PLAN SHEWING THE ESTATE OF NEILSLAND.

The above document dated c. 1871 (almost 152 years ago) is a map PLAN SHEWING THE ESTATE OF NEILSLAND. “SHEWING” being the old fashioned word and spelling used for “Showing”. It was drawn up for Sir John Watson 1st Bt of Neilsland and Earnock, who was a wealthy coalmaster and the proprietor of the estate. He received his title of Baronet during the year c. 1895. As a wedding present he gifted the lands to his second oldest son Thomas Watson Esq and it was his Grandson the late Sir Simon Conran Hamilton Watson 6th Bt of Neilsland and Earnock who gifted this document to me. I was fortunate enough to have met Sir Simon Watson and his wife Lady Patricia just a few months before he sadly passed away.

This document is very important to me as I live quite near Neilsland (Old Neilsland), which is now the present day site of the Woodhead Bar. The Neilsland (Mid Stonehall) estate was a childhood playground for me as were the surrounding areas!

The plan shows Neilsland (Old Neilsland), Woodhead, Neilsland (Mid Stonehall), Torheads, Fairhall and Burnhouse. Each of these estates were encompassed by the lands of Meikle Earnock, Earnock, High Stonehall, Earnockmuir, Brackenhill, Fairhill and Laigh Stonehall. The house I grew up in (first 19 years of my life) is located on the former Laigh Stonehall farmstead.

The total area of the Neilsland estate as indicated on the map covers 284 acres. The plan was drawn by “Smith Coal Mining Engineers of Glasgow”. The note on the left-hand side of the plan written by company associate Mr W. Robertson reads;

” Note. The minimum area of the coalfield is 200 acres in extent, exclusive of the loss by the outthrow dyke. Say 50 acres. – area north of the dyke 32 acres.”

W.R.

A section of bore in the lands of Neilsland is marked “D” on the plan. A close-up of the earth bore section is detailed on the right-hand side. The area marked “D” on the plan was behind the former Torheads Farm, which is now Torheads Farm Housing estate. The plan also shows a bore in the lands of Earnock marked “E” and a bore in the lands of Eddlewood marked “F”, both located outside the estate of Neilsland. A section of the Hamilton and Strathaven Railway line is also visible.

Hamilton Historian. Terry Murphy. Holding the original c. 1871 Plan Shewing The Estate Of Neilsland.

A Special Mention and Thank You to the late Sir Simon Conran Hamilton Watson 6th Bt of Neilsland and Earnock, who very kindly gifted me this document and others!

Hamilton Historian. Terry Murphy. Holding a note sent to him from the late Sir Simon Conran Hamilton Watson 6th Bt of Neilsland and Earnock.

Written By

Hamilton Historian.

Terry Murphy.

Meikle Earnock Station.

This is a photograph of Meikle Earnock Station c. 1940 approx. It was opened c. 1863 by Hamilton And Strathaven Railway Company and titled; “Meikle Earnock Station” and then subsequently titled; “Meikle Earnock Halt” between c. 1941-1943. The station had two platforms. A waiting shelter was located on the northbound platform, heading towards the old Neilsland (Midstonehall) Estate. And, a small station building was on the southbound platform.

East side of the station was a small goods yard and a signal box, there was also a small railway cottage located nearby. The cottage still exists today and is a private residence. The station closed to passengers c. 1943. After c. 1945 the box was only open as required. It was closed during c. 1953 when the railway closed.

Between the late 1970’s and early 1990’s the site of the former station served as a swing park complete with it’s very own wooden fort (for playing cowboys and Indians). This was a popular stop-off point for families who were visiting the nearby “Beechfield Garden Centre” which was located further up Meikle Earnock Road (next to Andrew Baird’s farm) and owned by his Grandson.

Written By

Hamilton Historian.

Terence (Terry) Murphy.

ref: Railscot.co.uk.

New Wynd.

