1898 Map Showing the wall around land on the river bend at Caldergrove
Pictured here in 1994 by Robert Stewart is a former walled garden at Caldergrove. Just over the River Calder, on the opposite side behind Bardykes, is a sharp bend in the river, and the ruins of a tall, brick wall still exists.
The wall runs entirely around a flat, level area which looks like it was once cleared and levelled. It cannot be accessed from Bardykes, and is only accessible from Caldergrove, via paths along the river.
The garden appears on 1859 maps with the area separated into five distinct areas, with paths running through which were tree lined. This was most likely a walled, (or secret) garden for Caldergrove, as was the Victorian fashion at the time. The old maps show a small building beside it, made of glass, again further proof, it was a garden.
1994 Walled Garden ruins at Caldergrove
However, by 1910 maps, the gardens are not featured, although still with the large brick wall around. Instead an open area, perhaps turned into tennis courts, or a level sports area for football or quoiting. This of course was part of the Caldergrove Estate, which fell out of use in the latter part of the 20th Century. Robert Stewart told me the area was being used as a garden again around the time of WW2, but this may have been part of the war effort, as many parks and open areas were doing this. I also heard rumours of an orchard.
Most of the Blantyre Tennis Club members were from the big houses, and Mr Marshall who owned the nearby mansion house during much of the Victorian period had a daughter, who may have liked this garden or sports? Digging around a little further i found that in March 1869 the gardens were let out at Caldergrove, the advert placed in the Glasgow Herald. Earlier in 1863, farm equipment was sold off by Caldergrove, although it is unknown if this was connected to this area. Further back in 1861, a large quantity of wood of various types was being sold at Caldergrove on 26th March 1861, perhaps an indication of the trees in that garden being felled? Going further back to 20th February 1856, I finally found an answer. In the Glasgow Herald that day, Caldergrove Estate was up for sale, all 43 acres of it. This included in the description an extensive garden, well stocked with fruit trees, and surrounded by a Wall. Finally jumping forward a little again to another sale advert this time in 1869, the garden is described as “The garden, about an acre is plentiful stocked with flowers and shrubs and fruit trees, all in full bearing.A Vinery greenhouse is of a suitable size for the property.”
Whilst looking at this article, there is clearly a lot more to write about Caldergrove, something i’ve bookmarked for the future.