It was announced this evening that Her Majesty the Queen has sadly passed away. She was 96 years of age. May she rest in peace.
In the above photograph Her Majesty the Queen is with her late husband HRH Prince Philip and both are waving to the public from the balcony of Hamilton’s Municipal Buildings (Library & Townhouse) at Cadzow Street, Hamilton, South Lanarkshire, Scotland. The Townhouse Offices were officially opened by the Queen’s grandfather King George V on the 9th July, 1914. The Queen and HRH Prince Philip visited Hamilton on Monday , 29th June, 1953, just weeks after her Coronation. The visit was included within her tour of Lanarkshire. After an inspection of the Cameronians (Scottish Rifles), the Queen met with all the necessary dignitaries who were present and then attended a luncheon at the County Buildings in Almada Street.
Between the 18th and 19th century Hamilton had become established as a weaving town. Producing some of the finest cambric and silks as well as coarser fabrics for everyday use. Whole streets were built for weavers in the town of Hamilton, South Lanarkshire, Scotland; the New Wynd and Young Street were perfect examples of this. Sadly both streets no longer exist within the town. The houses were mostly single-storey with clay floors and thatched roofs. A living room on one side of the door and on the other side would be a “Weaving Shed”, sometimes for four looms. The loft space above contained spare beams, candle holders and yarns.
The weavers were an intelligent and frugal lot of men. At a time when a man would earn from sixpence to one-and-six per day. They were so keen to read and educate themselves on current affairs that they would often club together to purchase and share a newspaper costing from fourpence-halfpenny to sixpence each. Weaving must have been a drouthy occupation. In c. 1790, there were in Hamilton, three breweries, a distillery and sixty-six public houses. The population at the time was slightly less than six thousand.
One weaver named Alexander Scott who later became a “Weaving Agent” had proudly caused to be carved above his door (the stone is now built into the wall of the Low Parks Museum), ‘ THE ART OF WEAVING IS RENOWNED SO THAT RICH’ NOR POOR WITHOUT IT CANNOT GO ‘. The arms of the weaver contains three leopard’s heads erased argent, each having in mouth a weaver’s shuttle with the initial A on the left side and initial S on the right. The three leopard’s heads represent the weaving industry in interior parts of the district and as previously mentioned, the initials A S stand for Alexander Scott of 31 Quarry Road, Hamilton. The weavers of old were often called the “Girnin’ Weavers”. As they would always be seen with a sewing needle or crochet hook held tightly between their lips. This, coupled with the fact that many had poor dental hygiene and little or no teeth in their mouths, would have made them look as though they were gurning! Weaving is the Oldest Tradesmans Guild and was incorporated before c. 1222!
The weaving industry went into decline due to the introduction of machinery in the early days of the nineteenth century. A similar fate overtook the prosperous lace-making industry which had been introduced by Duchess Anne in the seventeenth century and had spread far beyond her charitable institution. The Duchess of Hamilton’s Home (Alm’s House) was set up in Hamilton for the reception of twelve poor girls and a mistress. The girls were taken in at the age of seven, fed and taught to spin, make lace, etc. And dismissed at fourteen.
It is very difficult to find or even identify a piece of real Hamilton Lace as similar lace was produced in many other places although the Low Parks Museum does have some examples within their collection and they can also be viewed online. Very little is known of the lace making industry and all mention of it in Scotland ceases before the end of the eighteenth century.
During the depression caused by the decline of the weaving trade another form of lace-making was introduced to the women of Hamilton. Who were already skilled in flowering and fine Ayrshire embroidery, for which there was a depot and school in Muir Street. This was a form of lace, developed from tambouring of fine muslin, which became very popular. It was worked in delicate and intricate designs with a type of crochet hook on cotton or silk net stretched over a frame or drum and was known as “Tambour Lace”. Its popularity lasted till the end of the nineteenth century. The early chain stitch sewing machines made it easy to imitate the hand tambouring and the lace lost much of its interest and value.
Soon after the collapse of the lace industry, came the discovery of the rich seams of coal in and around the borough. That established Hamilton as a prosperous coal-mining centre and more than 40 pits were developed by the first quarter of the twentieth century. Our present-day Hamilton was built on coal and our hard working miner ancestors who broke their backs to put food on the table and survive for the sake of their future generations!
It was announced earlier today that HRH Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh, husband to the Queen has sadly passed away. He was 99 years of age. May he rest in peace.