The “New Wynd” which no longer exists, was located between the Grammar School Square and Castle Street, within the Old Town area of Hamilton, South Lanarkshire, Scotland. It was demolished c. 1930.

In the above photo you can see some small thatch roofed weaver’s cottages. And, Good Duchess Anne’s Alms House is also visible on the opposite side of the street, complete with it’s own small belfry tower. The Old Toll Booth Tower can also be seen looming above the parameter wall (centre of shot).

The photo below shows an opposite view of the New Wynd, looking up from Castle Street towards the Grammar School Square. The Grammar School is visible. This was before some of the buildings on the right-hand side were demolished to create space for the “Sheiling Hill” which runs down past the Original Grammar School curved parameter wall out to Muir Street. The wall still exists today and has had a couple of courses of brick work added to it!

Written By

Hamilton Historian.

Terence (Terry) Murphy.

Chapel Street c.1903.

This is a photograph of Chapel Street, Hamilton, South Lanarkshire, Scotland c. 1903. Only the opposite end of the street exists nowadays. Which is the location of the “Junkyard” Bar, a hairdressing salon and upstairs flats. The street was demolished to make way for the “New Cross” shopping centre and multi-story car park during c. 1970’s. The centre originally contained a “Fine Fare” supermarket.

Three men gather at the roadside, most likely to discuss a betting slip or newspaper article. Behind them (centre of shot) is McGregor’s Building. A pub occupied the downstairs right-hand corner of Chapel Street/Lamb Street, Which in more recent years was called: “The Small World”. Various types of shops were located on both sides of the street, including a baker’s named: “J Hamilton & Rennie Brownlie” which can be seen on the right in the photo. Tenement flats where people lived occupied the upstairs of the buildings.

Written By

Hamilton Historian.

Terence (Terry) Murphy.

The “Peephole” Location Continued.

Hamilton Historian. Terry Murphy standing at the former location of the Peephole. Now at the foot of Fairhill Avenue, Hamilton, South Lanarkshire, Scotland. The Peephole was located on a footpath bridge that connected the Gate Lodge for Fairhill House to the House. The Bridge also intersected the Cadzow Burn.

The tallest building behind me in the photograph is Ivy Grove and was once locally known as the “Majors House”, after an army major who lived at the address. It was recently renovated. This building along with several others including “Hollandbush” (which also still survives to this day) were originally built as houses for the wealthy Glasgow born coal merchants who opened all the nearby coalfields and pits. Ironically at a later date, pits were developed close by to their houses and this no doubt would have annoyed them as they were originally intended to be out of the way, in their own separate little ” Pleasant Land”!

The lands of Ivy Grove were known as “Ivy Wood”, My Mother and Father’s Group Wedding photo was taken at the top of the former site of Ivy Wood, across the road and just up from the “Hilltop Bar and Lounge” where their reception was held and this is now the site of the Scotmid Co-Operative store. Just left in the photo a small outbuilding for Ivy Grove is visible. My mother would often recount the funny story about her veil blowing up onto the trees and My Father and Uncle having to climb them to retrieve it.

Left – Right: My Paternal Great Uncle John Murphy, My Paternal Great Grandmother Helen “Nelly” (Montgomery) Murphy, My Paternal Grandfather Alexander “Axe” Murphy, My Paternal Grandmother Mary (McManus) Murphy, My Mother’s Bridesmaid and Friend Helen Ging, My Father Terence John “Terry” Murphy, My Mother Marion (Simpson) Murphy, My Uncle Alexander “Lex” Murphy, My Maternal Great Grandmother Marion (McGroarty) McCallum, My Maternal Grandmother Bridget (McCallum) Simpson and My Maternal Grandfather James “Jimmy” Simpson. R.I.P. The only two surviving people from the photograph are the Little Flower Girls: My Older Cousins, Sharon (Mathieson) Aubrey on the left and Denise Mathieson on the right.

Written By

Hamilton Historian.

Terry Murphy.