A historic mill which featured in the hit series Outlander has begun grinding grain again for the first time in three decades.

The millstones of Preston Mill in East Lothian are once again in action following a series of conservation works undertaken by the National Trust for Scotland.

The current mill was built in the 18th century, but the earliest surviving record of mill repairs at the East Linton site dates back to 1598.

It appeared in the first season of the hit TV series when it was transformed into the mill on the Fraser estate of Lallybroch, which lead character Jamie Fraser repairs while visiting his family home.

There are indications that a mill may have existed on the site as early as the 13th century, meaning oatmeal and other grains could have been milled at the location for around 800 years.

Preston Mill is renowned for its unique tilt, caused by subsidence of the kiln building, which is now supported by external stone buttresses.

The historic mill featured in Outlander (Image: NTS)

Made of local volcanic stone, the mill came into the care of the Trust in 1950 and was operated commercially until 1959.

The current River Tyne‑powered waterwheel was installed in 1909 and, following a series of repairs to the waterwheel and sluice, as well as the dressing of the French Burr millstones, visitors can now see the mill back in action.

The catalyst for the work was a generous donor, whose initial support made it possible for the project to progress, and it would not have happened without their backing, NTS said.

Donor generosity has previously supported Preston Mill, with other recent repairs partially funded by fans of Outlander.

Fraser MacDonald, the National Trust for Scotland’s Visitor Services Supervisor at Preston Mill and Phantassie Doocot, said: “Much of the machinery in our mill has been continuously operational and visitors have been able to see our waterwheel turning, as well as many of our drive belts and gears working, but our French Burr millstones have not been in a condition to actually grind grain for quite some time.

“Last year marked the 75th anniversary of Preston Mill coming into the care of the Trust, and this coincided with a lot of necessary maintenance. Fortunately, we were also able to take the opportunity to address our millstones alongside our other ongoing conservation efforts.

“The team at Dorothea Restorations surveyed the work required and carried out the restorations, which included dismantling the stones’ furniture, containers known as tuns, and hoppers used to feed grain into the stones.”

French Burr millstones at Preston Mill (Image: NTS)

Mr MacDonald added: “They dressed the faces of the stones and cleaned, adjusted and greased the neck and foot bearings before lifting and turning over the runner stone to place it back over its bedstone, finally refitting everything into place.

“The French Burr the millstones are made from is a type of freshwater quartz that is highly prized for milling. Our stones had been separated since the 1990s and were worn completely flat, but the dressing restoration has allowed them to be put back together for milling once again.

“We also discovered, when reassembling the grindstones, a maker’s plate on the reverse of one stone that had been unseen for around 40 years. The plate, from J. Smith & Son, an Edinburgh millstone maker, had not been previously noted in our records. It is exciting to still be learning new things about our mill and its machinery.”

In addition to the lead donor, much of the conservation work was made possible by a Historic Environment Scotland Partnership Fund Grant, an ongoing partnership that allows the charity not only to carry out vital conservation work but also to support the continuation of traditional crafts and skills.

Stuart Maxwell, Regional Director of Edinburgh and East at the National Trust for Scotland, said: “The Trust’s purpose is to care for and share Scotland’s heritage, which includes our industrial history.

“We know that mills like this one were at the heart of their communities and, at Preston Mill, we tell the story of rural life in East Lothian during the 18th, 19th and early 20th centuries.

“Keeping ageing machinery like this running takes a lot of time and effort, but the revival of milling at Preston Mill is a powerful example of how donor generosity, public funding and member support come together to protect Scotland’s heritage.”