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PRESBYTERY OF HAMILTON,
SYNOD OF GLASGOW AND AYR.
THE REV. JAMES BEGG, D. D., MINISTER.
I.--T0P0GRAPHY AND NATURAL
HISTORY.
Name.—The parishes of Old
and New Monkland were formerly one parish, under the general name of
Monkland,—a name derived from the monks of the Abbey of Newbottle, to
whom the lands belonged. The parish was divided into two in the year
1640,— the eastern division being named New Monkland, and the western
Old Monkland.
Boundaries, Extent.—The
parish is in the middle ward of Lanarkshire, and forms a part of the
north boundary of the county. It is nearly ten miles in length from east
to west, and seven in breadth near the middle, but narrower at both
ends; bounded on the south by the parishes of Bothwell and Shotts; on
the east by those of Torphichen and Slamannan; on north by those of
Cumbernauld and Kirkintilloch ; and on the west by those of Cadder and
Old Monkland.
Soil and Climate.—The
soil is various. That in the north and west parts of the parish is the
best, consisting partly of a strong clay, and partly of a dry soil;
which soils, when properly cultivated, are capable of bearing any kind
of crops. The middle and east parts are of a mossy soil, and, in early
seasons, yield good crops of oats, flax, potatoes, and rye-grass hay;
but in cold late seasons the oats do not ripen well. There are no hills
nor mountains in the parish, though the greater part of it is high. The
highest lands are in the middle of the parish, and run the whole length
of it from east to west, declining gently on each side to the rivers
Calder and Loggie, which are its south and north boundaries. These high
lands may be from five to six or seven hundred feet above the level of
the sea, and a great part of them are covered with mosses, which in that
elevated situation are not capable of improvement, except at a very
great expense.
Owing to the elevated
situation of the country, the weather is, on the whole, rather cold and
wet. For a great part of the year the winds are from the west and
south-west; but in the months of April, May, and part of June, generally
from the east. The severest weather, with heavy falls of snow, is in
general from the north-east. The common nervous fever, or typhus fever,
seems to be the most prevalent disease. It is very frequently in some
part of the parish. Consumptions, inflammations, and rheumatisms, are
also frequent.
Hydrography.—The large
reservoir for supplying the Monkland Canal, and the Forth and Clyde
Canal, which covers about 300 acres of land, is partly in this parish,
and partly in the parish of Shotts. There is a mineral well near
Airdrie, which in former times was much frequented, but is now
neglected. The water is strongly impregnated with iron and sulphur.
Geology.—This parish, so
interesting to the student of geology, affords ample opportunities for
studying the relations of the two grand series of rocks, the Neptunian
and Plutonian. It is well supplied with whinstone or trap and sandstone.
These are found in various places, and are convenient for building and
making roads, &c. The parish also abounds with coal and ironstone of the
best quality. In many places, different seams of coal are wrought, such
as the ell coal, the pyatshaw, the humph, the main coal, and the splint.
These seams are generally above the black band of ironstone, and below
that there is the Kiltongue coal, and other sediik not yet sufficiently
explored. In some places the seams are thin, not exceeding two or three
feet in thickness; in other places of the parish, as Moffat, Whiteridge,
and Ballochnie, the seams of coal are nine feet thick, of excellent
quality, and very valuable. Smithy coal and blind coal are also wrought
in some parts of the parish. Many of these coals are carried to Glasgow
by the MonkIand Canal, and from thence many are carried to the
highlands, and to Ireland. Many of them are also carried by the
Ballochnie and Kirkintilloch railways to Kirkintilloch, and from thence
by the Forth and Clyde Canal to Edinburgh.
The ironstone is found
partly in balls, and partly in seams; the seams most common are the
muscle band and the black band. The black band is by far the most
valuable, and is generally found about fourteen fathoms below the splint
coal. All the iron-works of Carron, Clyde, Calder, Gartsherrie, and
Chapel Hall, are partly supplied with ironstone from this parish.
Limestone is also wrought
in some parts of the parish, particularly on the north side of the
parish, and at the west end, but not to any very great extent, as the
Cumbernauld lime is of excellent quality, and generally used in this
parish. Where the lands in the parish lie in the vicinity of the canal,
or railway, or good roads, the minerals are considered of equal value,
sometimes of more value than the surface. On the south side of the
parish the metals in general dip to the south or south-west, towards the
Clyde; but on the north side of the parish they in general dip to the
east and south-east.
II.—CIVIL HISTORY.
Land-Owners.—The chief
land-.owners of the parish are, Robert Buchanan, Esq. of Drumpellier;
John Campbell Colquhoun, Esq. of Killermont; Robert Haldane, Esq. of
Auchingray; Sir William Alexander of Airdrie-House; the Honourable
William Elphinstone of Monkland; Alexander Gerard, Esq. Rochsoles;
George More Nisbet, Esq. Cairnhill; Robert Jamieson, Esq. Arden; Thomas
Falconer, Esq. Brownieside; Dr William Clerk of Moffat; Dr James Tenant
of Bredinhill; William Steel, Esq. Annathill; George Waddel, Esq.
l3allochnie; James M'Lean, Esq. of Medox. There are a great many other
heritors in the parish. Few of the largest heritors are resident.
