SANDYHILLS TO THE SHEDDINGS—1865
A description of a walk in 1865 from what is now Sandyhills Road to Muiryfauld Drive, an article by Kenneth M. McRae entitled “Old Shettleston Memories” from Glasgow Eastern Standard, Saturday 7th June 1924.
2.
The Porter’s Lodge of Sandyhills House, mentioned in the accompanying article.
From the Porter lodge on the left hand a wall extended to a small row of houses where lived, among others, such old Shettlestonians as Paddy Renolds and Tam Ewen, while at the end of this row stood St. Paul’s Church, the clergyman of these days being Father McBrearty. Immediately beyond St. Paul’s Church stood another row of houses extending along the roadside to a position opposite Gartocher Road. Nearby stood Barrowman’s Pub and from Barrowman’s to Park Place extended further houses comprising Baldy Park’s Houses as shown on the diagram.
On the right hand side of the road after passing Gardiner’s stables one would have reached Crownhaugh, a group of houses which almost formed a square and wherein dwelt Peter Fleming and John Gilmour, while beyond Crownhaugh was the entrance to an old and disused quarry and further down stood St. Paul’s School. Eastmuir School, which existed in the days of which I write was the meeting place of those who in the winter nights assembled to hear the Penny Readings, an attractive form of lecture and story delivered usually by Mr Duncan Rodger, the headmaster of the School and latterly headmaster of Easthank Academy. At the opposite corner of Gartocher Road was situated Forrest’s Pub. Livey’s Pub and Lucky Tamson’s Pub occupied positions opposite Baldy Park’s Houses and Sandy Law’s Joiner’s shop stood facing Park Place.
From Park Place on the left hand side of the road small rows of houses, including Bennet’s Row and Buchanan’s Row were situated, while next in order came Leckie Sawyard, Old Peter Campbell’s School and at the corner of Church Road, Leckie’s Pub. Easthank Pit was somewhere in the vicinity of the present Parish Church.
On the right hand side after Sandy Law’s Joiner’s shop was a row of houses known as Old Square’s Row. Next came Anderson’s Tile Work and then the Kirk Pit Row which stood opposite Buchanan’s Row. At the rear of the Kirk Pit Row was situated the Kirk Pit, while a little further down the road stood the Parish Kirk under the charge of the Rev. Gilbert Johnstone. Beyond the Parish Kirk stood the Kirk House Inn, a stopping place for the stage coach and situated in the little square almost opposite Church Road.
At the opposite corner of Church Road from Leckie’s Pub was a magazine and open fields extended therefrom to Kilmeny Street with here and there a landmark such as a little house at the corner of Meadowwell Street, Dickson Row which still exists in a state of decay at the corner of the road leading to Shettleston’s football field and Mather’s House. At the corner of Wellshot Road, where Carntyne UP. Church now stands, there was another magazine, a favourite resting place of the miners. while the Wellshot Pit was situated some where in the vicinity of Shettleston Bowling Green.
Between
the Kirk House Inn and Station Road were situated Fernbank House and Law’s Row
which occupied the corner of Station Road.
At the other side of Station Road stood Law’s work, which eventually
became Law & Duncan’s who built the Shettleston Iron Works now owned by
Messrs J. & T. Boyd. The Ivy
House as we still know it existed in those days while next to it came
Smillie’s Work and thereafter the House which still stands back from the
roadway near Park Street, or better known perhaps as Cowper Anderson’s
Opening, midway along which stood Cowper Anderson’s Farm.
Baird’s Pub and a few little houses occupied the space between Park
Street and McNair Street. while in the latter stood Tam Connor’s Grocery shop.
Glen Place. where lived Mr and Mrs Graham, exists today and the Dog Pit
was situated near where the Salvation Army Hall now stands.
In those days the Dog Pit was merely a large opening in the ground which
was fenced round and was so-called from the fact that someone had dropped an
unwanted dog into its depth and the action seemed to breed a custom.
The Old Drum, a small public house stood on the site of Mair’s Billiard Room, and was occupied by a John Reid who worked in the pits while his wife attended to the thirsty. Beyond the Drum there was nothing of importance until one reached Firpark Street which boasted that symbol of law and order, the Police Office, where Shettleston I.L.P. are about to erect their new Hall. At the corner of Firpark Street stood yet another public house, while two more were to be found in close proximity even as they are today. Beyond the third pub and standing a little bit back from the roadway was a small farm. while just behind Simpson’s Billiard Room was an old disused quarry. Beyond Simpson Street stood the Old Ram which was in those days the pay-offices of the Wellshot Pit and the Caroline Pit and which eventually became the birthplace of The Standard.
Charlie White’s Row and Pub was the only other landmark.
Note:
Kenneth McRae refers in this article to ‘Station Road”, although contemporary maps designate it “Station Street’ In later maps it becomes “Station Road.”
