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.“