November 1905.F. & Pipes marked thus (thick coloured blue line)
Alterations to date in iron pipes ” ” (thin coloured red lines).
By Alexander Cullen. Architect.
The above detailed drawing from November c. 1905 shows the Plan of Drains for Neilsland House. It was kindly gifted to me from Sir Simon Watson 6th Bt of Neilsland and Earnock. Out of all my history documents and photos that I have gathered or acquired over the years this is by far my prize possession. Because the drawing details the entire ground floor plan of Neilsland House and it was created by Alexander Cullen. Architect. who was responsible for the design of many of Hamilton’s grand Victorian buildings.
Tor Lake was developed as the water supply for Neilsland House (Mid Stonehall) which at the time was owned by successful Coalmaster John Watson. Designed and constructed by Arthur and Rodger Civil Engineers of Glasgow, work began on the construction of the lake during c. 1873 and was finished by June c. 1874. It was located in the land of Torheads, at the southern end of the Neilsland Estate in Hamilton, South Lanarkshire, Scotland and was across from the Hamilton And Strathaven Railway.
Tor Lake also supplied the water being fed to the troughs around the Neilsland Estate, the Woodhead Cottages and Shooting Lodge and the Wells at The Avenue, Neilsland. Water was fed down to the area via cast iron pipeline. The lake was commonly known by locals as “The Tally-Ho” because the woodland between the land of Torheads and Highstonehall is where the Watson Family held shooting parties for hunting pheasant, grouse and game. It was also a very popular area for poachers. The phrase “Tally-Ho” is the huntsman’s cry when the quarry (pheasant or game) is sighted.
The Watson Family used Tor Lake for various outdoor recreational activities. Particularly swimming, boating, curling and horse riding around the lake edge and site. The family’s “Lady Of The Lake” punt boat which was built in Glasgow by Mr. George Geddes c. 1874 can be seen moored to the middle island of the lake in the c. 1877 Thomas Annan photograph above. Curling matches and tournaments were regularly held by the Watsons during the winter months when the lake was frozen.
The actual scale of the site is very impressive if you ever get the chance to explore it! The lake had a surface area of 1.1 acres and contained approximately 766,200 gallons of water. Between the 1960’s and late 1990’s Tor Lake (The Tally-Ho) was used by local teenagers as a popular swimming and hang-out spot. Unfortunately it was completely drained out when work began on the construction of the nearby Torhead Housing Estate.
You can still see the embankments that outline the shape of the former lake. The middle island is easy to identify as it is dense with laurel and rhododendron shrubs as well as birch trees that have self seeded over the years, making it difficult to navigate. The site is also very swampy during the winter months or after heavy rainfall. Therefore, if you do plan to explore it I strongly recommend that you wear good waterproof boots or wellies. There is no trace left of the former Boat House at the site and the only structure that remains is the concrete and engineering brick built Cistern/Valve Box. That had three separate chambers to filter out particles of dirt and debris from the water before it was piped down to the estate. Waste from the Cistern/Valve Box was fed into the nearby Overflow stream and subsequently drained into the Neilsland Burn. The Overflow stream still exits and bypasses the lake site on it’s southern side.
Written By
Hamilton Historian.
Terence (Terry) Murphy.
Ref: My Own Local Knowledge Of The Area and The John Watson Journals.
It is no secret that Sir John Watson Bt of Neilsland and Earnock was a prominent freemason within the district and so too was his second oldest son Thomas William Watson WS. In fact, John Watson recorded in his journal that he attended a meeting of No 7 , Kilwinning Grand Lodge, in Hamilton, and witnessed his son Tom, being initiated into the mysteries of freemasonry on 24th February 1892. John Watson was also clearly interested in Ancient Egyptology as he had toured Egypt three times. The first tour was during 1877 and the second in 1894, both tours are recorded in his journal. The third tour was in February 1898 just months before he died!
