On Facebook this evening, Blantyre man Gary Doonin posted me a photo. The picture was of a small sandstone ruin that still exists today. Posting “Hi Paul this is one of 2 ruins which sit behind Bardykes on the Spittal Burn and near to river Calder on opposite side to Calderglen House and new housing estate . Any idea on history ?”
Well, you know how i like a challenge! I’m pleased to be able to provide some history on this little building, although strictly speaking, it’s in on the fringes of Cambuslang Parish, not Blantyre!
This particular building is what’s left of Hallside House’s Summer house. It’s located on the West banks of the Spittal Burn, a small burn running North to South, to the West of the Rotten Calder, west of Calderbank and the new housing estate. For reference, it is located behind the Wimpey Homes estate, across the river.
Hallside House was a superior dwelling with extensive offices. In the gardens were sprawling 50 acre ornamental grounds, fields and paths leading to this sandstone Summer House. There was a front on the house consisting of offices detached from the house and separately occupied. The property belonged in the mid 1850’s to J. Jarding esquire.
In 1864 the Summer House was still clearly marked on local maps, offering a nice vantage point of the nearby burn and woodland. A pathway connected the House down the hill towards the small structure. There is another small structure nearby which was the moderate lodge building, unoccupied for most of it’s life.
Hallside House was not to be confused by two adjacent properties called simply Hallside, and another at East Hallside, both of which were smaller. Hallside house was grand and had an interesting construction tale. When it was built in 1775, stones were used from nearby ruined 14th Century Drumsargard Castle to form the house. It left the Castle with nothing much left other than a mound in the ground.
Hallside House, photographed in 1870 by Thomas Annan. The house was built in 1790 and an addition made in 1840.
Hallside was originally part of the estate of Drumsargad and it was acquired by George Jardine (1742-1827). Jardine was the assistant to James Clow, the Professor of Logic and Rhetoric at the University of Glasgow and he assumed Clow’s duties from 1774 until he succeeded him as Professor in 1787. He held the chair until his death. Jardine stayed at his university house off High Street during term-time, returning to Hallside in the summer months.
On his death, Hallside was inherited by George’s son John (1778-1850) and then his grandson James Bruce Jardine.
Source: 1859 Valuation roll, 1864 ordnance map.