In the above photograph HRH Prince Philip is with the Queen and both are waving to the public from the balcony of Hamilton’s Municipal Buildings (Library & Townhouse) at Cadzow Street, Hamilton, South Lanarkshire, Scotland. The Townhouse Offices were officially opened by the Queen’s grandfather King George V on 9th July, 1914. The Queen and HRH Prince Philip visited Hamilton on Monday, 29th June, 1953, just weeks after her Coronation. The visit was included within her tour of Lanarkshire. After an inspection of the Cameronians (Scottish Rifles), the Queen met with all the necessary dignitaries who were present and then attended a luncheon at the County Buildings in Almada Street.
A very kind unknown person has took it upon theirself to repair the Woodhead Well at The Avenue, Neilsland. I have no idea who the person was but if you are reading this, I would like to say “Thank You!” for this kind gesture. The well is approximately 143 years old. It is a relic from the past that represents the historical significance of the area. So it’s good to see the dressed coping stones have been re-cemented back in place!
David Charles Prowse MBE who was commonly known as “Dave Prowse” sadly passed away on the 28th November 2020 (aged 85). He was one of my childhood heroes. Dave was a British Heavyweight Weightlifting Champion, Bodybuilder and Successful Character Actor. Throughout the years he appeared in many great movies and television shows but the two main roles that defined his acting career are what he will always be remembered for, they are:
1): The Green Cross Man, who was a superhero styled figurehead invented to promote the Green Cross Code road safety campaign for children in 1975. As a result of his association with the campaign, which ran between 1971 and 1990, he received the MBE in 2000.
And 2): His portrayal of the Dark Lord Of The Sith, “Darth Vader” in the original Star Wars trilogy. Dave who was 6′ 6″ in height played the physical form of Darth Vader by wearing the costume and the voice for the character was provided by American Actor James Earl Jones.
During 1983 when the Star Wars movie: Return Of The Jedi was being screened at Hamilton Odeon, the What Everyone Wants Store on Cadzow Street also announced the launch of the sale of Star Wars toys and that Dave would be making an appearance. Unfortunately he cancelled, but my parents still bought me some toys and took me to see the movie! And again, during 1989 when I received news that my artwork design entry for the Lanarkshire school’s Stop, Look, Listen and Think road safety campaign poster competition came 3rd, he was supposed to pay the school a visit and he cancelled again! Thankfully, in later years I did get to meet Dave on a number of occasions at collector’s fairs, etc. He was always pleasant with me and took the time to pose for photos and chat as well as sign memorabilia. I think it’s fair to say that he loved to meet his fans as much as they loved meeting him.
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.
There has been much confusion over the years regarding the origin of the term “Peephole” and as to where exactly it was located within the Fairhill area of Hamilton, South Lanarkshire, Scotland. Many people believe that it was the name given to the location of a viewpoint at the start of a pathway which was at the top of a set of stairs beginning at Mill Road leading down into the valley of the Cadzow Burn and up past the former Fairhill House (which the area is named after). It is also theorised that youngsters from this point would spy on courting couples who met each other on the nearby “Lovers Lane” , approximately between where Alness Street and Croftwood Road are now located.
I believe that the term “Peephole” was adopted during the Killing Time by the Covenanters and their supporters from Fairhill House and the nearby ancient village of Meikle Earnock. It would have been used to describe the intersection point between the Cadzow Burn and an old footbridge that formed part of a footpath leading from the Fairhill House Gate Lodge located on Mill Road down into the valley over the burn and up to the House. The Peephole footbridge was raised above the ground, so that you could travel over the burn. It would have had a fence or wall on either of it’s sides, with a spyhole or the said “Peephole” providing a long view point down through the Cadzow Burn Valley. So that they could see if the King’s soldiers were advancing towards them! In later years another small footbridge was installed just a few feet away and in line with this one. It was linked to the fore mentioned path and stairs beginning at Mill Road that people confuse with being the Peephole location. You can easily reference this on old maps.
There is also the nearby Neilsland Burn that runs down past the former Laigh Stonehall farmstead, which is now the location of Buchanan Crescent, Fraser Crescent, Westwood Crescent and Hardie Street. The confluence point (where the Neilsland Burn flows into the Cadzow Burn) is marked by another small footbridge at the bottom of the lane at the side of the Mill Inn Bar. The house I grew up in overlooks this area and it was my playground!
