Kirkintilloch History

Finds from Barr Hill Fort near Kirkintilloch.

The placename Kirkintilloch is derived from Caerpentulach, a Celtic name (Fort at the end of the hillock). The fort referred to is the former Roman settlement and the hillock is a volcanic drumlin which would have offered a strategic viewpoint for miles to the West, North and East. This is sometimes taken literally as "Kirk in tilloch" (church in the field). Its long name is often shortened by locals to Kirkie, as reflected in a number of business names in the town.

A castle and church were recorded there in the 12th century. A small settlement grew and was granted Burgh status in 1211,amd were an important staging post for west-east journeys from Glasgow to eastern and north-eastern Scotland.

Antonine Wall Altar.

The castle was of some importance during the Wars of Independence, when an English garrison was stationed there. Soldiers from this castle were dispatched to arrest William Wallace at Robroyston and escorted him to Dumbarton Castle. The castle may have been attacked by Scottish forces under the bishop of Glasgow - certainly the castle was levelled in this period. The mot surrounded by a ditch can still be seen at the Peel Park.

Modern prosperity came with the construction of the Forth and Clyde Canal through the town in 1773, bringing the town to prominence as an inland port. The establishment of a railway link to Glasgow in the 1820s allowed Kirkintilloch to further develop as an industrial centre for Weaving and a major shipbuilding centre for both canal and ocean sailing. Today, Kirkintilloch is promoted as the "Canal Capital of Scotland", in which added pride has been taken since the completion of the Canal's recent regeneration project.

Another industry of note was iron founding, with the Lion Foundry and Star foundry achieving some repute. The most important products of the Lion Foundry were the famous red postboxes and Phoneboxes, produced in the town until 1984.

Kirkintilloch was a "dry town" for much of its recent history, with the sale of alcohol on public premises banned from 1923 until 1967. I remember having a pint in "The Antonine" in 1969 shortly after the Ban ended. The prohibition on the sale of alcohol had long been demanded by the Liberal Party and the temperance movement, both of which had a strong influence in the town in the early part of the 20th century, largely due to the perceived negative effects of alcohol on the town's inhabitants (some things don't change).

A National Scandal at Wallaces Well

Damage at Wallaces Well

A few days ago I was driving past Wallaces Well, when I noticed this damage,which took place recently.

Since 2003, two large housing developments have been constructed near the well, bringing a huge increase in car traffic. In the absence of proper signposting – or any effective traffic calming measures – the wall around the well has been repeatedly hit by vehicles, resulting in continual damage to the site. The photograph below shows the damage a couple of weeks ago:

Further damage can be viewed at the Robroyston Wallace Monument website on the Wallace's Well page.

As if things weren't bad enough for the well, another huge housing development has been announced which will take dwellings right up to the edge of this historic site, effectively obliterating the last remnants of green space in an area that has been described as being as historically important to Scotland as Bannockburn.

Can you imagine in the US a site of National Historic Importance being treated like this?

Can you imagine condos being built at The Alamo?

For the full story go to  http://discuss.glasgowguide.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=18968

Acknowledgements to "GLASGOW GUIDE"

Last First World War Veteran Dies aged 110

The last known combat veteran of the First World War has died at the age of 110, his family has said.

British-born Claude Stanley Choules, who was known as "Chuckles" by his comrades, joined the Royal Navy aged just 14 and witnessed the scuttling of the German fleet at Scapa Flow in 1919.

http://tiny.cc/7tnnp

Kirkintilloch Walks - Barr Hill Roman Fort

Less than two hours ago I was sitting on the old Furnace of the Cauldarium at the Bath House at Barr Hill Roman Fort.

On the way there on my walk along the Canal Towpath, I passed many traces of 18th & 19th Century Archaeology, including old Pit Buildings and Piers.

On the path leading up to Barr Hill there was also a WW2 Anti Aircraft gun enplacement foundation.

It is a beautiful morning, and I sat at the Fort for some time soaking up the atmosphere.

The Fort was excavated during the early 20th century, and when the 30 ft deep well was excavated, many finds were made, including Roman boots, bottles etc.

On the way back I passed an interesting 18th century building on the Canal near Shriva Basin, a two storey Stables Block.

Next I hope to make a further walk to the Fort, then Further along the  course of the Antonine Wall.

Kirkintilloch Walks - Reflections on Sawney Bean

Just back from this morning's 5 mile walk along the Forth and Clyde Canal.  Once again the tranquility was spoiled by Pedalphiles (Lycra Louts) intent on maintaining 20 miles per hour along the Towpath.

For some reason I started thinking about Sawney Bean, the 16th century Scottish Cannibal http://en.wikiped%20ia.org/wiki/Sawney_Bean

According to legend Alexander (Sawney) Bean was the head of an incestuous cannibalistic family, who oversaw a 25-year reign of murder and robbery from a hidden sea cave on the Ayrshire/Galloway coast in the 15th century. The cave most readily associated with Sawney and his nefarious clan is close to Ballantrae on Bennane head in Ayrshire.

There are numerous written sources detailing the account of Sawney and his family, and it has been suggested that the legend has its roots in real events.

Sawney Bean was born in the late 14th century, in a small East Lothian village not ten miles from Edinburgh. He began life as a hedger and ditcher, but, being prone to idleness and inclined towards dishonesty he ran away from home with a woman who was as viciously inclined as himself. Having no means to make a living they set up home in a sea cave in Galloway supporting themselves by robbing and murdering travellers and locals, and surviving on their victim's pickled and salted flesh. In time their family grew to an incestuous gang of 46 sons, daughters, grandsons and granddaughters. Their reign of terror did not go unnoticed: for one hundreds of people went missing over the years, and the Beans became so successful in their butchery that they cast unwanted limbs into the sea. These were washed up on distant and local beaches, much to the horror of the coastal communities. In time the areas reputation reached the ears of the authorities and, in these suspicious times, many innocent people were executed for Sawney's crimes. The hardest hit were innkeepers as, more often than not, the missing person was last seen in an inn or lodgings: suspicion naturally falling on those who had seen them last. This happened on so many occasions that numerous innkeepers fled to take up other less risky occupations, and the area became a shunned and depopulated place.

People were horrified when they heard about the crimes of Sawney Bean and his family and decided to give them a punishment even more barbaric. The execution was a slow one: the men bled to death after their hands and legs were cut off, and the women were burned alive after they were forced to watch the execution of the men. John Nicholson tells us about the execution as follows "...they all died without the least sign of repentance, but continued cursing and vending the most dreadful imprecations to the very last gasp of life."

Sundays walk along the Forth and Clyde Canal

Just back from my morning walk along the Forth and Clyde Canal, from Kirkintilloch to the Stables and back (about 5 miles).

Lovely sunny day so unfortunately this brought out the cyclists and Joggers, but listened to Butterworths "Banks of Green Willow" on the headphones http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8Q9dz1kse8  .

The Puffer ""Maryhill"

Went on a short (2 miles) walk this morning along the Canal, and to Kirkintilloch Marina, where I saw the puffer "Maryhill" a replica built on Bute. Also at the Marina was a canal barge "Tweezle". Weather not so good today with some rain, so hope to go a decent walk on Sunday.