Description of Historic Place

The Mill in New Glasgow is a large, two-storey, single gable, wood shingle clad structure located in the heart of New Glasgow, overlooking the River Clyde, in rural Queens County, Prince Edward Island.

Heritage Value

The Mill in New Glasgow is valued for its age, its long association with the history of the community of New Glasgow, and for its various uses over the years.

This large building first served its community as the New Glasgow Hall. Very likely it was built in about 1896. In May of that year, the New Glasgow Hall Company was incorporated with the mission of building a community hall, appointing its directors as James Laird, Benjamin Bulman, James Dickieson, William Laird and George Smith.

Over the years, numerous community events, socials, dinners, dances, fundraisers, plays and concerts were held here. The Farmers' Institute, Dairymen's Association, the Women's Institute and other community organizations regularly met in the hall. The Reserve Army also used the building for training.

In 1873, legislation divided the County Court of Queen's County into six circuits with sessions held at Clifton (New London), Bonshaw, New Glasgow, Ten Mile House, Eldon and Charlottetown, meeting several times per year. Court sessions were held in the New Glasgow Hall until at least 1917.

In 1963 the building was moved across the road to its current site, a foundation was added and was converted to a feed mill by Huntley and Giena Dingwell. In 1976, Roland Larkin purchased the New Glasgow Feed Mill and continued its operation.

In 1997 Larkin's son Harvey Larkin took ownership and retrofitted the former feed mill to become a fine dining establishment called the Olde Glasgow Mill Restaurant. At this time an addition was constructed to take advantage of the view of the nearby river, and new windows, doors and a verandah were added.

Since 2015, the property has been operated as The Mill Restaurant by award-winning Chef Emily Wells, its current owner. The building is also closely connected with the annual River Clyde Pageant held on The Mill's lawn and banks of the River Clyde.

For its importance as a community and social gathering place, its role as a county circuit court house, and its connections with the agricultural, tourism and food industry sectors, the Mill at New Glasgow continues to be an important and valued component of the community's landscape.

Source: PEI Heritage Places files, Dept of Economic Growth, Tourism & Culture, Charlottetown, PE File #: 4310-20/M53

Character-Defining Elements

The heritage value of the building is evident in the following heritage character-defining elements:

- the scale and massing of the building
- the pitch and slope of the roof
- the wood shingle cladding
- the size and placement of the sash windows
- the three dormer windows on the rear elevation
- the verandah

Further heritage character-defining elements:

- Its prominent location within the community's rural landscape, overlooking the River Clyde
- its original interior features including wood plank floors