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Currently standing in the steading is a waterwheel salvaged from a derelict building at Lochhill Farm, a few miles north east of Airds.   The lower buildings at Airds are currently being converted into a dwelling, and during early stages of the work the original wheel pit associated with the 2-storey part was uncovered and dug out.   The building was used as a thrashing mill up until around the time of the last war.   The only traces of the original wheel found were a few broken parts of the sideplate casting.   This was sufficient to identify the probable maker as J & R Wallace of Castle Douglas, a firm latterly involved in agricultural machinery that went out of business in the 1960s.   Wallaces were known to make waterwheels and although no makers name has been found on the castings, it is thought likely that they were the manufacturer.

It was thought that replacement of the wheel would be a worthwhile project, and fortunately a similar item was located at a farm nearby.   The wheel, estimated to weigh around 2 tons, was transported to Airds where new casings and buckets will be fitted  before its installation into the wheel pit.  Apart from the sheet metal components that have long since rusted away, the wheel is in generally sound condition and will be cleaned and repainted to provide hopefully another 100 years or so of life.

Pictures above show the wheel being lifted out of its original location at Lochhill Farm, Castle Douglas & en-route to its new location.

This page is provided for information and interest to visitors to the AIRDS FARM GUESTHOUSE WEBSITE.   Airds Farm offers comfortable bed and breakfast and self-catering accommodation for visitors to Dumfries & Galloway in south west Scotland.   For information on accommodation please visit our Bed and breakfast page or for self-catering our Airdside self-catered cottage page.   Our homepage is Airds Farm.