1832 Clayhouse, Station Road, Blantyre

Whilst looking at a less common map of 1832, I noticed with some surprise a name that is not used in Blantyre anymore. Clayhouse appears on Station Road, approximately beside where the Village Bar would be. This is somewhat of a mystery to me, and has proven most difficult to research. Not only are there no google returns, but there are no entries in the 1841 census, nor in any valuation roll for “Clayhouse” or “Clay House”. A mystery indeed.

The lack of data post 1841, suggests that the Clayhouse property was gone by 1840 or so, and we can only presume as to its purpose. This was a time before Station Road existed, then just an un-named track. A time before the Low Blantyre Station. On this map, only large homes, farms or places were noted, so I have to make the assumption that at the time the property was well known and of a decent enough size to be featured on a map.It’s location suggests it was just outside the Gated Village, which by then Monteith had established.

1816 map showing clayhouse

The 1816 map is a little clearer, but if the location is to be believed, Clayhouse looks like two buildings, on the opposite side of Station Road, approximately where Farm Road is now. However, i think this is just where the name is on the map, meant for Clayhouse on the west side of the track.

The name also compliments the nearby Woodhouse. The track served only to access the Village works, so it is sensible that the few properties on this track, served that purpose too. Was the Clayhouse, the place where bricks were made for the village rows themselves? By 1840, that need would have diminished or vanished. Or perhaps another proposal, i can put forward is that it made clay pipes, pots etc for all the workers. If so, it may have been constructed close to the village itself in the late 1780’s. It’s not often I’ll say this, but I’m at a loss as to what Clayhouse really was for, but it is certain that by the 1840’s , it had gone.