Modern Buildings.—The
chief mansion-houses are those of Airdrie, Monkland, Rochsoles,
Auchingray, &c.
A very neat town-house
has been lately built in Airdrie, containing a prison, police-office,
and a good town-hall. The Mason-Hall in Airdrie is also a very good
room. The foundation of a very large cotton-mill has been newly laid
near Airdrie, which, when finished, will employ a great number of
people, in teasing, carding, and spinning cotton.
III.—POPULATION.
The population of the
parish has been progressively increasing for a number of years past,
both in the country part of the parish and in the town of Airdrie. The
return of the population to Dr Webster, in the year 1755, gave 2713. The
population at the time of the last Statistical Account, in the year
1792, was 3560. The following table exhibits the progressive increase of
the population.
'rliis progressive
increase of population has been owing to the coal-works in the parish,
and the iron-works in the vicinity, having been greatly extended, and to
the weavers of cotton cloth for the Glasgow manufacturers having greatly
multiplied,—although at present they are very ill paid, and have poor
wages.
In the year 1833, there
were in the parish 125 marriages. In the same year there were 238
children born in the parish, and registered; and 153 deaths, reckoning
from the number of mortcloths used. The number of proprietors of land
above L. 50 of yearly rent is 68; there are, besides, a considerable
number of smaller proprietors.
In Airdrie, there were in
1831, 669 weavers above 20 years of age; 223 coal-heavers, the number of
whom is now greatly increased; and 160 ironstone miners, the number of
whom is also greatly increased.
Character of the
People.—In the country part of the parish, the people are in general
strong and robust; but in Airdrie many of the weavers are feeble and
small in stature. Both in town and country, the people are in general
neat and clean in their dress, particularly on Sabbath when they go to
church. The dress of the women is perhaps finer than is suitable for
their situation in life. Many of the people are intelligent and sober,
but some of them are rather fond of litigation. Smuggling, at no great
distance of time, prevailed to a certain extent, but has now almost
entirely ceased.
There have been 52
illegitimate births in the parish during the last three years.
IV-INDUSTRY.
Agriculture.—Some of the
land in the north-west corner of the parish is very good and fertile,
and may bring L. 2 or L. 3 per acre of rent yearly; but the land from
the church eastward is not so good, being of a poorer soil, and much in
want of shelter, and may vary in yearly value from 10s. to L. 1, 10s.
per acre. The rental of the landward part of the parish is about L.
12,000, and of Airdrie about L. 6700. If there were belts of planting
running from north to south, at regular distances, to protect from the
north-east winds in spring, the advantage would be great. The
improvement of the parish is, however, gradually advancing, and many
acres of waste land have been ploughed within these twenty years past;
but the price of agricultural labour is too high, compared with the very
low price of the produce of the land at present, and if some change does
not soon take place, agriculture must greatly declinp, and the poor
soils be entirely neglected. Several ploughing matches take place in the
parish yearly, by which much emulation among the ploughmen is excited,
and those who obtain a first or second prize generally afterwards
expect, and get higher wages. Much attention is paid to improving the
breed of cattle; and the Ayrshire breed is preferred, and generally
prevails in the parish. During the late war, flax brought a good price,
and many acres, from 500 to 800, were cultivated yearly; but the price
is now so low, that it will not yield a profit to the farmer, and is
therefore now little attended to.
Rate of Wages.—Common
Iabourers at present receive 10s. or 12s. per week; but masons,
carpenters, slaters, &c. receive 15s. or 18s. per week.
V.—PAROCHIAL ECONOMY.
The only market-town in
the parish is Airdrie, one of the new Parliamentary burghs, having all
the privileges of a royal burgh, and along with Lanark, Hamilton,
Falkirk, and Linlithgow, sending amember to Parliament. Its population
still is rapidly increasing. The villages of Coltston, Clerkston,
Greengairs, and Kiggend, are also thriving villages. The post-office is
in Airdrie, and there is a post twice in the day.
Means of
Communication.—The turnpike-roads in the parish are the one from
Edinburgh to Glasgow by Bathgate and Airdrie, which intersects the south
side of the parish, and the new road from Car- lisle to Stirling, which
intersects the whole parish from south to north. These roads have
afforded a very great facility to the improvement of the lands in their
neighbourhood. The I3alochney rail-road, which is in this parish,
connects itself with the Kirkintilloch rail-road, and the Garnkirk
rail-road, for carrying coals to Glasgow, and the Forth and Clyde Canal
at Kirkintilloch, from whence they are carried by the canal east to
Edinburgh, and west to Greenock and Ireland,—the canal joining the Clyde
near Old Kilpatrick.
