1945 Meadow Avenue now on site of Bellsfield Farm
On 30th December 2014, I was contacted by Stephen Kelly who said, “Hi. I grew up and lived in 10 Meadow Avenue at the top of the Kirkton scheme. I was digging out a pond for my mum a few years ago and came across sandstone blocks that looked like part of an under build for a house. Wondering if you have any information on a house being on this site prior to the scheme being built thanks again and all the best for the new year”
Knowing the location, I was pretty sure Meadow Avenue was where Bellsfield Farm used to be. Using Google Earth I was able to overlay the modern address on an old 1945 aerial view. This confirmed Stephens
1936 Bellsfield Farm
mothers house WAS on the location of Bellsfield Farm, and in particular at its very North West corner.
Next stop was a map of similar era to see if I could find what that corner of the farm was used for. The 1936 map offered an explanation. Bellsfield Farm, part of Auchinraith area did have a little note at the NorthWest side indicating that the building was a sheepwash. The mystery was solved! The site of Stephen’s modern pond used to be Bellsfield Sheepwash. Thank you also to Stephen for later confirming that the modern houses in his area were built in 1958.
Update: On Social media, Margaret Slaven McSorely told me, “My husband john McSorley stayed at 12 meadow avenue must have been Stevens neighbour.“
Brian Weaver added, “Before I started primary school my Uncle David used to do a milk run with a horse and cart. The horse was called Janet and Uncle David would put me on her back and let me ride there from our house in Victoria Street to the end of Muir Street. I’d then be lifted off and taken to sit on the cart while we went up the short stretch of the Main St before turning down to Bellsfield Farm where Janet was stabled with some other horses. Uncle David and I would then walk to Birdsfield Farm where a very young Sandy Wilkie and I became friends. This was probably 1954.“
Hi, I’m researching Glasgow General Omnibus Company (GOC) which started in 1926, from their Bothwell Road depot, and became part of Central SMT in 1932. In the February 1927 phone book (Mitchell Library), under the ‘GOC’ entries for Glasgow Area, there is a: ‘Captain Wilkie, Bellsfield Farm, High Blantyre – Phone Blantyre 118.’ What is the Wilkie association with the farm and, what could the connection be with GOC buses (whose first route was Hamilton Old Cross- High Blantyre via High Blan. Rd)?? Any clues or info would be greatly appreciated.
HI Alex – The name Wilkie being associated with Bellsfield, is new to me, although association with a farm, is not. Wilkie’s Farm, in Blantyre was more commonly known as Bardykes Farm, and I wonder if the phonebook entry made a mistake? Wilkie’s were certainly running their dairy operation from the farm at Bardykes from around 1904 until modern times. I cannot make the connection to buses, but as a prominent family and landowner, they may have had other business interests, over and above the milk business. If you search for Sandy Wilkie on Facebook, you may be able to contact him direct to find out more. I’m sure he’ll be able to tell you if there was also a Bellsfield Farm connection to his family.
Paul, thanks for your reply. I understand that, in the early years, GOC also delivered coal, although I don’t know if they did so outside the City of Glasgow, and also were involved as motor dealers (Ford, mainly). Captain Wilkie was not a director of GOC. Could there be a link between the Wilkies and coal or freight road haulage? I am not on Facebook. Is it possible to send me a link to Sandy Wilkie via this means? Thanks, Alex