271 April 2017 - Gryffe Advertizer

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30 the advertizer t: 01505 613340 07731 923970 e: info@advertizer.co.uk LOCAL history Black Cart Mills 8 The Candren Burn - Concluding the eight-part journey down the Black Cart Just before the Black Cart joins the Gryfe at Blackstoun, the last of its burns, the Candren, falls into the river. Along with the Espedair Burn, which falls into the White Cart opposite Paisley Abbey, the Candren Burn powered and provided process water for two dozen bleachfields south of Paisley, around half of which were on the Candren. The plethora of high quality textiles produced in and around Paisley from the 1740s created a demand for high quality bleaching and finishing. Textile manufactories or weaving shops in the town, such as the Paisley Stocking Factory ‘put out’ work to most of these bleachfields. The highest bleachfi eld on the Candren Burn was at Foxbar, followed by two at Causewayend, a mill and bleachfield at Lounsdale, then further bleachfi elds at Hillfoot, Bredisland, and two at Meiklerigs. Much of the burn is now culverted among Paisley suburbia, forgotten until heavy rain causes it to rise and fl ood property. The burn then passes under the Johnstone Canal, where the poet Tannahill drowned, then through the site of Ferguslie Cotton Mills, to Millarston Bleachfi eld. Finally, it crossed Paisley Moss. After the burn passes under what is now the Johnstone Bypass (A737), it enters the Black Cart below Candren itself, near Blackstoun. Candren Bleachfield, was one of the earliest in the county, established by 1752. By the 1780s each fi eld on the burn covered at least two acres, though Causewayend (East) and Lounsdale, both owned by John Craig, were already three times this size. As well as using the burn for process water, most of the bleachfi elds had water powered wash mills, and latterly added other power driven machinery. Several small reservoirs were built along the burn to store water. The largest survives as Durrockstock Pond. The workers cottages for the bleachfields were the core of the settlements which now form Paisley’s southern suburbs. In conclusion The Black Cart from its source to Clyde has powered at least 50 mills and water driven industries. Some of the traditional grain and waulk mills lasted for centuries, others only a few decades. Some remain to be rediscovered. Outlet from turbine at Johnstone Old Cotton Mill The days of water power are far from past. Some of the bigger mills, including Johnstone Old Cotton Mill, latterly installed turbines to generate electricity from their lades. Other old mill sites on the Black Cart and its burns are now attracting interest for the small-scale generation of electricity. © 2017 Stuart Nisbet, Renfrewshire Local History Forum RLHF next archaeology lecture will be held in the Shawl Gallery in Paisley Museum on 13th April, when John Reid will speak on The Roman Assault of Brunswark Hill – a battle rehabilitated Visitors are welcome at all our lecture meetings. Bridge of Weir & The Great War 100 years ago this month – April 1917 Gunner James McGibbon, Royal Field Artillery Sapper David Tod, Royal Engineers Lance Corporal John Holmes, 10th Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders Private Hepner Giffen, 16th Royal Scots Before April 1917 there had been a two-month pause in the telegrams that would ‘deeply regret to inform’ next of kin in Bridge of Weir that another family member was dead or missing. The Battle of Arras was to change that dramatically. Arras was a British-Canadian diversionary attack ahead of a major French offensive under their confident new C-in-C, Robert Nivelle. On the first two days, the British and Canadian forces made significant advances, taking Vimy Ridge, three and a half miles of ground near Arras, and capturing 9,000 prisoners. Some tactics, like advancing under a creeping barrage, are now regarded as important developments that led to ultimate victory, but, in the familiar pattern of this war of attrition, the weather, German reinforcements and a lack of consensus amongst the British high command thwarted any immediate breakthrough. Worse still, the Germans were expecting the French attack at the River Aisne one week later, and had strengthened their defences. The French lost 40,000 men on the first day and the attack was abandoned three weeks later. Nivelle, who had promised to end the war in two days, was replaced by Pétain. So much for the puppet-masters. Two Bridge of Weir men were killed by German shells before the Battle of Arras began. Jim McGibbon, son of farm servant William McGibbon from Inveraray and Martha Aitken, had been in France since July 1915 with the Royal Field Artillery. His trench mortar battery had been bombarding enemy lines for three days when on 6th April he and two comrades were killed, possibly by returning shell-fire. David Tod was the son of James Tod and Joan Robertson, both originally from Fife, and, like Jim McGibbon, David was a currier in the leather works. He volunteered in August 1914 and became a sapper in a signals company. It was his job to maintain the front line telephone system and on 6th April he and two others were at Roclincourt near Arras repairing telephones in a dug out when it received a direct hit from an enemy shell. None survived. John Holmes was the son of Alexander Holmes, a journeyman mason from Lochwinnoch, and Margaret Laird. He volunteered soon after his nineteenth birthday, and fought in the later actions of the Somme Offensive, gaining promotion to Lance Corporal. The 10th Argylls were in action on the first day of the Battle of Arras, 9th April, and took their objectives at the cost of 9 killed, 64 wounded, relatively light casualties in the war that consumed men. But John was one of the wounded and died two days later. His handsome features are on the front cover of “Supreme Sacrifi ce”. Gottfried Hepner Giffen has a curious and compelling story. His father, Gottfried Hepner was a German-born musician who married Alma Jacob in Ilfracombe, then moved to Glasgow. Alma died young in 1893. Gottfried was consumed with grief and also died within months. The children were taken into Quarrier’s Homes, young Gottfried still in his fi rst year. His older siblings were sent to Canada but Gottfried was fostered by Humphrey