Among the Ancient Egyptians the right-angled triangle was the symbol of “Universal Nature”, meaning God’s great handiwork and that he is the true creator. Greek philosopher Pythagoras received the symbol of the right-angled triangle from Ancient Egyptians during his long sojourn in the country. With it he learned the peculiar property that it possessed: The sum of the squares of the two shorter sides is equal to the square of the longest side-symbolically expressed by the formula, that the product of Osiris and Isis is Horus. In mathematics and trigonometry the equation is called the “Pythagorean” Theorem. This figure has been adopted in the 3rd Degree of Freemasonry, (The Master Mason Degree) and it is recognised as the Forty-seventh Problem of Euclid.
The forty-seventh Problem of Euclid is to the operative mason: a stonemason, bricklayer, builder, carpenter etc, necessary for constructing a foundation that is architecturally correct as established by the use of a square. Thus, a cornerstone can be laid! It is the mathematical ratio (The Knowledge) that allows a Master Mason to: “Square His Square When It Gets Out Of Square.”
We are all familiar with the Swiss Cottage area of the Neilsland Estate in Hamilton, South Lanarkshire, Scotland. But what many people do not realise is that there is a more esoteric and symbolic meaning behind it. Because the area has been purposefully laid out in accordance with the visual representation of the Right-Angled Triangle “Universal Nature” (the Forty-seventh Problem of Euclid), as mentioned above.
The Base represents Osiris, Who is the Male Principle or the Sun and in this situation the “Summer-House”.
The Perpendicular, Isis, Who is the Female Principle or the Moon and in this situation the “Swiss Cottage”.
And the Hypotenuse, Horus, Who is their Son or Product Of The Male And Female Principle and in this situation the “Infant Saviour Statue” commonly referred to as the “Little Feet”!
So, what does all of this mean?, you’re probably asking yourself. Well, it is a fertility blessing for the Owner Of the estate, Thomas William Watson WS. So that he and his wife Lucy would produce a son and male heir. Which they eventually did and that was Douglas Watson, the first born Grandson to Sir John Watson Bt.Both Thomas Watson and Sir John Watson Bt were Speculative Masons and were more engaged with the symbolic message behind freemasonry and the Forty-seventh Problem of Euclid. Which incorporates the ancient principles of the Divine Trinity, represented by the Masculine, the Feminine and the Offspring. With particular emphasis on the Ancient Egyptian Goddess Isis and “Fertility”.
The first tragic love story in history is that of Ancient Egyptian gods Isis and Osiris. After Osiris was murdered, Isis became pregnant via immaculate conception. She gave birth to their son, Horus The Child, The Promised Child or “Infant Saviour”. The story predates Christianity, Joseph and Mary’s immaculate conception, with the Virgin Mary giving birth to Jesus. In this situation and within our local landscape, the symbolic meaning of Osiris and Isis giving birth via immaculate conception is represented by “The Leap Of Faith” or crossing of the Bridge Path at the right angle, “Universal Nature”. Lines can be drawn leading away from the centre of the Swiss Cottage and Summer-House and they cross at a 90 degrees angle, this exact spot is the start of the Bridge Path.
The red dot on the above map clipping marks the location of the “Infant Saviour Statue”.The right-angled triangle or Forty-seventh Problem of Euclid within this setting does not have the exact dimensions corresponding to the equation (the sum of the squares of the two shorter sides is equal to the square of the longest side). This is because the original stone bridge already existed before each of the buildings and statue were built and positioned within the setting. However, the right angle or “Square” and general layout of the area were clearly established using the basic principles of the equation to convey it’s hidden symbolic meaning! The original stone bridge was curved and crescent-shaped. Like a “crescent moon”, known to symbolize womanhood and fertility. Isis is the Ancient Egyptian Goddess of Fertility and Motherhood. Her effigy was created twice over in the form of two statues (figurines) for John Watson, one of which survives and is still admired to this day.
