Hi Normin
The grain mills in Scotland were driven by water
The lade is a man made waterway that directs water to the water wheel This particular lade was built in 1850 the burn that supplies the water is ten feet lower than the lade, therefore they went 3 miles up stream and built a sluce gate this raised the level of the water in the lade.
1/2 a mile from the mill there was another sluce gate at a holding pond if the mill was working the sluce was shut it the mill was idle the sluce was opened and water ran back to the burn there is a third sluce 20 feet from the mill wheel
the lade was always filled with water ready for a days work and empty if not working
Hope this helps
George S
PS the mill wheel is still in situate