I went for a walk through the village of Neilston, in East Renfrewshire. I wandered around the village kirk, and down to the Cowden Hall area of the village. To Support the Channel: ko-fi.com/asco...
I lived in Neilston and grew up there. Miss it and can’t believe how much it’s changed. My sister was married in that church 40 years ago. Have tears in my eyes right now. I live in Utah USA now but Scotland will always be in my blood😢
I grew up in Neilston myself, and I can’t see changes in the village as well. They’ve built houses in at the old orphanage, and at Nether Kirkton as well.
Hi, I used to spend my summers in neilston at a house called brig o lea where my grandmother grew up with her nine sisters and five brothers. During this time cowden hall was converted into flats where one of my grans sisters lived with her husband and two sons before going to Canada. We visited them there and all I can remember was black and white tiles and having tea in a big bay window. I do not recognise any of neilston in your lovely walk as so many years have passed. Thank you for reigniting my old brains memories. Xx
Yeah, there have been a lot of changes in Neilston, even since the time I lived there. It is a shame that we lost Cowden Hall. From the photos I’ve seen, it looked stunning. I’m glad that you enjoyed the video. Your granny’s house was probably up towards where the football stadium is now.
Hey hun great to see you again sorry it took so long. I have been moving house. But great to catch up with you again. Thanks so much for taking us along with you on this adventure trip. Stay safe and catch up again real soon. Remember Spread and share the love in these difficult times today.
Thank you. I'm glad that you enjoyed the video. It sounds like you've had an adventure of your own. A new house! I hope that it quickly becomes a new home. I'll do my best with spreading the love. I've certainly been spreading the love, when it comes to Scottish products.
@@AScottishOdyssey I used to live at 3 Murdoch Muir demolished now and then at 10 Barr ave .I moved to Western Canada in 1967 and have lived in the Okanagan valley since then,really enjoyed the videos Keep them coming.Ciao J
I stayed in the Bovis Estate, then Duncarnock Crescent and finally on Kingston Road. I think that the Bovis and Duncarnock may have been built after you left. The Bovis is on the western end of the village. Duncarnock is next to Robb's Garage.
Great video and it certainly takes me back down memory lane. I grew up in Neilston and we lived right next to Cownden Hall at Crofthead Cottages. We were never out of Cowden Hall and made quite a few hideouts around the old Bowling Green. Think the more recent Cowden Hall house may have been demolished in the late 50's or early 60's, quite a bit before my time. Neilston itself has grown a bit since we lived there although I'm glad to see the area around Cownden Hall and Crofthead hasn't changed much. The large house you passed on the right going into Cowden Hall used to be owned by a Mrs Gibson, we were for ever stealing apples out of her garden :)
The large white house? When I was growing up in the village, that was where Alan Stewart, the MP, lived. Yeah, I love the fact that the Cowden Hall area is still as it is. There's a story in my family, that some of my ancestors stayed in a big house. I think that they may have worked in Cowden Hall. There is so much history down there, as well as at the Kirk. Maybe someone should write an up to date history of Neilston.
@@AScottishOdyssey You're correct, Alan Stewart did live in the house, think he moved in around 1985 a year after we left Neilston. He led a campaign (Not in my back yard) when developers wanted to build in Cownden Hall. You're right about the history of the Neilston Kirk. The site the church sits on a much older place of worship dating back centuries. There is a book called The Neilston Storey by JJ Laws (distant Relative of Margert Ann Laws who I went to school with) which gives a good account of the history of the village. Also check out Bobbins & Threads website, quite a bit of info on the Crofthead Mill and some well kent faces.
I know that the original chapel was first mentioned in 1163, in the document set up what became the Paisley monastery. The original chapel was probably older than that. I'm sure that the shape of the kirkyard suggests at it being an old site of worship.
@@AScottishOdyssey I've no doubt the original chapel predates 1163. I had a look on the Kirk website and it mentions the date 1163. " Neilston (Old)was the original Parish Church dating from medieval times when it was supplied by monks, firstly from Glasgow, then after 1163 AD when monks travelled from Paisley Abbey over the Gleniffer and Fereneze Braes via the ‘Monks’ Trail’ to take services in the Church of Neilston" Reading this it backs up what you said about the original chapel being older than 1163. Quite a bit of history right enough.
The Neilston Kirk was awarded Lottery Funds some years ago for renovations. Whilst they were carried out they found some old graves; they may have been under the floor area or very close to the outside walls. Skeletal remains were thought to be Catholic priests from when it was a Catholic Church. The old Cotton Mill on Lochlibo Road is I believe up for sale. At present it is a Recycle Business they also rent out office space & at one time they stored documents for companies on the upper floors. I know someone that works there from time to time. When working at night it is a creepy place to be if on your own…
I think that I knew some of the archaeologists who worked at the Neilston Kirk during the restoration. I’ve been inside part of the old mill, when I was a kid. I can imagine it being a really creepy place at night. I would love to see something being done with the mill.