Giffen, a gardener at the Homes, and his wife Christina Newbigging and was raised as Hepner Giffen. He became a joiner and married Nellie McDougall, an older sister of Bertie, the professional golfer killed on the last day of the Somme. Hepner first fought with the Scottish Rifl es from June 1916 but in July was transferred to 16th Royal Scots (McCrae’s Battalion) which had been raised in Edinburgh, many volunteers coming from professional football clubs. On 28th April, the battalion attacked the Chemical Works and Mount Pleasant Wood at Roeux to the east of Arras, but a German counter-attack prevailed and many, like Hepner, the adopted Scot who may not have known of his German roots, were killed or captured. A survivor later described the assault on Roeux as like poking a wasps’ nest with a pointed stick. ‘We should have left it well alone’. Read more about the four men’s lives and untimely deaths at http://www. bridgeofweirmemorial.co.uk and in the book “Supreme Sacrifi ce: A Small Village and the Great War available from www.birlinn.co.uk or Abbey Books, 2 Well Street, Paisley, and other major bookshops or online. Gordon Masterton
@GryffeAds www.advertizer.co.uk april 2017 Kilbarchan April 1917 The Spring Offensive on 9th April 1917 is largely remembered for the Canadian capture of Vimy Ridge, near Arras. Many British divisions supported them, on their right, including the 51st (Highland), 9th (Scottish) and 15th (Scottish). Along with Scottish battalions in other divisions 36% of the attackers were Scottish, which partly explains Scotland’s higher than average war time losses. Private John Cuthbertson Houston had joined in November 1916 and was posted to 16th Royal Scots (McCrae’s Battalion), 34th Division. He died on 9th April at the age of 23. For nine years before he was called up he had worked for the Glasgow and South West Railway Company, latterly at Lochwinnoch Station. He had been actively involved as a Sunday School teacher in the United Free Church in Kilbarchan. He lived with his family in Church Street. He is buried at Roclincourt Valley Cemetery. 2nd Lt. John Hill Macintosh was killed in the next phase of the Arras Offensive on 14th April 1917. Before the war he had been a stockbroker’s clerk with Wilson and Lambie of St. Vincent’s Place, Glasgow. He joined the 6th Highland Light Infantry, 52nd (Lowland) Division. He served in the Gallipoli campaign, was selected for training as an officer, sent to Officer Cadet School in the UK then posted to 17th HLI, which had originally been recruited from men who worked in commerce in Glasgow. A brother officer wrote, ‘He fell at the head of his men, leading them to victory.’ He was 28 and is named on the Thiepval Memorial. His family home was in Church Street. After some initial success on 9th - 12th April the battle became an ugly slog, focussed on the village of Roeux. Private William A Graham originally was born in Maryhill in 1897 and in the 1911 census lived at 12 Parkview as a boarder, and was at school. He initially served in the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders but was transferred to the 6th Gordon Highlanders, 51st (Highland) Division. The division was much embroiled at Roeux. William died of wounds on the 23rd of April 1917 and is buried in Fampoux British Cemetery. He was 20 years old. Private Alexander H Craig had worked as a colour mixer at Cartside Mill before he joined in May 1916. He served with the 7th Black Watch, 51st (Highland) Division. He lived with his wife and two children at 47 New Street. He was killed at the age of 25 in the fi ghting around Roeux and is buried in Brown’s Copse Cemetery Arras Town Hall at Roeux. Johnstone History Society The April meeting of the History Society is on April 11th at 7.30pm in the Masonic Hall Collier Street. In April our speaker will be Dr Ralph McLean who is the curator of 18th century manuscripts at The National Library of Scotland. He will be speaking on Burns and the Scottish Enlightenment this should be a very interesting talk. New members and visitors will all be made most welcome. On the 14th March we had our AGM which although poorly attended was a very successful night. The AGM was followed by a very challenging picture quiz compiled by Valerie Reilly. The museum is open Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 10.30am till 4pm. We have a variety of books and publications available to buy and these can also be purchased online at johnstnehistory.org payment can be made via PayPal. We have a few calendars left now selling at £2. Inchinnan Historical Interest ‘597AD St Conval to All Hallows - 1420 Years and Counting’ Inchinnan Historical Interest Group (IHIG) has received £60,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) for an exciting project, ‘597AD St Conval to All Hallows - 1420 Years and Counting, in Inchinnan’. Led by volunteers from the local community, the project focuses on an archaeological survey of All Hallows site, where there has been a church since medieval times and the surrounding area. This project will delve into and disseminate the rich heritage of Inchinnan by examining the historical and archaeological background of the multi-period site of All Hallows. 1,400 years of occupation, with a programme combining community volunteers and school engagements will enable young people and volunteers to discover and learn about local heritage through archaeology and research. They will achieve this by researching the history of All Hallows and being involved in geophysics and archaeological surveys to recreate medieval life in Inchinnan. IHIG is a local history society which works with individuals and other groups to record and research the history of Inchinnan. Working with young people will help them to learn about their heritage through developing research and recording skills, and will forge a lasting interest in local History. Through the involvement of a range of heritage professionals from archaeologists to model makers, participants will gain a deeper insight into this previously under-researched part of their history, as well as teaching them valuable new communication skills to use as they develop their careers. 31 31
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271 April 2017 - Gryffe Advertizer

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