Farming
During the 12th century, the land in Carmyle and surrounding district was cleared for agricultural use. The monks being among the earliest and most successful farmers. Although the Abbey of Newbattle possessed areas of land, they had very little else, therefore the monks had to earn what they could from the soil. They also fished the River Clyde, while salt, meat and wool were abundantly available as a result of their labours. It is interesting to note that it was in a local field that the first potato-digging machine, in Scotland, was used.
Carmyle Farm was owned by John S. Clark, who also owned Foxley Farm - now Foxley Riding Stables. He was a gentleman farmer, employing two foremen to work the fields.
Carmyle Farms
Neil Campbell worked the fields from the top of Carmyle Avenue to London Road, and Hughie Brown worked the fields, with a group of local women, from London Road to the farm in River Road. A local man owned two horses, and every day he walked them to Tennants Brewery to collect four rakes of hops, which were spread on the fields as fertilizer.
Carmyle Farm
During the school summer holidays I loved helping out at Tom Hamilton ‘S farm. One of the jobs I did was to walk a herd of cows from tile farm, which was in River Road, at the Cue Club, all the way along to the Orion Bridge. There was good grazing under the bridge. My mother used to make me “pieces” as I would be away for hours, staying wit/i the cows till milking time. I remember meeting an old tramp who used to sleep under tile bridge - we called him the Man wit!, the Hundred Coats - and I would s/mare my “pieces” with him. When I brought the cows back to the barn, they were milked by hand. This was done by two local women.
Bob Young time ploughman and Frank Haddow (Jr),on their way to the field.
