of Eaglesham.
NUMBER XI
PARISH OF EAGLESHAM.
(COUNTY OF RENFREW.)
By the Rev. MR. ALEXANDER DOBIE.
Origin of the Name.
Before the village was built, which gives its name to this parish, there were several woods in
it, particularly one of the great extent on the banks of the river, an English milesouth of the
village. This wood, and the rocks in the neighbourhood, were much frequented by eagles;
and as they often perched on the holm, or low ground, where afterwards the village was
built, it was thence called Eaglesholm, or Eaglesham. Others derive the name from Ecclesiaholm, or, the church in the hollow.
Extent, Situation, and Surface.-The parish is about 5 miles from east to west, and 6 miles
from north to south. It is bounded on the east by Kilbride and Carmunnock, on the north by
Mearns, on the west by Fenwick, and on the south by Loudoun. It is situated in the county
of Renfrew, the presbytery of Glasgow, and synod of Glasgow and Ayr. The soil is various.
The higher and western part of the district consists partly of dry heath, and partly of deep
moss, with a number of fine green hills, and a great deal of natural meadow-ground mixed
together. The tenants in this part of the parish plow little: Their great dependance is on their
sheep, and the rearing of black cattle. The lower part of the parish lying along the banks of the Cart,
and to the west of that river is a light soil, above a rotten whin-stone rock; and, when allowed to rest
for four years, it produces two excellent crops of corn, with a very slight manure of lime or dung. The
tenants in that quarter plow only a fourth part of their arable ground; and oats is the principal grain
they raise. Their great dependance is on the milk, butter, and cheese, which they fell at Glasgow. On
this account, they keep few horses, but a great number of cows, rather of the best than of the
largest kind. In the beginning of winter, they feed them with oat-fodder; but in the latter end of
winter, and till the pasture grass springs up, with hay, and a little corn, once a day.
Climate and Diseases.-The parish lies high, and enjoys a free air. In the moorish part of it, the air is
exceedingly sharp and cold, but in the lower part it is mild and temperate, especially when the
wind is from the west. The village of Eaglesham, which contains the one half of the whole
inhabitants of the parish, is built on ground, that is full of, and surrounded by, springs; which
renders the houses damp, where pains are not taken to prevent it.-Consumptions are not
uncommon; but most of the deaths are occasioned by fevers. The fine air, and the excellent water
in the parish, make it, on the whole, exceedingly healthy: and those who are at a small expence in
raising the floors of their houses, and making drains, have very dry and comfortable dwellings. There
are numerous instances in this parish, of persons arriving at 80 years of age, and a many beyond it.
The small-pox carry off great numbers of children: but there is no reconciling the minds of the lower
ranks to inoculation. In 1786, a few children were inoculated, and it seemed to give pain to the
people in general, that they came so well and easily through. The thoughts of bringing trouble on
their children, as they call it, with their own hands, outweigh every argument that can be advanced
in its favour.
Rivers and Mineral Springs.-Several rivulets rise out of the muirs of Eaglesham, and fall into the
river Cart, on the east side of the parish. This river takes its rise out of the muirs of Kilbride and
Eaglesham, about four miles south of the village of Eaglesham; and in its course northwards, divides
the counties of Lanark and Renfrew, and this parish from Kilbride and Carmunnock.-There are two
mineral springs in the parish; the one is of a purgative quality, and when used in the case of
complaints in the stomach, gives immediate relief. The other is used as a remedy for the muirill in
black cattle, and is carried to a great distance for that purpose.-At Balegich-hill, two miles west of
the village, there have been lately observed, several pieces of the barytes, or heavy stone. It is of a
reddish colour, and laminated structure; and is often the matrix of lead. This circumstance, joined
with other symptoms, render it probable, that there are silver and lead in that part of the parish.There are also found large masses of the osmund stone, which seems to be a volcanic production. It
stands the strongest heat without renting, for which reason it is used in building ovens and other
furnaces.
Number of Proprietors, Farmers, and Inhabitants.-The Earl of Eglinton is patron and proprietor of
the whole parish, except three small farms in it. The valued rent is L. 3070:6:8, and the real rent
about L. 2700 sterling. The Eglinton family do not reside; but the other three heritors possess their
own farms, on which they live comfortably. The number of tenants is greatly diminished, within
these twenty years, by the junction of farms. At present there are only 63, without including those
who take the parks adjacent to the village. The principal tenants pay L. 80, L. 90, and several above
L. 100 yearly rent. The lands in general let at 16s or 20s per acre, but those near the village at above
30s.-The number of people from six years old or upwards, is 700, and there are about 300 under
that age. The return to Dr. Webster of the population of Eaglesham, was 1103 souls, consequently
the decrease may be about 100. The baptisms, including those of the Seceders, are, at an average,
about 25, the marriages about 9 or 10, but no register of deaths has been kept.
Antiquities, Church, etc.-Upon the banks of the Cart, a few miles from its source, there is still
standing a part of the walls of the castle of Punoon or Poinon.-Sir John Montgomerie of Eaglesham,
at the battle of Otterburn, in 1388, took Henry Piercy (the famous Hotspur) prisoner, with his own
hand, and with the ransom or poind money, built that castle, whence its name is derived.-Eaglesham
is the most antient possession of the Montgomeries, a family of more than six hundred years
standing. The church and village lie about a mile from this antient fabric. An old Popish chapel, a
very diminutive place, was used for public worship, till within these two years; when Lord Eglinton,
much to his honour, erected a most elegant church, of an octagonal form, and fitted it up in the best
manner. The village of Eaglesham is allowed by every traveller who has seen it to be one of the most
delightful places in Great Britain. Twenty years ago, it was wholly rebuilt on a new plan of the late
Lord Eglinton's a nobleman of the finest taste. It consists of two rows of houses opposite to, and
distant from each other thirty-two falls, (about 200 yards). Down the middle of that space runs a
small rivulet, to which there is a gentle descent from each row. The village is two furlongs and thirty
falls long; and the whole area on each side of the rivulet consists of grass, for the use of the
inhabitants. There they may bleach their linen, etc. etc. but no cattle are allowed to graze or tread
on it. A number of fine trees planted along both sides of the rivulet, adds to the beauty of the scene.
