The Hamilton Advertiser ran a story in September 1893 about the dangerous supply of Water in Auchentibber. The story puts things in context nicely about how we take such things as a pure water supply for granted these days in Scotland.
In mid August 1893, two samples of water had been taken by the authorities from Maxwell’s well and Grant’s well at Auchentibber. At the same time residents of Clyde Row had been told it was likely they would be evicted given the outbreak of fever.
However, both samples came back satisfactory, the water ‘cold and clear’. I can’t help but think that the test was inadequate if it was just looking at how clear or cold it was! The residents complained that the water contained a large proportion of lime, which would discolour food and often, an infused scum appears which was ‘most objectionable to the eye’.
This unpopular supply had the residents of Auchentibber favouring one supply over the other, despite similar effects. The more recent supply rose in the quarry about 500 yards from the village and it was proposed to run the supply along the road and out at the village store (near the Auchentibber Inn).
The proprietor of Clyde Row, whose houses were facing the eviction order, said he would not pay for the new supply, arguing that it was benefiting the whole village, not just his homes. However, the other residents nearby, of around a dozen homes did not have their supply condemned and were therefore also unwilling to pay for the cleaner supply.
The argument was that the County should be paying.
AI imagines the scene.
