Founded 1852; later enlarged; subsequently demolished · Low Buckholmside, beside Gala Water · Lost building recorded by the NRHE/Trove
A lost steam-powered textile mill of 1852, remembered through records and photographs. The mill buildings and chimney have been demolished, and a retail park now occupies the former site.
Last reviewed: 19 July 2026
Quick Facts
| Date | Founded 1852; later enlarged; subsequently demolished |
|---|---|
| Location | Low Buckholmside, beside Gala Water |
| Building or site type | Lost textile mill |
| Designation | Lost building recorded by the NRHE/Trove |
| Architect or maker | Not established |
| Current use | Retail park and commercial premises occupy the former site |
| Public access | The modern retail park is publicly accessible during opening hours |
Why It Matters
Comelybank was among the first Galashiels mills built wholly for steam power. Its history marks the decisive shift from water-assisted production towards the large integrated factory, a change that reshaped both the industry and the northern edge of the town.
The Story
Comelybank Mill was established in 1852, the same year as Tweed Mill. Both were designed around steam rather than relying primarily on the mill lade. A contemporary image shows a two-storey mill with spinning and weaving on separate levels, tenter posts, engine house and chimney.
By 1868 the works were occupied by Bogue, Lees and Company. Like other Galashiels mills, the complex developed as machinery, power and markets changed; the principal business remained cloth manufacture, with dyeing added much later.
The chimney became the most conspicuous reminder of the works in views from King Street and the surrounding slopes. Photographs made before redevelopment are therefore valuable evidence for the height, density and mixed industrial-residential character of this part of the Gala valley.
The NRHE records Comelybank Mill as demolished. The chimney shown in the 1994 photograph no longer stands, and the former mill ground has been redeveloped as Comely Bank Mill Retail Park. This entry therefore records a lost industrial complex: the modern commercial site must be read against photographs, plans and the riverside setting of the works that preceded it.
Things to Notice
- The mill's position beside Gala Water
- The relationship with the rising housing terraces behind
- The size and outline of the modern retail site that replaced the works
- The mill and chimney documented in the 1994 photograph; neither is a present-day feature
- How the broad commercial site differs from the dense mill complex shown in older records
Timeline
- 1852 – Comelybank Mill is founded as a steam-powered works
- 1868 – Bogue, Lees and Company are recorded in occupation
- 1914 – the works change from steam to electric power
- Later 20th century – cloth production contracts and the site changes
- Today – the mill and chimney have gone, and retail development occupies the former mill ground
Significance Scores
| Criterion | Score | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Architectural interest | 3 / 5 | Historical photographs and survey records document the scale and form of a major integrated steam-powered textile works; no standing mill architecture survives. |
| Historical importance | 5 / 5 | As an early purpose-built steam mill, Comelybank marks a decisive change in Galashiels manufacturing. |
| Social significance | 5 / 5 | The site represents generations of mill employment and the close interweaving of industry and housing. |
| Rarity | 4 / 5 | The detailed photographic and documentary record is valuable evidence for an early purpose-built steam mill that has otherwise disappeared. |
| Townscape or landscape contribution | 2 / 5 | The mill and its prominent chimney no longer contribute directly to the townscape, although the riverside site remains important to understanding the industrial geography of the Gala valley. |
Scores follow the Heritage Directory’s published methodology. They are interpretive judgements, not statutory designations.
Notes and Uncertainties
The NRHE records Comelybank Mill as demolished and identifies the former site as a retail development. No standing mill buildings or chimney are presented here as surviving. The principal photograph dates from 1994 and shows the complex before demolition; it is historical evidence, not a view of the site as it appears today.
Image and Licence Notes
The principal photograph by Chris Allen is reused from Wikimedia Commons under the CC BY-SA 2.0 licence. No exposure or structural alteration has been made to the source image; a well-exposed original was selected instead.