Crosshill, Lanarkshire

Historical Description

CROSSHILL, for a time a quoad sacra parish, in the parish of OLD MONKLAND, Middle ward of the county of LANARK, 4½ miles (E. by S.) from Glasgow; containing, with the villages of Baillieston, Barachnie, Broomhouse, Craigend, West Merrystone, and Swinton, 2591 inhabitants. This district is for the most part beautifully situated, the land rising considerably ahove the vale of the Clyde, and commanding, on the south, an interesting view of all the hills and heights from the western shore to the ridge of Tinto on the east, and on the north from Ben-Lomond all along the Campsie and Kilsyth hills. It is about eighteen square miles in extent, and the whole under cultivation, with the exception of a few acres of plantation. The soil is chiefly sandy, but towards the north of a stiff clayey nature, and the farms have been latterly very much improved by tile-draining: the average rent is now about £2. 5. per acre. The freestone and coal formations prevail, and there are seven coal-mines, of which six are at present in operation. The road between Glasgow and Edinburgh, and the Monkland canal, pass through the parish, the latter affording great facilities for the conveyance of coal to Glasgow, and of manure and other heavy articles to the farmers along its line. Among the chief mansions are Mount Vernon, Blairtummock, Easter house, Baillieston House, and Garrowhill, the last, the residence for some time of a former Duchess of Atholl. The principal village is Baillieston, which see. The district is within the bounds of the presbytery of Hamilton, synod of Glasgow and Ayr. Its church was erected in 1833, by subscriptions from the neighbouring heritors, aided by £50 from the university of Glasgow, and is a neat plain edifice with a belfry, containing 494 sittings, of which twenty-six are free. The stipend of the minister is £70, raised by seat-rents; patrons, the Subscribers and Pew-holders. The United Secession had a place of worship here for several years, but it has been converted into dwelling-houses. There is a branch parochial school, with an annual endowment of £7 from the heritors of Old Monkland, and a school-house rent free from the congregation of Crosshill; also another school, supported by subscription, the master of which has a free house, school-house, and garden. Besides these, are schools connected with some of the coal-works, and a female school at Broomhouse,