Until August 2015, I thought this building was named Peasweep, but recently found out that Peasweep was the row across the road from it, when in fact, this ruin was actually called Brown’s Land.
Located just beyond the Auchentibber Road junction, actually on Parkneuk Road, going up Sydes Brae on the left hand side was a double storey tenement building, formerly called “Brown’s Land”. The tenement was split into 4 homes upstairs and 4 downstairs with stone steps at the back accessing the upper level. Built in the 1880’s, the houses likely housed local miners of the area, and at the time a host of quarrying activity was going on , nearby on both sides of the road.
Built of stone and detached, the front of the property practically opened up on to the road. The northern gable had a small path leading past it which acted as a right of way to Earnock. At the back, a triangular piece of ground, quite open and large formed the back yard, with allotments and gardens to the side on the southern flat area near to the road. Sometime between 1898 and 1910, outside toilets were added at the back yard, in a small brick outhouse which still exists today. A water tap served the property, the tap located in the middle of the allotments. Directly across the quiet, sleepy Parknuek Road was Peesweep Row and the Auchentibber Quoiting green.
The allotments existed in the 1920s and 30s and indeed continued right through WW2. In 1918 James Neill lived at Brown’s land with his family. In 1920 William Smith at number 5 and his family, John Gallacher and his family, Angus Leitch and his family. By 1923 a Mrs Nodwell lived there at number 3 with the Gallachers. In 1924, John Potter. In 1925, William Smith. In 1926 William Nimmo and William Rhodes at number 2. In 1928 William Montgomery and his family. In 1931 Richard Barrett and his family. In 1940 William Leishman and his family lived at number 4. In 1941 Mitchell McLements at number 1. In 1942 Robert Swinburne lived at number 2 but by 1946 John Henderson was there.
It is unknown when the building became derelict, although it is known that families stayed there in the 1950s and possibly the 1960s. In either the 1960s or 1970s, the top storey was removed and a tin roof put on, the space inside used as a large open plan workshop or store. I was told that the Trustler family had a sawmill there in the 1970s and also heard that slabs used to be made in the building. In the 1980’s an old sea plane sat in the back yard, a project created by local men Nimmo and Dickson, that never got finished. The sea plane is no longer there. Only the single, lower storey remains, which is the ruin that can still be seen today.
In August 2015, curious about what it looks like now, I filmed this short video, which hopefully puts the location and building into context.
On social media:
Brian Carroll This wee video just brought back happy childhood memories of Auchentibber walks with my papa who once lived in this building.
I came across the story about Browns land which I really enjoyed. I visited the place as a small child with my mother whose sister Peggy Trussler lived there in the sixtys. Perry was married to Frank Trussler who was born in India his family being in the military his father and uncles and with India becoming it’s own country in 1948 all the family had to flee to Scotland. They did not have a lot of money as the place was almost derelict in the 1950s and all they could afford wonder if it was the mans house who moved out in 1948? The story above I remember my aunt Peggy telling me how she met her husband Frank Trussler at 15 in the late 1940s. Peggy moved into the building when she got married and described it being very old even then. She knew the Gallagher’s as they were her neighbours as my closest schoolfriend growing up was Rena’s’daughter Eleanor . It was a massive family the Gallagher’s as many of Eleanor’s aunts and uncles lived very nearby. I visited Eleanor’s grandparents in spring wells where they moved to after Browns Land. Her aunt May Downie lived across the road from us in coasthill and her eldest son John played for Rangers s a teenager and after seasons at Fulham became Jock Stein’s last signing at Celtic a local hero and great footballer he continued his career in the us and Australia and sadly passed away at only 62 a few years ago. So sad.. he returned to Blantyre to live the day after his mother passed away. I last saw him at Rena’s’ funeral in Blantyre. It was the biggest funeral I have ever attended. She was such a popular woman. There was such a big crowd not everyone could get into the church
The research done on these stories about people and places in Blantyre are priceless and so good for people to learn about the past.
Hi
Can you tell me who owns this building now? And if it is for sale?
We would be interested in restoring it to its former glory as a family home
Many thanks
Sorry Fiona. I dont know who owns it. Its been boarded up for many, many years.
My name is George Henderson,my Father is the John Henderson mentioned as living at brownsland.He actually married Jessie Smith daughter of William Smith who lived in a room and kitchen up the back stairs at Brownsland. My father.mother me and my younger brother lived there until 1948 when we moved toe prefabs off Station Road. When the council built houses on Farm Road in Blantyre,Mitchael McClements moved to a cul de sac there.I knew Betty and Evelyn McClements and some of the Galaghers quite well in those days. My mother always told me that Rena Gallagher used to take me for walks in my pram. Omg It takes me back. George Henderson
Great social history George. Thanks.