Ecclesiastical State.—
The parish church is situated about two miles from the west end of the
parish, on an eminence, and is seen at a great distance from the west
and north-west; it is far from the people in the east end of the parish,
some of whom attend other churches more contiguous. The church contains
1200 sittings, and was built in the year 1777, and much repaired in
1817, and is at present in tolerable condition. One-fourth part of the
sittings belongs to the people of Airdrie, which is situated about a
mile and a-half or two miles from the church. The manse was repaired and
enlarged in the year 1819, and is now in a comfortable state. The glebe
contains ten Scotch acres of land, but it is of inferior soil. The
stipend is 17 chalders, half meal, half barley, paid according to the
fiars of the county, besides L. 10 for communion elements. There is a
chapel of ease at-Airdrie connected with the Established Church, which
contains about 650 sittings. The minister's stipend is L.120, raised
from the seat-rents. There is another chapel built in Airdrie, fitted to
accommodate 1200 sitters. There is also a small chapel at the village of
Clerkston, occupied by a preacher of the Established Church, who
preaches on Sabbath, and visits and examines the people in the village
and vicinity through the week. The parish church, and these chapels, are
in general well attended. The average number of communicants in the
parish church is between 1000 and 1100: and those of the Airdrie chapel
are about 400 more.
There are four Dissenting
or Seceding meeting-houses in the parish, two of which belong to the
United Secession, one to the Old Light Burghers, and one to the Old
Dissenters or Cameron- inns. Some of these meeting-houses are
considerably loaded with debt, and some of the ministers are but poorly
provided for.
Education.—The parish
schoolmaster has a dwelling-house and garden, and about L.30 of yearly
salary; his emoluments from school fees may amount to L. 30 per annum:
and for collecting road-money, &c. he may have other L. 30. Besides the
parish school, there are four other schools in the parish, built by
subscription, viz, at Airdrie, Clerkston, Greengairs, and Coathill. At
Clerkston and Greengairs there are also dwelling-houses built for the
schoolmasters, but none of these have any salary. There are also eight
other schools in the parish taught by private teachers, who depend
entirely on their own exertions. In the parish school there are taught
reading, writing, arithmetic, book-keeping, mensuration, Latin, and
Greek; but in all the other schools, reading, writing, and arithmetic
only are taught. The general rate of wages is 3s. per quarter for
reading, and higher for the other branches of education. There are about
800 scholars generally attending all the different schools. Besides
these week-day schools, there are three Sabbath schools,—so that there
are very few but may be able to read if they choose to attend to time
means of improvement within their roach.
Library, &c,—In Airdrie
there is a circulating library, and also a public reading-room, where
the newspapers of the day, and various tracts and pamphlets are
exhibited.
There is an Orphan
society, supported by donations, subscriptions, and collections at the
churches and meeting-houses occasionally, for clothing and educating
orphans and other destitute children.
Poor and Parochial
Funds.—The number of poor on the roll is about 190 on an average, and
the sum distributed monthly is between L. 50 and L. 60 Sterling, in sums
to each individual of from 2s. to 10s. according to the circumstances.
The money is raised by collections at the parish church and chapel of
Airdrie, from mortcloth dues, proclamation of marriages, and assessments
to make up the deficiency. The assessments may amount on an average to
L.467. The Dissenters give no part of the collections at their
meeting-houses to the poors funds of the parish, although their poor are
supplied from these funds equally with others. Among the agricultural
part of the population, there is a great aversion to come on the poors
funds; they consider it degrading; but that spirit is almost extinct
among the manufacturing and mining population.
Prison.—In Airdrie there
is a prison consisting of five cells or small apartments, which are dry,
and in good order, and well secured; and in which riotous and disorderly
people are confined, as a punishment for their criminal conduct.
Fairs.—There are two
fairs yearly in Airdrie for the sale of cattle; one of them is held in
the end of May, the other about the middle of November; there is also a
weekly market every Tuesday. The number of inns and alehouses is by far
too great.
MISCELLANEOUS
OBSERVATIONS.
Since the time of the
former Statistical Account, the population and trade of the parish have
greatly increased, and much of the land is better cultivated. Besides
the toll-road and rail-road formerly mentioned, the statute labour roads
of the parish have been greatly extended and improved. The quantity of
dung now raised in Airdrie is considerable,—which, with the Cumbernauld
lime, and improved roads, affords the means of improving the land.
Still, however, in the east and north-east parts of the parish, there is
a great want of planting, and much of the land is very bare and naked,
and far from being fertile. If summer fallowing were practised, it would
also be a great improvement; but it is difficult to persuade farmers to
deviate from the practice of their fathers.
The frequent associations
and combinations which prevail here, and are connected with similar
combinations in different parts of the country, to raise the price of
labour, are very hurtful. They interrupt trade, and attempt what is
impracticable, as the price of all labour must be regulated by the
demand. They keep trades' people in a constant state of agitation, and
make them spend much of their time and money in attending their frequent
meetings. These combinations prevail most among the colliers, and the
weavers. The great number of inns, alehouses, and spirit-shops that
abound in Airdrie, and other parts of the parish, affords great
temptations to idleness, and dissipation, which involve many families in
poverty and misery. Licenses on these houses should be greatly
increased, so as greatly to reduce their number.
July 1835. |