The Watson Fountain is located at the “triangular” corner junction of Cadzow Street/Muir Street, Hamilton, South Lanarkshire, Scotland. The central figurine within the fountain monument is the last surviving example of the Ancient Egyptian Goddess Isis, who was worshiped and used symbolically by John Watson, Coalmaster and Baronet of Neilsland and Earnock. The figurine originally held a miners lamp in her left hand and with her right hand held a miner’s pick, resting it against her thigh. Both items clearly represent the Mining Industry and as previously mentioned, Isis is the Goddess of Fertility. Fertility means: Productiveness, and Productiveness is derived from the word Productivity, which means: The effectiveness of productive effort, especially in “Industry”!
There are two ancient wells located in the Woodhead area of Hamilton, South Lanarkshire, Scotland. One at each end of The Avenue, Neilsland. It was the avenue that linked Cottages and a Shooting Lodge (Gamekeeper’s House) to Old Neilsland House, forming part of the original Neilsland Estate. The wells are approximately 143 years old and were the main water source for the immediate area. The land in front of the properties mentioned gradually sweeps downhill towards Burnhouse (The Whisky Well Cottage) and was originally used as a sheepfold for cattle to graze. The area is now the built up housing estates of Woodhead, Swisscot, Meikle Earnock, Burnhouse Crescent, West Wellbrae and some of Fairhill. The woodland up behind the properties and between Torheads and Highstonehall is where shooting parties were held for hunting pheasant, grouse and game.
The first well as seen in the photograph above can be easily accessed as it is located just outside Woodhead Primary School. There is a protective metal grill built into the well so it is perfectly safe to allow kids to approach and have a look at. It is built from blonde sandstone and has dressed concrete moulded coping stones. Two of which have been loosened and are lying on the ground.Although it’s not very clear, you can just make out the shape of the well which is circled red in the c. 1877 Thomas Annan photograph shown below.
Walking along the avenue heading towards Old Neilsland House (the Woodhead Bar location) your senses become heightened by the rich history of the area. As though you are being transported back in time! Not just because you can see, smell and even touch most of the original trees that line the avenue but because you are travelling along a straight path on an elevated plain. It is easy to separate yourself from the landscape below, look out and visualize the green rolling hills of the picturesque pastureland that it once was.Two fine tree specimens mark the location of the second well (which is a crumbled sandstone ruin) at The Avenue, Neilsland. One is the prehistoric Monkey Puzzle Tree and the other is a Redwood; A Giant Sequoia. Given the size of these trees they were most likely planted around the timeline of when the improvements were being made to the avenue c.1877. Located within the former garden of Old Neilsland House, which has sadly become overgrown and used as a regular dumping ground for local residents who do not appreciate their history or heritage and have the gall to litter and dirty their own doorstep! There are also conifer and yew trees in this area as well as rhododendron shrubs.
Tor Lake was the water supply for Neilsland House (Mid Stonehall). It was constructed in the land of Torheads. The lake was commonly known by locals as the “Tally-Ho” because of the hunting connection as mentioned above. The phrase: “Tally-Ho” is the huntsman’s cry when the quarry (pheasant or game) is sighted. The lake also supplied the water being fed to troughs around the estate, the Woodhead Cottages and Shooting Lodge and the Wells at The Avenue, Neilsland. Water was fed down to the area via cast iron pipeline, before it was split into two separate courses at an L-Shaped junction tunnel entrance point. Each water course was then fed to the areas listed.
The water tunnel pipeline leading to Woodhead etc has a brick built cistern/valve viewing access box, the brickwork of the box is still there to this day although the cover for it is missing. There was another cast-iron pipeline junction split within the water tunnel leading to Neilsland (Mid Stonehall). And, this pipeline ran the length of the Overthrow Dyke for the Railway Line (Black Path). Remains of the pipeline can still be found to this day. It continued on to a concrete built water storage tank and was then piped down to the house, then the fountain and finally down to the rockery area which had small waterfalls and pools incorporated within it’s design.
Now, going back to the fore-mentioned L-shaped junction split. The tunnel to the right of the split fed water to Woodhead etc. And the straight length of tunnel which was a continuation passed the inner junction split towards Neilsland (Mid Stonehall) served as an overflow for the excess water and it drained down to the Neilsland Burn within the estate. Close to the sandstone built decorative Neilsland Burn tunnel exit point. A close-up of the overflow tunnel exit point is detailed in the photograph above and the cast-iron syver grating for the end of it is now missing.
