The sawmill on the Duke of Buccleuch’s Langholm estate was managed by his clerk of works, James Burnet (junior) (1855-1936), a road surveyor. He lived at Ewesbank, next to the mill.

Prior to that, it was run by his father James (senior) (1826-1898) in a similar capacity, although he was also an accomplished architect and designed a number of well-known buildings in the area. His architectural practice was taken over by his fifth son Robert.