Towards the higher end of village, on the rivulet, a large cotton work is just now erecting.
Stipend, School, etc.-The stipend is L. 79:3:4 sterling, and forty bolls of meal, with a glebe of 7 1/2
acres, English measure. The Manse has been in ruins for a number of years; during which time, an
excellent house has been hired for the minister's accommodation. The encouragement for a
schoolmaster is better than in most country parishes. The salary is L. 100 Scots (L. 8:6:8 sterling),
and the number of scholars through the year may be rated at 60, or upwards. An excellent school
house, with accommodations for the master, is just now finishing: He has also a good garden, and
the other common emoluments. The whole will amount to about L. 30 sterling per annum.
Division of the Inhabitants.-In the country part of the parish, the farmers themselves, with their
wives and children, do the farmer and dairy work, with very little additional assistance. In the 63
farms in the parish, there are not above 40 male, and 63 female servants, except in hay time and
harvest, when a few labourers and cottagers are hired occasionally. The trades people live all in the
village. A few years ago, there were 63 silk looms at work there, but at present there are only 33,
and these are mostly employed in weaving cotton of different fabrics; the materials of which are
furnished by the Glasgow and Paisley manufacturers. There are 4 joiners, 2 smiths, 4 shoemakers, 5
taylors, 3 coopers, 8 day-labourers, 2 horsedealers, 1 baker, 8 public house-keepers, (but only two of
these have stabling for horses). These houses have here, as well as in other places, very bad effects.
Surgeons, at different times, have attempted to settle at Eaglesham; but made no stay on account of
wanting employment: And there are places, at no great distance, from which, when necessary, they
are easily had.-The hire of women-servants for the half year, is from L. 1:15 to L. 2:5, and of menservants, from L. 3:10 to L. 4:10. The hire of a day-labourer is 1s. in winter, and 15d. in summer.
There are a few Cameronians, 40 Antiburghers, who attend public worship at a meeting-house in the
parish of Mearns. Besides the minister of the Established Church, there is one of the Burgher
communion. About 60 of the parishioners are his hearers; the rest of his congregation come from
the neighbouring parishes.
Morals, Poor, etc.-The people in general are very industrious: There are few in the parish in as
affluent circumstances, but they support themselves and families in a comfortable manner. At
church, and other public occasions, they are clean and decent. No parish has fewer real poor. The
charity-roll is seldom above 7; though there are some families that require a little assistance, if the
funds could afford it. But the heritors and inhabitants are averse to any assessment, and there are
no mortifications. The collections amount to about L. 16, sterling per annum.-The morals of the
people are, according to the best information, stricter now than they were in former times. This
may be partly attributed to the greater expence of living, and the advance of the rents; as labour and
industry are among the best preventatives of vice. Public ordinances are regularly attended: and
there has not been, in the memory of man, a single instance of any person belonging to this parish,
being either banished or capitally condemned.
Horses, Sheep, and Black Cattle.-Through most of the year, there are not above 120 horses in the
whole parish. The farmers begin to plow about the beginning of March; and a great many of them
join, two and two, to make out a plough; which, in the language of the country, is called marvowing.
Those who have much plowing to execute, buy what horses they want, at the beginning of the
working season, and fell them again when the labour is over. The number if milch-cows is about
756. But besides the horses sit for labour, and the cows that give milk, there are many young horses
and cows reared, especially in the moorish part of it. There are upwards of 4000 old sheep in the
parish, besides a proportionable number of young ones.
Advantages and Disadvantages.-Between Eaglesham and Glasgow (about 9 miles distance) there is
turnpike road, by which the farmers carry what they have to sell, in carts or waggons. A turnpike
road from Ayr to Edinburgh passes through this village, by Hamilton, which is shorter by six miles
than by Glasgow, and will be finished this year. A turnpike is also proposed to be made from
Muirkirk, through this village, to Glasgow. It may likewife be considered as an advantage which the
villagers enjoy, that they have their houses for nine hundred years, at no higher an annual than 3d
sterling a fall; and each house has a rood of ground for a garden. They have besides, among them,
100 acres of muir, for which they pay nothing; the greater part of which is capable of being improved
into good arable ground.-The disadvantages of this parish are, first, its distance from Glasgow, which
is its market-town Another, is the expence of fuel; no good coal being nearer than 7 miles, and no
peats within less than two miles and a half. But the greatest disadvantage is the want a good police.
There is no magistrate nearer than within 4 miles; and the place is oppressed with gangs of gypsies,
commonly called tinkers, or randy-beggars, because there is nobody to take the smallest account of
them.
Miscellaneous Observations.-Balagich, Dunwar, Mires, Blackwood, and Mellawher, are remarkable
hills. The first two are nearly of the same height; and their summits are 1000 feet above the level of
the sea.-The inhabitants are under no servitude to the landlords; and in general pay nothing more
than their money-rent, cess and road-money; some few excepted, who are bound by their leases, to
perform one or two days work yearly to the landlord, which is seldom exacted. The farms, in the
lower part of the parish, are all inclosed, and great benefit is derived from it.