Our Mill
History & Site of the Mill
Robert Noble was originally established in Galashiels under the name of David Ballantyne during the same year as the Great Fire of London in 1666. However, it wasn’t until more than 200 years later that the seeds of the business we know today were sown.
Over more than two centuries, the Ballantyne businesses expanded to such an extent that larger premises were required. In 1884, D. Ballantyne moved to Peebles and built March Street Mills, along with tied housing for workers.
Around the same time, another member of the Ballantyne family – Henry – also opened a mill, this time in the small village of Walkerburn. Henry established the ongoing relationship with the military, at one time supplying tartan for a dozen regiments.
It was the Victorians who established the essential water supply from Eddleston Water, known locally as The Cuddy, which is still used by the March Street Mills today. The Walkerburn mill, meanwhile, became a specialist spinning and dye house.
Together the Ballantyne businesses employed around 700 people, including tradesmen such as engineers, plumbers and joiners. Weaving was the only relevant industry in the Scottish Borders at that time: 15-20,000 people from the area were employed by the industry in its heyday.
Today over 150 people are employed by Moorbrook Textiles, half of those in March Street Mills in Peebles.