Kennetpans Distillery and Warehouse

The picturesque and intriguing ruin of Kennetpans Distillery was the birthplace of the Scottish whisky industry. Founded in the early 18^th century by the brothers John and James Stein, by the 1730s it was the largest distillery in Scotland. The buildings which survive today were probably built in the 1770s. In 1786 a Boulton and Watt steam engine was installed to operate a mill in the distillery. There were also maltings, grain-drying kilns, grain stores, workshops, storage areas for empty casks and large secure warehouses. A wagon way and mile-long canal linked it with Kilbagie Distillery, established by James Stein in the 1770s, and the nearby pow (harbour), from where the whisky was shipped. By 1788, the two distilleries were so successful that they paid more export tax than the total land tax for Scotland. Legislation passed in the 1780s was designed, however, to curb the massive export of whisky to England; duties increased and Scottish distillers had to give a year’s notice of their intent to export, during which time production had to stop. Kennetpans was bankrupted and the distillery closed. It reopened in 1791 after it was bought by two businessmen and leased back to John Stein Jnr. Production resumed in 1795, but it closed for ever after his death in 1825. Kennetpans was never modernised for grain whisky production and it is, therefore, the most complete survivor of its type.

The distillery buildings were unroofed by the early 1900s and all machinery and internal fittings removed or collapsed. There are traces of the designed landscape around Kennetpans House which, along with the Courts of Offices, was demolished in the mid 20th century. The distillery complex was one of the projects in the Inner Forth Landscape Initiative programme, partly funded by Historic Environment Scotland; test pits inside the three-storey distillery revealed original floor surfaces and it has been mostly cleared of vegetation, exposing the extent of the structural decay. A detailed 3D laser scan survey, full digital photographic record and historic building analysis of the entire building were also carried out in advance of conservation work. The present owners of the site are keen to celebrate and raise awareness of its national importance and have established a trust to try to raise funds to save it for future generations.

Visits will be by pre-booked guided tour only at 1.00, 2.30 and 4.00. Each tour will last about 1.5 hours. Visitors will be allowed to take part only if they have booked and are on the list.

Visitors should note that this is not suitable for people with mobility difficulties. Sensible footwear and outdoor clothing are essential, as the tour will be outdoors. Children under 16 must be supervised. DOGS ARE NOT ALLOWED.

There will be no internal access to the ruins of the distillery itself, for health and safety reasons, but there will be access to the warehousing and garden area beyond it.

THIS PROPERTY HAS PROVED VERY POPULAR AND ALL TOURS ARE NOW FULLY BOOKED.