One of a series of caches set to coincide with the 300th anniversary of the first written record of Juniper Green in the Colinton Parish records (Nov 18th 1707), and the Water of Leith 2007 cache in Trash out event. Juniper Green has its own web site www.junipergreencc.org.uk with lots of information and pictures, from which some of this information is taken.
Upper Spylaw Mill is the only well preserved mill left on this section of the river. It is now a private residence on the other side of the fence from the cache. It became one of the earliest paper mills in Scotland in 1682. It was referred to in a court action when James Lithgow and Nicholas Delchamps were jointly charged with violating Peter Bruce’s license for the manufacture of playing cards, and enticing workmen away. It was still making paper in 1730. In 1765 it became a snuff mill, by 1880 it was a dairy, and later a riding stables.
On the opposite side of the river, the site of Mossy Mill – which started as a waulk (to make cloth such as tweed thicker and more felted by soaking and beating it) mill in 1664, and changed to browns (wrapping paper) in 1838 until it closed in 1972 – now has flats built on it. See also The Sapphire Project.
The Water of Leith Walkway is very well used, so please take care of muggles. The LRT bus No 44 runs along Lanark Road and No 45 along Gillespie Road close to the cache.