It is further along the same valley that the Laighstonehall Covenanter lies in an unmarked grave! I believe that he was making his way towards the Peephole and ultimately Fairhill House to seek refuge with the “Laird Old James Strang”: Brother to Covenanter Martyr Christopher Strang. During the Killing Time the landscape was open as this was long before the housing, streets and even collieries were developed. The length of the Cadzow Burn that the Peephole footbridge and path intersected also lay open during this time and it wasn’t until long after all of the local housing areas were established that the burn was enclosed within an underground tunnel pipeline. Starting at the foot of the bing (bottom of Neilsland Colliery area) and ending on the other side of Millgate Road. The Cadzow Burn tunnel exit point at Millgate Road was built from local blonde sandstone during the Victorian era to originally support the Fairhill Colliery railway line and subsequently Millgate Road!
Approximately two thirds of the length of the Cadzow Burn tunnel lies beneath Fairhill Football Park (the pavilion/changing room is where the Fairhill House Gate Lodge was located). The location of the football park is the lowest centre of gravity within the valley as is the area which used to be a small ash covered 5 a-side pitch behind the Millgate Road tunnel exit point. Hence the reason why many matches are cancelled due to flooding!
The topography of the Cadzow Burn valley has not changed much in hundreds of years and it is the nucleus of the area. There is a Roman Tumulus located near the edge of this valley suggesting that there may well have been some small kind of Roman settlement in the area. My theory is that a Roman centurion/soldier may have broke away from the garrison stationed at Bothwellhaugh and formed his own homestead here. And, when he and his kin died they were cremated and their ashes were placed in the terracotta (earth-baked) urns that were interred in the tumulus many years ago.
This unmarked Covenanter’s Grave is located at the bottom end of Westwood Crescent, Laighstonehall, Hamilton, South Lanarkshire, Scotland. (Where Westwood Crescent almost meets the T-Junction of Laighstonehall Road.) A triangular shaped cement cap covers the grave.
The Covenanting Soldier died here from his injuries whilst making a hasty retreat from the King’s Soldiers during the Battle Of Bothwell Bridge c. June 22nd 1679.
The spot where his unmarked grave is located is in the former lands of the Laigh Stonehall Farmstead. It is my belief that he separated from three other Covenanters somewhere within the nearby estate of Allanshaw and it’s burn. Before these three soldiers were also slain at a further away point in Earnock whilst trying to reach Earnock Muir.
He was clearly making his way to seek refuge at ” Fairhill Park “. This land was owned by Laird James Strang, who was a strong Covenanter supporter. The Laird’s Brother was Covenanter Martyr ” Christopher Strang ” and a memorial dedicated to him is embedded into the parameter wall of Hamilton’s Old Parish Churchyard.
The Watson Baronetcy of Earnock became extinct on the 4th of May 2016 after Sir Julian Frank Somerled Watson the 7th Baronet of Earnock sadly passed away. He succeeded to the title of 7th Baronet of Earnock on the 11th of February this year after his predecessor Sir Simon Conran Hamilton Watson the 6th Baronet of Earnock died. Sir Julian had only served 2 months and 19 days as Baronet and subsequently did not have time to establish his succession! He was a keen equestrian and often visited Hamilton Racecourse to sponsor the Neilsland and Earnock stakes.
Photo taken at Hamilton Racecourse. R.I.P.
The Earnock Baronetcy started with Sir John Watson 1st Baronet of Earnock and was created c.1895. Sir Julian 7th Baronet had no children (male heirs) to succeed to the title. Truly the end of an era! R.I.P.
Written by
Hamilton Historian
Terence (Terry) Murphy.
Ref.www.thepeerage.com. & The Daily Telegraph, 13th May 2016.
Hamilton Historian Terence (Terry) Murphy standing next to a Cadzow Oak at the Earthwork Remains, High Parks, Chatelherault.
The Ancient Cadzow Oaks are located at the High Parks in Chatelherault. Some of the trees are nearly 800 years old; dating them as far back as when King Robert The Bruce Reigned.
The most beautiful and enchanting examples of the oaks can be seen at the Earthwork remains of a Small Prehistoric Promonotory Fort which is a short distance away from the “Castle In The Wood Of Hamilton” (Cadzow Castle).
The trees in this area are whats left of the most ancient surviving oak woodland in Scotland. Tree ring analysis dates them to the 1460’s which, roughly corresponds with the date that the Deer Park was created. And, this was a decade after the Old Collegiate Church at the Low Parks was formed.
Hamilton Historian. Terry Murphy 