Newmains is an existing contemporary detached home on the east side of Broompark Road, not too far from the junction of Main Street, High Blantyre.

Now in 2024, at 148 years old, this is one of the oldest homes on Broompark Road, and was notably for a time, a former manse house for High Blantyre Baptist Church.

The house was built between 1876 and 1878, almost certainly by John Gardiner of nearby Newmains Farm (Broompark Farm). To put this in context, the Blantyre Pit Disaster occurred in 1877 around the time of this build. John is noted as the owner of the house in Naismith’s Directory of 1879. Detached, built in stone with substantial design and slated roof, this is a well built, substantial and desirable house which has two large dormer windows overlooking a small garden facing on to Broompark Road. Garage buildings are attached to the North.

The Gardiners ’empire’ was centred around Newmains Farm which, much older was located just off Broompark Road. In modern times it would have been located directly opposite the entrance to the chapel, the site now occupied by terraced houses. The name ‘Newmains’ is almost certainly a nod to the Gardiner ownership of Newmains for many generations. An 1859 account on the Valuation roll provides us with more detail. “A Farm Steading belonging to, or built upon, the Lands known as the Mains of Blantyre Priory. In writings, or documents, connected with the feuing of the Land to the present Occupier, it is styled “New Mains”, from being the second Farm, or house, erected on the Lands of Mains.” The first farm in the Lands of Mains was (and still is used as a home now) , Old Mains Place. The two farms complimented each other by having common boundaries in the High Blantyre area which was then all fields.

Building the house appears to have been as a business venture. As landlord John Gardiner first let out to John Donald Law, a clerk and businessman who rented the property for £22 a year in 1885. John Gardiner held mineral rights, allowing Dixons to mine coal below the property. Upon his death, the house passed to family member William Gardiner, who continued to rent out the property.

In 1895, the house was let out to William Sillar, a collector with a reduced rent of £19/annum perhaps indicating a strong, friendship or business relationship with the Gardiner family. The Gardiner family at this time owned a lot of land, including to the south of Main Street and the fields stretching throughout the middle of Blantyre towards Auchinraith.

However, in January 1896, the Gardiner family sold ‘Newmains Cottage’ outright to Mr Robert Orr, a fireman who lived there for around 15 years. Robert bought the house for £350, (about £60,000 in today’s money). During WW1, Pastor Wattie Wilson bought the property not only as his family home, but it officially became the manse house, for his newly established mission at the Baptist Church in High Blantyre (the wee tin Kirk). Rev Walter (Wattie) Wilson and his wife Tina lived there for many years prior to and during WW2. For the best part of the 20th Century, the house was known as being the manse house.

During the late 1920s, the house was given address 20 Broompark Road and by this time the back of the house faced on the expanding High Blantyre Cemetery.

There is evidence couples got married at this manse house. Dr James Graham, speaking recently of his father (“The Blantyre Saint”John Graham), commented, “When my father converted to Christianity he went round the local churches in search of a spiritual home. When visiting High Blantyre Baptist Church, he met my mother and romance flourished. They were later married in the manse by the minister, Pastor Walter Wilson.”

The McNaught family lived in the cottage during the mid 20th Century before selling up to their family friends, the Gilmour family. The Gilmour family lived in this lovely family home for 43 years. In the mid 2010’s the house changed ownership to Robertsons. Work was done recently to the stonework at the front of the house.

The journey continues with new owners lovingly renovating and giving this old house some attention.

Wattie Wilson and his wife Tina are pictured who, like the Gilmour family lived in Newmains Cottage for over 4 decades.

On Social Media, the following comments were received on Facebook:

Blantyre Project now split into 2 homes so is a semi detached building and land to the rear of no20 has been extended as such it now runs up to the cemetery wall!
David Norrish What an inspiring story.
Caroline McLinden Elaine Sim lots of lovely memories going to your Gran’s
Elaine Sim Aww ma house
Violet Elder I went to school with Aileen McNaught.
Julie Nicholson I remember the house well, stayed round corner from it and went to school with Aileen McNaught.
Irene Dickman I was friendly with one of the daughters-in-law of the Gilmore family,Elizabeth. If I remember correctly the house was called Lynian?First names of the daughter and son.
Linda Gilmour Roberts Irene Dickman you are correct the house was Liniain, Linda (me) and my brother Iain.
Irene Dickman Linda Gilmour Roberts I knew Elizabeth,Morag and Janice. In fact at one point I was their Sunday school teacher. Elizabeth and Iain son David is the same age as my son. Do you know how they’re all doing?
Linda Gilmour Roberts All doing well and still living in Blantyre except David who recently moved to the North of Scotland from New Zealand
Ian McLean Wattie Wilson was a maternal relation of my wife
Kev Smithson The old girls been given some much needed TLC this past year or two! And massive thanks to Ronnie at Guardian Stone Ltd for helping to restore much of it back to its formal glory last autumn.

Claire Farrell Kev Smithson is it one big house or two together I’ve always wondered.
Kev Smithson Claire Farrell 2. It got split in the 70s I believe and extended to what is our side.
Claire Farrell Kev Smithson I thought that cause I see ur car the one side when I pass hope Blantyre treating u well buddy I grew up just up from the public park smashing wee place.