Written By
Hamilton Historian.
Terence (Terry) Murphy.
Ref: John Watson Journals, Thomas Annan Photographs and My Own Local Knowledge Of The Area.
Hamilton Historian. Terence (Terry) Murphy. At the WW2 Air Raid Shelter located in the former Neilsland (Mid Stonehall) Estate, Hamilton, South Lanarkshire, Scotland.
Many local people would argue that this is in fact the former pump house that powered water connected to the fountain on the estate. I strongly disagree with this theory! There is no documented record for the structure. I have based my opinion on six separate facts, they are;
1): Photos of other WW2 brick built air raid shelters similar to this one in both size and appearance.
2): In the Neilsland House photo which includes the fountain c. 1893, you can clearly see that there is no visible evidence of the structure. The photo was taken some 20 years after the fountain was installed in the estate (early c. 1870’s when the improvements were being carried out). If you were standing at the fountain, facing the original stone stairs the air raid shelter is located approximately 20 yards to the left and 1 terrace up. So, you see this is not the pump house for the fountain or it would be visible in the photo!
3): Sir Simon Watson Bt is recorded as writing that; “There was a control room under the fountain”! This was in reference to his Uncle Douglas Watson who was fined by police for illegally storing petrol there during the Suez Crisis c.1956. This fact further proves that the structure was not a pump house for the fountain!
4): There is no detailed drawing evidence of the structure on the original Neilsland Plan Of The Drains Document c. 1905 by Alexander Cullen Architect. The drawing details the new cast iron drainage pipes installation of the house as well as the ground floor plan.
5): Neilsland House which included the Greenhouse, Hot Houses and Conservatory were all heated via “The Heating Chamber”. This is clearly detailed on the Neilsland Plan Of The Drains (above). There was also a “Coals” store located within the Kitchen Court and this adjoined the Stabling. Therefore, the structure which I believe is a WW2 Air Raid Shelter was clearly not a boiler room for heating the house etc. It was also clearly not a coal store! And it could not possibly be a garage pit for servicing cars as this was located behind the house and nowhere near the structure (air raid shelter).
6): The strongest fact confirming that the structure is a WW2 Air Raid Shelter is that I personally witnessed a local man tap a long steel rod down through the centre point of the fountain base whilst we attended a group guided tour several years back. The steel rod passed down through the fountain base with great ease proving that below the fountain there is a void chamber and this is where the pump house would have been located!
The air raid shelter which sits up on the terraces some 20 yards away would have been built for Lady Lucy (Hamilton) Watson and her Son Douglas (Hamilton) Watson. The structure is capable of holding 4-6 people in a seating position. There is an entrance doorway to the shelter and an escape hatch at the other end. The escape hatch would also have contained some type of breathing air intake device. Both the entrance door and escape hatch are gone. The walls are brick built with a concrete lintel above the door, concrete slabbed roof and a wooden floor.
This headless Lord Byron Statue is located in the former Neilsland (Mid Stonehall) Estate (now known as Neilsland Park), Hamilton, South Lanarkshire, Scotland. Sculptor Robert Forrest from Carluke created the piece. The statue along with others was bought and placed in the estate during c.1874 by Sir John Watson Bt of Neilsland and Earnock, approximately three years after he purchased the estate. Sadly this and the remains of the “Little feet” statue (including support bracket) are the only recognisable sculptures to be found. The correct name of the “Little Feet” Statue is: “The Promised Child” or “Infant Saviour” which would have been cherub-like in appearance.
For several years many people have theorised that the statue is: Old Norval, who was an elderly shepherd character from a John Home play entitled: “Douglas”, first popularised during c.1756. There is also a ballad version of the play: “Norval On The Grampian Hills”, which is of unknown date and origin. I don’t believe that the statue is Old Norval because a shepherd would not be depicted clasping a book nor would he be draped in a formal cloak and gown. It is far more likely to be that of Lord Byron, both in stance and attire!
Hamilton Historian. Terry Murphy 