St Magdalene Distillery (c) Crown Copyright Historic Environment Scotland

The pagoda shaped roofs of St Magdalene Distillery are a distinctive feature as you arrive from the east along the canal. The distillery had two large stone malting barns and three square kilns. The pagoda shaped ventilators helped to draw the air up through the barley lying in the kiln.

It was founded in 1798 and finally closed in 1983. Being built by the canal it was close to supplies of coal and coke as well as the water supply for cooling purposes. The site had originally been St Magdalene Hospital where lepers were treated.