It was threatened with closure in March 2009, but has remained open due to local support, and the securing of external funding.

The groats are then hoisted back to the top floor and fed through the second pair of millstones (made of French burr stone).

The wheel is 15 feet 6 inches (4.72 m) diameter, and is powered by the water dropping down from the lade on downstream side of the overshot waterwheel .

The properties of the abbey were annexed by the crown in 1587 as a result of the Scottish Reformation, and were granted to James Elphinstone, 1st Lord Balmerino in 1605.

After that time it was used only to produce animal feed, until flood damage to the mill lade finally ended commercial operations in 1984.

[7] The derelict mill was acquired by the National Trust for Scotland in 1988,[13] and was fully restored over the next four years, to the condition it had enjoyed in 1814).

[1] The mill and the nearby bridge which was part of the old road from Barry Grange to Panbride[15] were both granted Category B listed buildings status by Historic Scotland in 1971.

[20] In March 2009, the Trust, facing financial difficulties, listed the loss-making Barry Mill as one of 11 of its properties threatened with immediate closure, unless external sponsorship could be found.