Aldie Mill Historic District

Aldie Mill Historic District is a milling complex in Loudoun County, Virginia, centered around a large water-powered mill building driven by two iron wheels. The site includes several outbuildings that were used for grain processing and storage operations.

The mill was constructed in 1809 and processed wheat and corn from surrounding counties, becoming an important economic center for the region. The facility served as a major grain supplier throughout the 19th century.

The mill takes its name from the Mercer family's ancestral home in Perthshire, Scotland, showing early Scottish settlement patterns in Virginia. Walking through the site today, you can sense this heritage in the traditional construction and the way the building reflects early immigrant craftsmanship.

The site is maintained by the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority and offers guided tours and demonstrations of traditional milling processes throughout the year. Check ahead to see which activities and demonstrations are available, as these vary by season.

During the Civil War, Union soldiers hid inside the mill's wheat bins, but were discovered by Colonel Mosby's men who spotted the white flour dust covering them. This episode reveals how the war reached even remote corners of the region and turned peaceful places into scenes of conflict.