The Fountain
In 1891 the landowners of the district tried to bar the local people from a walkway along the banks of the River Clyde. This walk was popular with locals, and visiting herbalists in their search for unusual plants. The weaver herbalists from Parkhead and Camlachie used to descend on the site, leading to Kenmuir Bank every Sunday, to pick a profusion of medicinal plants.
Tom Murphy was a well-known botanist in the second half of the 19th century. He made many visits to Carmyle and Kenmuir, collecting special plants and herbs. He also brought roots from his travels, to enrich the area. Hugh MacDonald wrote this poem of the death of Thomas Murphy.
By Kenmuir steep, or sweet Carmyle,
Or Balantyre’s auld monk-haunted pile,
A-wooing Flora’s early smile
Nae mair he’ll tread.
Nature’s lone pilgrim’s left his toil
Tom Murhpy’s dead.
The villagers fought the landlords both physically and legally and were successful in winning the struggle for the right of way. By public subscription, a drinking fountain was erected on the site by the river. The fountain was cast in the Saracen Foundry and erected in 1892. It was renovated in 1947 and thereafter neglected and vandalised. In 1957 it disappeared without trace. Stories of scrap dealers carting it away may, or may not, be true. On Saturday 29th June last year, Mrs. McKissock realised her wish, when the centenary of the struggle for the right of way was re-enacted on the fountain site, about 400 yards from the land presently occupied by the “Cue Club”.
The fountain is very significant to our reminiscence group, as it led to this publication. Therefore we feel that it deserves pride of place on the front cover.
On a pathway, next to the river, stood a fountain in memorial to the men of Carmyle who petitioned for the right of way along the banks of the Clyde to Kenmuir and Daldowie. The names of the men were stamped on the arched canopy. Bart Pierce, John Pierce -father and son - Tom and Jim Coogans, two brothers. There were other names but I can‘t remember them. I hope the planners of the Clyde Walkway will use this right of way.
The Burn Butts
I lived opposite the Fountain, in the Bleachfield houses alongside the factory, as my father was an employee there. The Burn Butts cottages had also housed Bleachfield workers, but that was before my time.
The Fountain was a great meeting place, especially for courting couples. I used to arrange to meet my girlfriend there and we would walk to the Bluebell Woods, up past the Margin and on to the coal bings. Then we would walk down to Kenmuir and from there back to Carmyle.
