse

A sign of the rise of Glen Albyn and continued investment with this set of warehouse plans. This warehouse was 194 feet long, inside it was 190 feet, meaning the walls were 2 feet thick. On the ground floor there were 17 columns to support the structure, approximately every 11.2ft, running the length of the floor, right down the middle.

6th August 1894 - Additions to Glenalbyn

This set of plans shows us an original 'old warehouse' that is being added to with the arrival of two further new warehouses, boosting capacity and underlining a renewed focus on the distillery and its upward trajectory. 

2nd December 1895 House of Glen Albyn Distillery Co.

We see the original vision for Glen Albyn House which would become the manager's residence and an iconic building in so many ways.

December 1895 Glen Albyn Manager's House Amendment

A quick-fire amendment is submitted that seems to be following communication regarding the chimneys on the house, which brings about another Glen Mhor connection.

20th November 1897 - New Kiln

These detailed plans show a major investment at Glen with a new kiln and the craze sweeping across Scotland.