B
Blackflag
Guest
Guest
History:
'The distillery is at Camelon, just north of Falkirk, on the bank of the Forth-Clyde Canal. The first record of distilling activity here was in 1798 by Messrs Stark.
During the 1840's, the maltings of the Camelon distillery were acquired by James Rankine, a local grocer and wine and spirit merchant. He rebuilt the distillery and began to produce a whisky of high quality. Such was the demand from the blenders that he sold it on allocation. These were the beginnings of the most well-known of the Lowland malts.
In 1894, Rosebank Distillery Ltd. was formed. In 1914, it was among the companies that amalgamated to form the Scottish Malt Distillers before the group became part of DCL.
Despite being widely regarded as the most distinguished of the Lowland malts, Rosebank Distillery was closed in 1993.
Rosebank's closure in 1993 was a tactical move by United Distillers (which had swallowed DCL in 1986). Glenkinchie had been chosen in 1987 as the Lowlands representative in UD's new Classic Malts range, despite being a far lesser light in the Lowland firmament than Rosebank. The most obvious reasons for this decision were:
(a) The output of Glenkinchie at capacity was four or five times that of Rosebank; and
(b) Glenkinchie's pretty distillery was situated in picturesque Peastonbank, East Lothian in 87 acres of farmland still owned by the distillery, and was an ideal location for a visitor centre....
With resources being focused on promoting the Classic Malts, Rosebank, despite the quality of its spirit, was deemed to be redundant and the plug was pulled in 1993.
Pics:
Rosebank - complete & untouched, approx 2000/2001
As it stands today, part of the site has been developed with waterside flats, and the distillery itself has been partially demolished...
Vats.
Rather optimistic reading....
Sums it up.
Large tank overhead, made up from individual cast sections.
Twenty five to ten....
The standard 28DL industrial pic.
99% sure its a boiler.
More switches.
Round the other side.
From the road.
The two large woden worm tanks in the very first pic would have sat in the space next to the chimney.
Broken fire hose dribbling water for years.
Random outbuilding - with new neighbour.
The former No.6 bonded warehouse on the adjacent bank, has been a restrauant for years.
The building has been in the hands of British Waterways since 2002. Planning has been approved for mixed use of the building, and several developers are said to be interested in the site.
An un-named party has expressed interest on some of the equipment remaining inside.
The distillery was opened for the day as part of www.doorsopendays.org.uk, just the ticket to recce for another explore...
So, thats my first post, thanks for reading.
'The distillery is at Camelon, just north of Falkirk, on the bank of the Forth-Clyde Canal. The first record of distilling activity here was in 1798 by Messrs Stark.
During the 1840's, the maltings of the Camelon distillery were acquired by James Rankine, a local grocer and wine and spirit merchant. He rebuilt the distillery and began to produce a whisky of high quality. Such was the demand from the blenders that he sold it on allocation. These were the beginnings of the most well-known of the Lowland malts.
In 1894, Rosebank Distillery Ltd. was formed. In 1914, it was among the companies that amalgamated to form the Scottish Malt Distillers before the group became part of DCL.
Despite being widely regarded as the most distinguished of the Lowland malts, Rosebank Distillery was closed in 1993.
Rosebank's closure in 1993 was a tactical move by United Distillers (which had swallowed DCL in 1986). Glenkinchie had been chosen in 1987 as the Lowlands representative in UD's new Classic Malts range, despite being a far lesser light in the Lowland firmament than Rosebank. The most obvious reasons for this decision were:
(a) The output of Glenkinchie at capacity was four or five times that of Rosebank; and
(b) Glenkinchie's pretty distillery was situated in picturesque Peastonbank, East Lothian in 87 acres of farmland still owned by the distillery, and was an ideal location for a visitor centre....
With resources being focused on promoting the Classic Malts, Rosebank, despite the quality of its spirit, was deemed to be redundant and the plug was pulled in 1993.
Pics:
Rosebank - complete & untouched, approx 2000/2001
As it stands today, part of the site has been developed with waterside flats, and the distillery itself has been partially demolished...
Vats.
Rather optimistic reading....
Sums it up.
Large tank overhead, made up from individual cast sections.
Twenty five to ten....
The standard 28DL industrial pic.
99% sure its a boiler.
More switches.
Round the other side.
From the road.
The two large woden worm tanks in the very first pic would have sat in the space next to the chimney.
Broken fire hose dribbling water for years.
Random outbuilding - with new neighbour.
The former No.6 bonded warehouse on the adjacent bank, has been a restrauant for years.
The building has been in the hands of British Waterways since 2002. Planning has been approved for mixed use of the building, and several developers are said to be interested in the site.
An un-named party has expressed interest on some of the equipment remaining inside.
The distillery was opened for the day as part of www.doorsopendays.org.uk, just the ticket to recce for another explore...
So, thats my first post, thanks for reading.
Last edited by a moderator:
