THE HAMILTON WATERWORKS.

In modern day Hamilton we are so lucky to have water when we want it and also use as much as we want but in the old days water was not always on tap. Hamilton has old water wells dug deep where a shaft would be ‘sunk’ down to the natural water supply, and this was how the old Hamiltonian’s who were not living close to one of the local burns got their water. In fact, there are lots of wells in Hamilton that our streets take their names from such as ‘Portwell’, ‘Wellbrae Road’ & ‘Blackswell Lane’. Further to this one famous well of its time was called ‘The Lady’s Well’, a contradiction of ‘Our Lady’s Well. This well was a slow running one and it yielded only one gallon of water in five minutes, however, the Lady’s Well was a favorite of many of the townsfolk as it was recorded to have some of the best ‘Tea Making Water’ in the town! And, not to mention that its slow flowing water provided wonderful opportunities for ‘Gossip’ at the wellhead. Sadly, the location of the Lady’s Well is unknown to me, but I would like to find it one day. One important thing to note is that to preserve the Scottish Sabbath, the town’s public wells were closed from the Saturday night till Monday morning, so if you missed your pail of water, you had to make do with the local burn water.

The water supply in Hamilton, as one might expect, was far from satisfactory, and the difficulties became more acute as the population grew. Boring wells was carried out in many streets at a great expense, and it was only after a major outbreak of cholera that the town council was persuaded to install a municipal water supply.

Let me take you back to 1704, when the population of Hamilton was less than 3,000 inhabitants, this of course being before they found out how our rich coal seams beneath the town were in abundance! The health of Hamilton was in a very bad state, and it was recorded in the town’s death registers that “Number of ye dead are 109 of which number there are children dead of Small-Pox 43”.

Eighteenth century Hamilton only consisted of a few streets in the vicinity of Hamilton Palace. The town as it grew had houses built on the higher ground up to Quarry Road, the New Kirk Road (Now Church Street) and out as far as the hamlet of Townhead (Now Townhead Street) Even in these new districts & streets of Hamilton, each house had its own “Midden” in front of it which would have attracted rats and other vermin. There was dampness and decay everywhere and the stench of decomposition lingered around the streets.

The very early and very few water wells installed in Hamilton were used for public property and according to the old burgh accounts of Hamilton, I found that the old records tell us that the town council sunk three public wells in the year 1733, the cost being met by voluntarily subscriptions. Many of the other public wells in future years were sunk at the public’s expense.

Records in the year 1787 when the population had risen to just under 5,000 ¬- 75 children were swept away by small-pox. It was not only diseases that required the town to have fresh water but In times of drought many wells dried up and could not keep up with the demand. The need for water was so bad that when in terrible times an unfortunate fire would break out it was hard to distinguish the old vennels in the town. The famous fire at Barrie’s Close which smoldered for eight days wiping out a whole large section of the old Hamilton Town brought much dismay and alarm of the Burgesses and council.

Hamilton had 5 practitioners at that time, and it was only later in 1841 when a report was run on the poor of the town that the appointment of a salaried medical officer was to be put in place. It was only then that a new awareness was brought for the need for better housing and municipal services.

There were also wells at the Tolbooth (Hamilton’s Jail House), the Castle Wynd, Quarry Loan Foot and there was also an undocumented well found in recent years at the Hamilton Museum. We hear even before these of Black’s Well. We also see the name recorded as ‘Portwell’ where even in 1941 there used to be a plaque visible on the gable end of an old house at the foot of Shieling Hill.

Some of Hamilton’s wells possessed special properties and were believed to have had powers of curing disease. As mentioned earlier, The Lady Well, once a place of pilgrimage at the old church and situated near the old Tolbooth, was said in latter days to be especially good for “masking” tea, and when the duke included the Tolbooth in the Palace grounds, public opinion was so strong that he had to lead a pipe from the well to the street.

The only well that never dried up was the Spout at the Avon Mill, and many an honest penny was earned carrying water to the town in times of scarcity. As mentioned, the wells were closed on Sundays, all water for the weekend having to be drawn on a Saturday night. One of the prominent ministers of the town was summoned to appear before the presbytery because he had allowed his servant-maid to draw water from his own private well on the sabbath.

As I move on from telling you about the earlier water supply in Hamilton, years later in the early eighteen hundreds, a man named Mr Robert McGavin of Tuphall House was instrumental in procuring the erection of certain public wells, which at the time proved a great boon to the inhabitants of the district.

He received a valuable service of plate from his constituents on retirement in token of his services. The inscriptions thereon bearing testimony to his corresponding philanthropic exertions. In fact, these influential Hamiltonian’s back in the day made sure that we wouldn’t think twice about going to a burn to get a drink of water but that’s where our ancestors all drank from.

By 1850, the population of Hamilton had grown to well over 10,000 inhabitants and it was then that a water supply came in for attention and parliamentary approval.

Putting the plan into action.

In the mid eighteen hundreds, Hamilton had no fresh water supply in fact, it was one of the worst areas of Scotland with a town of its size to have no water mains. Albeit, the town had a main burn running straight through it, so we were in a good position to have a fresh water supply, we just had to work out a way in how it could be brought to each part of the town. It was then that the town worthies started to think about taking the water not from the wells, but from Hamilton’s higher grounds.

The idea of Hamilton having its own burgh water supply was brought to the table during a town council meeting and a group of influential people in the town got together and in September 1852 they discussed if the town council should finance this massive project, or should a joint stock company be formed and it was then decided that it would be the latter. The Hamilton Water Company was established, and the provisional committee of men who stepped up to the plate were:

• John Meek Esq. of Fortisset – Provost of Hamilton.

• Baillie William Paterson – Builder.

• Baillie James Hamilton – Lace Manufacturer.

• Robert Brown. Esq of Dumbrixhill.

• William Leighton. Esq Hamilton Palace.

• William Aikman, Esq, Writer & Banker.

• P.W. Dixon, Esq Tuphall.

• William Rankin, Esq, Merchant.

Also, with power to add to their number were the following:

• Interim Treasurer – Thomas Anderson, Esq, Banker in Hamilton.

• Engineer – William Gayle, Esq, Buchanan Street, Glasgow.

• Interim Secretaries – Messrs. Henderson & Robertson, writers at County buildings in Hamilton.

In 1852 The town of Hamilton contained a population of over 10,000 souls, and it was rapidly increasing. There was no town in Scotland of the same extent so deficiently supplied with water, none being available either for sanitary purposes or for extinguishing fires, and but a very scantly supply for domestic uses, and that was procurable only at much trouble and expense to the inhabitants of that era.

Although Hamilton was nearly destitute of water, the town as it is today, was so fortunate to command and excellent and abundant supply of water by Gravitation. Today there are several sources of water on our high grounds towards the south-west. In the year 1852, they were all examined by the engineer on the water committee, William Gayle, and in the opinion of Mr. Gayle, the abundant supply of good water, suitable for all domestic purposes, could be obtained from the dear reservoir, via Earnock Burn and at a point near the old farm of Wellbrae, which was little more than mile from the town in a direct line.

For this plan to come in to action, a network of reservoirs would be installed high up above Hamilton, the water from these sources was to be brought into the Town along public roads without interfering with private property, excepting where it is proposed to form a reservoir and filters on the estate of Earnock.

From calculations made by Mr. Gayle, the probable cost of bringing the water in to the Burgh, from Wellbrae, including filters will not exceed the sum of £4660 and for Contingencies it was expected an additional £933.00 would be needed, bringing the cost of Hamilton’s new water supply to £5593. Did they keep to the budget?

THE DUKE & THE WATER SUPPLY.

The water supply coming through the town of Hamilton was the talk of the day amongst everyone, including the Duke of Hamilton. His Grace, the Duke of Hamilton, the magistrates and other influential parties in the town and neighborhood were all most anxious to promote the prosperity of the burgh, and the comfort and health of its inhabitants, by supplying them with an abundance of water which was the absolute necessity of which was admitted by all, and this would only be accomplished by means of a public company.

It was proposed that a joint stock company was to be formed for the purpose of building Hamilton’s water supply and the Hamilton Water Works were established. The subscribed capital that the board were looking to gain a higher amount of what was first thought and a sum of £8000 (Approximately £641,488.80 in today’s money) and this was to be divided into 1600 shares of £5.00 each (Approximately £401.00 in today’s money) If you put this into perspective, £5.00 back in 1852 could buy a person 7 stones of Wool, 2 quarters of wheat and it would pay a skilled tradesman’s wages for 25 days! This indeed was going to be the most important thing to happen in Hamilton since the discovery of coal.

The Hamilton Water Works Company needed this project to work and even though the brains behind this ambitious project could foresee what the benefits would bring to Hamilton, they had really sold the Idea of a modern-day Hamilton with each area having a fresh water supply coming from the Cadzow Burn that they had made a very bold statement and they told its investors to expect a handsome return of no less than 5% per annum! Yes, this was a project so large, that if some of Hamilton’s most notable worthies were buying into this and even his Grace the Duke of Hamilton, then why would the hard-working tradesman not want to tap into their life savings and get a share in this modern company! Let’s pray that this was going to be a success; everyone was counting on it.

For all the inhabitants of Hamilton, generally an abundant supply of water was going to be an Incalculable advantage and to none so more than the working classes. This was assuming that the water rates did not exceed 6d in the point of rental.

So, on Friday the 17th of September 1852 an advert was placed in the in all the major newspapers, including the Hamilton Advertiser & the Glasgow Herald reaching out to the people of Hamilton and the wider Lanarkshire offering shares of £5.00 each. This was a very smart move because back then the newspapers were a very trusted source of news & advertisements.

By November 1852, the momentum for the installation of the water works was building up and the company had now been to the courts to acquire lands, rivers, streams, springs & burns in the surrounding area of the town.

Notice was given to all “that the water works had applied to parliament in the session holden to the year 1853 for a bill for an act for the better supplying with clean water, the parliamentary burgh or town of Hamilton and suburbs thereof and places adjacent in the county of Lanark and for that purpose, with powers to take and acquire by compulsory purchase, or otherwise, lands and other Heritages and certain Rivers, Brooks, Streams and springs of water, and also to construct, lay down, and maintain, such Reservoirs, cuts, aqueducts and other works, with proper roads of approach, and other conveniences in connection therewith, as may be proper and necessary; AND in particular to construct and maintain the following works – that is to say, a Reservoir, or Reservoirs, with embankments and all proper works connected therewith on the Burn, Brook, or Stream called Earnock Burn, partly on the lands called Well-Brae, and partly on the lands called Laigh-Muirhouses, both in the parish of Hamilton; commencing at or near the farm steading of the said lands of Well-Brae, at a point marked ‘A’ on the plan hereinafter mentioned and terminating at points marked ‘B’ on the said plans also a filtering basin and a distributing basin on the said lands of Well-Brae and Leigh-Muirhouses in connection with and at, or near to the said Reservoir or Reservoirs; also a cut or conduit, commencing at, or near to a place called Kennedy’s House and terminating at or in the said Reservoir or reservoirs and also a main pipe or track commending to the said distribution basis, and terminating in the Town of Hamilton at, or near the south-west end of Almada Street; and also with powers to take and acquire Burn, Brook, or Stream called Kennedy’s Burn”.

The works required to bring fresh water from high up on the hills above Meikle Earnock and down to the town of Hamilton was indeed going to be a massive disruption BUT, nonetheless, the health of our ancestors was going to significantly improve by the town getting dragged into the modern world of having a fresh water supply.

The first reservoir to be installed was sunk in 1854 on the lands of Wellbrae Farm and even today, this dried up reservoir is still here on the same spot, hidden from view, you pass it as you drive down Muttonhole Road. The water was piped all the way from the dear reservoir some 52 miles from Hamilton. It held 54.5 m.g. of water.

Horrible Death at Leechlee Street.

At the time of the Water Works planning a terrible accident happened at Leechlee Street. On Wednesday the 2nd of January 1856 a well-known street character and Spaewife (Fortune Teller, or witch) known as Lizzie Steel who was known to be of intemperate habits died under shocking circumstances.

Poor Lizzy had been in her Leechlee street backyard where she drowned or was suffocated in the building cesspool. The state of the back premises in this street and other Hamilton streets that were inhabited by the poorer inhabitants of the town and loudly called for the attention of the board of health.

The middens and cesspools that lay in many of the poorer classes back yards were offensive and were giving very dangerous health issues to the townsfolk. They were dangerous to health and very hazardous to children and others going about in the dark.

One of these midden-steads was a tank said to be four feet deep and fully six feet square and was said to be quite easy to drown a person stumbling into it, and there was no fence to prevent such an accident.

Who was to blame for permitting the existence of such horrible man-traps and fever-breeders? The death of Lizzie Steel in such terrible circumstances would have no doubt assisted the Hamilton Water Works get some traction and from that day on, it was full steam ahead.

Falling behind on the completion date & Hamilton’s first ever piped water is used at Peacock Cross.

The company were trying their hardest to keep to their deadline for completing the works throughout Hamilton and by the 17th of May 1856 they had to admit to the townsfolk and their shareholders, that they had fallen behind schedule.

Owning to the failure of the contractor to observe the terms of his contract, to have the works completed by 15th of May, it was still to be several months before the works were to be finished.

The pipes throughout the town by then had been laid and by Thursday the 15th of May the water was let on. A hose was attached to the fire-plug at Peacock Cross, and the very first supply of pipe water to be brought through Hamilton was inaugurated by the Provost, in presence of the water commissioners, taking the nozzle of the hose in his hand, and playing the water over the tops of the adjacent houses.

FATAL ACCIDENT AT THE RESERVIOUR.

On Monday the 22nd of July 1860 an unfortunate accident happened at the Wellbrae waterworks. James Mitchel Jr, who was the son of Mr. Mitchell, the Waterworks superintendent was drowned while at his work. The sad accident happened around 10:00am where James, who was employed at the waterworks, had been repairing and painting the wooden gangway which led from the side and in towards the center of the reservoir.

James had been seated on a makeshift wooden raft made of planks of wood and it was thought that the planks had sailed from under his feet. Being unable to swim, James fell into the reservoir which was 10 feet in depth and about 7 feet from the embankment.

A workman who was near the embankment heard a cry and on approaching, he seen the head of James slipping beneath the water.

Being unable to swim himself, the workman could not do anything to assist and tried to fetch help. A boat was fetched from Bothwell Bridge and there was a search carried out, where they found James’s body near the side of the embankment at 2:00pm.

James was unmarried and it was said that he was a very well-behaved young man, and he was a member of the Hamilton No. 2 Rifle Company. James was buried at the Wellhall Road Cemetery and at his funeral were all the staff at the Waterworks along with members of his platoon. There were more sad times for this family, as James Mitchell Sr, died only a few years later. James Mitchell Sr. had been living at 5 St. Johns Lane when he passed away.

THE FIRST WATER RATES INTRODUCED IN HAMILTON.

By June 1862 it was time for the company to start recuperating its money and we see the very first water rates being introduced to Hamilton and how would the Hamiltonian of that century view these charges? I have the feeling that Hamilton’s outspoken folk, just as they are today on the Hamilton News Stand community Facebook group would be talking in the streets about the ridiculous high charges and why would they want to pay for their water, when they could simply just walk to a standpipe, or a mile or two to the nearest burn and get their pails of water for free! It would also probably be fair to say that not all of Hamilton’s people could afford this luxury of water piped directly to them.

William Alston Dykes, the commissioner of the Hamilton waterworks put out a statement in the Hamilton Advertiser, the Hamilton Herald, and other new outlets that the company had started the 45th clause of the Hamilton Water Works where charges would be applied to its direct customers, and they were proposing to apply the following charges to its ratepayers:

Domestic Purposes:

• Shops, Offices & Workshops 3d per £1.**

• Hotels, Spirit Shops and Public Houses 6d per £1.

• Water Closets within Inns, Hotels and other public establishments each 7s 6d. **

• Baths in Hotels 7s 6d.

The money due was to be made payable 1 year in advance, except where money was taken by meter in which case the money was to be taken half-yearly.

** 3d (three pence), with reference to the above, this became thruppence, commonly referred to as a “threepenny bit”. 6d (six pence) known as a “tanner” or half a shilling. 2/– (two shillings, or one florin, colloquially “two-bob bit”)

What was old money worth today?

The pound was the same pound we use today. We still have a penny, but the old one was larger in size and worth a lot less. The shilling is no longer UK currency. It had a value of 12 old pennies, or 12 pence.

…

How much did things cost in old money?

English butter per lb 3/-

Nescafé 2oz 2/3

Omo washing powder per lb – 1/11

** 7s 6d was roughly £22.17p in today’s money.

INSPECTION OF THE WATER WORKS 25th APRIL 1864.

Eight years after its construction the waterworks was undergoing a routine inspection and below is a transcription taken from the inspector.

“We recently spoke of the very satisfactory state of these works and are now enabled to give the result of Mr. Gale’s inspection, as detailed in his report, which was submitted to the commissioners at their meeting Tuesday last. The success of the undertaking has, from the first, been so unvaried that few the townspeople would consider a formal inspection of the works necessary, still it most gratifying to know how well they have stood the scrutiny of a gentleman of Mr. Gale s standing and experience”.

The Commissioners the Hamilton Water Works replied:

“Gentlemen, I had the pleasure of accompanying Provost Dykes, and other Water Commissioners, over the works. The whole are in a stale of complete efficiency and are in good repair. The embankment of the reservoir always was, and continues to be, perfectly watertight.

It has preserved the shape and outline given it when completed, about eight years ago, almost unchanged. The slight excess of height with which it was constructed, to allow for future subsidence, in part still remains and the embankment will now probably never settle down to a perfectly level line top. It was constructed with great care, and pains were taken to consolidate the material, foot by foot, the embankment was raised”.

“The puddle trench was sunk to considerable depth below the original surface, and the result has shown that a perfectly water-tight foundation has been reached. The spring met with in the bottom the trench, and which was conducted to the tail of the outer slope by a six-inch cast-iron pipe, continues to discharge much the same quantity of water it did before water was put the reservoir.

The thickness in the puddle wall is in excess of what usually allowed for embankments of this height; and the whole material of which the embankment is composed is of clayey and water-tight nature.

This embankment has nothing in common with the embankment which lately failed near Sheffield. There, they had a deep valley with layers of open rock and shale forming the sides and bottom. The material forming the embankment is full of stone and quite open, and was put in layers about five feet high, and left consolidate itself.

The puddle wall was not thick as the Hamilton embankment, although the height is three times greater, and no valves were put the inside end of the pipes has been done at Hamilton. I have every confidence in the security of the embankment and in the efficiency of the whole work; and my confidence has increased from the fact that it is not now an untried piece of work, but one that has been subject many times within the last eight years to the most severe tests that can be brought upon it, both from the reservoir being quite full and from the occurrence of heavy floods.

The only thing I can find to remark upon is the perishing of some of the stone pitching the embankment near the top water level, and in the flood water channel. This will require some repairs during the summer. l am. Gentlemen, your obedient servant, Signed “James M. Gale.”

By July 1865 some of the townsfolk were not looking after their water supply and the waterworks were forced to put out a notice in the Hamilton Advertiser. Some of the townsfolk had overflowing cisterns and broken waterpipes which was leading to water being wasted. So, to try and stop the wastage, the company was going to impose fines which could be as much as £5, or the household could have their supply cut off.

The waterworks like today were trying to educate its customers that the supply pipes and cisterns were to be maintained by the individual and not by the water company.

This issue was getting worse and by May 1869 the company were given powers to visit every house in Hamilton who had a water supply. The inspectors would check every pipe and cistern and if a household was found to have been wasting water, or had any broken apparatus, then fines would be put upon the tenant of the property.

The waterworks were approaching fourteen years of service and it was time to upgrade some of its apparatus. The reservoir at Earnockmuir had two massive filters that prevented mud and other debris getting into the supply pipes. The first water filter was completed on the 25th of November 1870 and for a period of time, the water had to be drained and turned off to allow the work to be carried out.

Mr. Anderson, a banker, was in presence with two other of the water commissioners, Mr. Meek, and Mr. Forrest, also present was councilor Keith. The two new filters were larger than a modern-day house and stood 50ft by 36ft and as you can imagine, the installation of the filters would have been a very large job to undertake.

When they were installed, they gave an area of nearly three times the extent of the old ones, which had been in use since it was opened, the purity and good quality of the water was to be proportionally increased.

Owing to the extraordinary pluvial nature of the soil caused by the carrying out of the operations, the beneficial effects was not to be realised for a few weeks, when the work was to be finally completed.

The old filter was intended to filter only 12,000 gallons of water per day, while the consumption of the town by 1870 was an average of over 225,000 gallons. It was then to be seen why the improvements were urgently called for and it was then that a second reservoir was to be planned.

The replacing of the old fire-clay conduits by 8-inch cast iron pipes between the reservoir and the clean water tank was to also add materially to the excellence of the water.

It was also added that the commissioners had obtained sufficient grounds to enable them, if necessary, to construct a third filter and an additional tank. The large hole in the ground which was left after the new installation was to be enclosed by a substantial fence and the cost of the improvements cost the company around £1500 (£189,978.95 in today’s money). The contract was given to Mr. J. Purdie of Hamilton and R Tennant of Strathaven. (Purdie Street in Burnbank is named after this builder)

Only five years later in 1875 the towns folk were consuming much more water and it was in this year that the first Cadzow Reservoir was installed, and substantial work was once more needed to maintain the grounds at the reservoir, this being installed close to Earnockmuir Farm.

The clerk to the commissioner was another member of the powerful Dyke’s family and Edward P. Dykes on the 6th of November 1875 put a notice in the Hamilton Advertiser inviting companies to put in a tender for the construction for the two new reservoir embankments and a fire clay and iron pipe conduit and it was importantly listed that the lowest price would not necessarily be accepted.

A GREEDY LANDOWNER GOES TO COURT.

On Thursday the 2nd of June 1887 Hamilton’s Baronet and coal master Sir John Watson or Earnock was taken to court by the Hamilton Water Works. The majority of the Committee recommended acceptance of the terms offered by the Duke of Hamilton and Mr. Watson or Earnock for the ground for a new reservoir and that the construction be proceeded with the estimated cost being £4150.

Mr. Wylie, convener of the committee explained that while the duke agreed to lease the ground at £4 an acre, reserving the mineral rights, Mr. Watson asked the same sum also reserving the minerals together with £200, or £8 a year for damage done to a quarry and plantation, one million gallons of water per annum, or a daily supply of 2750 gallons for compensation water, and liberty to fish on the stream.

A long discussion followed in which the unreasonable character or Mr. Watson’s demands were strongly anjmadverted on, and it was finally agreed to delay the matter and, in the meantime, to send a deputation to Mr. Watson to endeavor to get better terms arranged for. Yes, in my opinion Mr. Watson was a greedy man, but this was how he became so rich and powerful during the family’s reign in Hamilton.

WATER SUPPLY AS WE KNOW IT TODAY.

In 1888 notice was given to the inhabitants of Hamilton telling its people that a ‘Bill’ had been passed in parliament and that there was going to be major upheaval and disturbance which would be affecting everyone from the town, the outskirts and even up through the countryside.

Water was now going to be an integral part of every area, street, household and building throughout the burgh and when the ‘Bill’ passed in parliament it would allow the waterworks to dig through the farmers’ fields, the streets and pipes, standpipes and pumps would be getting installed.

The water was to be taken from the Kype Stream that flowed from the far back lands of Avondale in the parish of Lesmahagow and with the mass of water required for the town of Hamilton. The second basin was to be built south of the lands of Hamilton and they were both now given names and were known as Cadzow Reservoirs 1 and 2.

The main one was number 1 which was called ‘Hispielaw’ (This was the one at Earnockmuir) and number 2 which was in front of it, close to Muttonhole Road this was called ‘Burnhead’. These reservoirs would work alongside Wellbrae. The second reservoir named Burnhead was to be a storage reservoir and it was to run in line with the Cadzow Burn.

THE WATERWORKS GO TO COURT SEPTEMBER 1899.

It wasn’t too long after the latest groundwork had started that the work being carried out throughout the lands of Hamilton had started to annoy certain folk! There was a very wealthy landowner who went by the name of Mr. Hope Vere.

Mr. Vere was in his day a very rich man and he could afford to take on the mighty water works company, so on Monday the 11th of September 1899 a special meeting was held at the Hamilton town council chambers for the purpose of considering a report from the water committee for a settlement of Mr. Vere’s claim in connection with the new works at the Kype. Yes, indeed, the water works committee, brought out their ‘Big Guns’ and Provost Keith presided and the other members in attendance were none other than Bailies MacHale, Pollock and Smellie, treasure Keith, and councilors Kemp, North, Tainsh, Meechan, Purdie and Rose with Messrs. W. Pollock and P.M. Kilpatrick the town clerk.

As I stated beforehand, you will of course know that Hamilton has some of its streets named after most of these men.

Provost Keith asked the town clerk to read the communications which had been received from Mr. Hope Vere’s agents setting forth the conditions under which they were prepared to accept any offer of compensation made by the commissioners.

The communication was as follows:

110 George Street, Edinburgh, 7th September 1899 – Dear Sir, We refer to your letter dated the 26th July, the offer in which has now been carefully considered by Mr. Hope Vere and his advisers, Mr. Hope Vere will be glad if terms can be arranged, but he is not willing to agree to accept the sum named in your letter, nor is he willing to agree to all the alterations in the conditions named to him. With a view, however, still to an amicable settlement, we are authorised to write to you again as follows:

1. The price and compensation to be paid by the Hamilton Water Works Commissioners to be £3500, this sum including payments for land taken for the reservoir, for wayleave for the road of access, and for the track, in which one pipeline only shall be laid as shown on the notice plan, dated 29th July 1898, for severance and damage to shootings during the construction of the reservoir. Interest at five percent shall run on the paid sum from the date of the commissioners breaking ground.

2. The Hamilton Water Works Commissioners to settle Mr. Hope Vere’s tenants claims for compensation, for loss of tenants’ profit, or of any other kind, and for disturbance during the construction of the works except only a proportionate abatement of rent for the land taken. As shown on the notice plan which Mr. Hope Vere will allow. The commissioners shall also be able and pay for the repair of any fences and dykes injured or broken down by workmen employed by the contractors.

3. The commissioners shall further settle all tenants’ claims, arising from time to time, through the inspection, maintenance, and repair of the works.

4. The Hamilton Water Works Commissioners shall fence in the reservoir and if required by Mr. Hope Vere, but only in the event that the access road, or as much thereof as he may require, and shall maintain the fences in all time, and they shall all necessary gates on the road of access. They shall also be bound to keep the access roads in proper repair to the reasonable satisfaction of Mr. Hope Vere, and he and his tenants shall always be entitled to use it for all ordinary agricultural and sporting purposes. The commissioners shall reinstate all pipes, drains, walls, and fences interfered with by them.

5. Mr. Hope Vere or his successors shall be entitled to connect pipes to the commissioners’ main to take a supply of water to his farms of Juanhill, Deadwaters and Yardbent, or any of them, and without any charge or assessment being made by the commissioners for their right, or for the water he or his tenants may use, the connections with the main pipe being made by the commissioners at their expense, the ferrules, stopcocks, and pipes from such connecting points to the farms being provided and laid at the expanse Mr. Hope Vere and his successors.

6. The commissioners shall settle all competent claims against them arising at the instance of lower proprietors or others for loss of water or otherwise.

7. The commissioners shall maintain the works in all time in good order. In the event of any damage occurring in consequence of the default of the commissioners in connection with their operations in constructing, inspecting, maintaining, or repairing the works, to Mr. Hope Vere’s lands or his tenants’ crops or stock by overflow of water or bursting of pipes, they shall be bound to compensate him or them, therefore. It shall be no bar to the said compensation that the damage has been caused, directly or indirectly by the lawful operations of Mr. Hope Vere or his successors, or his or their tenants in the ordinary and proper occupation of the lands or reserved minerals and others or in any other manner of way.

8. The line of access road of pipe shall be adhered to as closely as possible, and not altered without Mr. Hope Vere’s consent, nor shall more than one pipe be laid without payment or further wayleaves.

9. In the conveyance of the ground for the reservoir, the whole rights of shooting and fishing on the reservoir shall be received to Mr. Hope Vere and his successors, and he or they shall be entitled, if he or they so desire, to place a boat on the water for the use of himself, his family and visitors resident for the time being in his house, and others duly authorised in writing by him or foresaid, and to stock the reservoir with trout from time to time. Provided always that should the works of the commissioners be damaged by the use of the boat, Mr. Hope Vere shall be bound to make the necessary repairs at his own expense, and in case of his failure to do so timeously, the commissioners shall be entitled to make the repairs at his expense and to recover the same in any contempt court: provided, further, that the boat shall not be used nor the reservoir so stocked with trout as to foul the water in the reservoir in any way. The coal ironstone, shale stone and other minerals and fossils under the land to be acquired, except only such part thereof as shall be necessary to be dug or carried away or used in the construction of the works, provided he takes permission and removes them forthwith. The terms of the Water Works Clause Act, 1847, shall apply to such excepted minerals, stone, and others.

10. The commissioners shall, over and above the aforesaid sum of £3500, pay the whole expenses Mr. Hope Vere has incurred in the matter, including the fees of his advising engineer, and of his law agents. His property being entailed, a formal nomination of valuators under the lands clauses act will be necessary, and the whole expense of this, and in connection with the conveyance to be granted, which will be in the statutory form, shall also be paid by the commissioners. If the final offer, for Mr. Hope Vere, which is open for fourteen days, be not accepted it is not to be founded on or referred to in any subsequent proceedings.

Yes, Mr. Hope Vere was indeed a real hard-nosed businessman of his day and was brave to ask for such a large amount in return. However, the waterworks commissioners truly were backed into a corner and Mr. Hope Vere had the ball in his court.

THE OUTCOME.

The committee eventually agreed to offer the sum of £3500 for settlement of the claim, and to grant a supply of water to the three farms named, on condition that the pipe leading such supply be no larger than one-half inch in diameter, and that the supply further did not exceed 1000 gallons per day to each farm. The commissioners reserved power to have meter regulating such supply.

Regarding the permission sought for to place a boat on the reservoir, it was agreed that the words” and others duly authorised in writing by him or his foresaid” be deleted, and that the permission extended only to Mr. Hope Vere, his family, visitors, and servant’s resident in his house. It was agreed to recommend Mr. Alexander Allan, valuator, for the formal references.

Provost Keith, in moving the adoption of this report, said that Mr. Hope Vere at first claimed £4000, while they offered £3200. The letter read at the outset of the meeting was in reply to that offer. The engineer, to whom the meeting had been referred, considered under all the circumstances. That the offer of Mr. Hope Vere to take £3500 in settlement of all the claim was a fair one and was to be preferred to the proposal of going to arbitration, where perhaps hundreds of pounds, in advance of the anticipated estimate might have to be expended.

The water committee, prior to this meeting, had given the mater due consideration, and had agreed to recommend the acceptance of the offer of £3500.

Baillie MacHale seconded the adoption of the report. Although this appeared to be a high price to pay for the amount which they required at the Kype, he thought, comparing it to the sums paid in similar circumstances by other bodies that the Hamilton Water Works commissioners were making a good bargain indeed.

An old right of way.

Now, it is a great pity we should lose such a nice country walk as this walk, to be shut out and compelled to walk on a dusty toll road on a summer’s day. Does any of our parish councilors know of this? If so, why is it allowed? I hope our councilors will see to this and have it re-opened unless there is a reason for having it closed. I fail to see any reason whatever. – I am yours, etc. Right of Way.

This old right of way is sadly out of memory for many of the people of Hamilton, however, I know exactly where it was! And I am pleased to say that this old byway still today is very much in existence, albeit it’s now used as a farmer’s track. Many of you would certainly have walked this old byway without knowing that it once was a public right of way and as we now have the freedom to roam act, you, and I unlike the person in 1899 can now walk up this steep old byway and enjoy some of Lanarkshire’s finest views.

The old byway can be found in two ways, one when you travel up Strathaven Road, or when you walk on the old railway line that leads from Meikle Earnock Road down to the Strathaven Road.

As shown on my 1888 – 1913 map of Hamilton, you will see where I have outlined the old right of way. You can approach the start of this walk from the old railway line at the Strathaven Road end, also known as the ‘Black Path’.

From here you look straight ahead over to the fields looking towards Strathaven and you will see a little dirt & stone path. You can then walk parallel to the railway line within the field, and it will then incline up a steep hill up towards an old ruined out-building.

From here you can enjoy some of the fantastic views over Hamilton & Lanarkshire, great for pictures, you can walk another few minutes and you will come to the end of the track and here you will be met with a metal gate. This is where the track ends, however, if you choose to continue to walk across the fields, be mindful of cattle and please keep a dog on the leash, the farmer won’t be too happy if you upset any of his livestock. Now, back to the Water Works.

A JOLLY DAY OUT.

By 1910 the reservoirs were a part of everyday life for the people of Hamilton and the commissioners were still on top of their inspections. On Wednesday the 22nd of July that year there was a day out made from the visit where members of the town council invited some special guests to have the day out with them.

The meeting started at the Town House at 10:00am where the party of six boarded a carriage supplied by Mr. William Wallace, (The town carriage-hirer) and was led by Mr. C Robertson, the town officer, who was dressed in all his full hat, robes & uniform.

The party headed out on their jolly up through Brandon Street, Union Street and on to Wellhall Road, where they visited the filters at Townhill.

Having inspected the different plants to be seen there, the drive was continued to the reservoirs at Wellbrae & Cadzow, the latter on this occasion being reached by way of Burnhead Farm (Owned by Farmer W. Brownlie) to permit the party viewing the inlet.

It was found that at both places there were large sheets of water, and it was felt that the town’s supply for the summer was well assured. Re-entering the machines, the latest filters at Blackbog on Strathaven Road were the next place of halt and there amidst much mirth & mock ceremonial the novices of the company were initiated into the “Mysteries” of sand filtration.

A delightful drive was thereafter enjoyed to Strathaven, where luncheon was excellently served by Mrs. Kemp of the Crown Hotel. At the very acceptable function, the chair was taken by ex-Bailie Smellie, the enthusiastic convener of the Water Committee.

He was supported by Mr. W. R. Copland, Civil Engineer – Glasgow. The croupiers were Bailie Kemp and treasurer Paterson. The other members of the company included Bailies Cassells, Anderson, and Robertson; Councilors Moffat, Gilmour, Brown, Slorach and Walker; Mr. James Mackie, burgh chamberlain; Mr. John Millar, chief constable Mr. P. M. Kirkpatrick, town clerk; Mr. W. H. Purdie, water superintendent; Mr. W Allan, foreman; Mr. Robert Weir. J.P. Fiscal; Mr. W Bennett, Upholsterer, Mr. Thomas Anderson, Builder; Mr. John McGirr, Mr. Alex Rankin (From America) and press representatives.

Apologies for absence were intimated from Mr. W. Alston Dykes (the oldest of the water commissioners in the burgh), ex-Provost Keith and commissioner Gun; Dr Loudon Medical officer; Mr. T. Gillespie, assessor, and others.

The loyal toasts having been duly proposed from the chair, the toast of “Hamilton Town Council” was very happily submitted by Mr. Copland. He recalled the long association his father, the late Sir William Copland had with the water schemes of Hamilton and went on to state that his own personal connection with this important department of the burgh’s work dated from 1886, in which year he had discharged his first commission as an apprentice civil engineer at the Wellbrae reservoir.

He coupled the toast with the name of the provost Pollock, who made a racy and assuming reply. “The Water Committee” was next proposed by Mr. Bennett and ex Bailie Smellie in reply, reviewed very interestingly the present-day features of the burgh’s water supply.

Mr. Moffat proposed the guests and Messrs. Anderson and Rankine acknowledged. The latter, who is a friend of Bailie Kemp’s and presently on a visit from New York to this country was particularly happy in his acknowledgement of the council’s kindness which he laughingly added he would have pleasure in returning should Hamilton’s municipal representatives ever visit America. The concluding toast was that of “Chairman and Croupiers” submitted by Bailie Cassells in characteristic fashion.

The drive was afterwards continued to Kype where the town’s largest and most important water scheme was inspected, and everything proved to be in the best condition. Mr. Maider, the resident superintendent, was heartly complimented upon the grounds being kept and attractively laid out. The homeward drive was via Blackwood, Hamilton being reached shortly after eight o’ clock in the evening.

This indeed would have been a fantastic Jolly boy outing on that day and dare I say that they were quite cheery with all the toast that they gave each other. I wonder if all the town worthies of today could invite someone from America to have a get together, go out a wee jaunt around Hamilton and its surrounding areas with lunch and drinks and get away with it? I will leave that answer to you!

WATERWORKS TODAY AT BOTH SITES.

In the Summer of 2023 myself and my son Daniel visited the site of the Cadzow filters and then later with my friend Andrew Robertson, we took all the kids to the other site at Wellbrae.

We done some great exploring and there is a lot to be found at these sites. If you plan to take a trip up to the high grounds, please be mindful of the farmers field, close gates and look out for the cattle.

The site at the Cadzow filters is not safe for kids to explore on their own, there is a lot of cobbles and brickwork that has been overgrown with moss and grass and there is an abandoned shaft that I suspect leads to the filter basin, I did not want to descend down the ladder to see if there was any kind of network of tunnels, in my opinion it’s not safe. There are also some great areas where the very first old Hamilton Quarries were dug beneath the fields, we sometimes forget how much history we are surrounded with.

On the site of Hamilton’s very first reservoir at Wellbrae, this area today is a much different story. There is a lot of marsh ground, and you will have to be mindful if you have a walk around here. The ground also has mounds which are deep in places, a theory which I have for the land being so torn up is that further east just of Strathaven Road, this was the site of the ‘Ack Ack’ base and on the other side of Newhousemill Road was the other ‘Ack Ack’ battery. I know that during WW2, we set up large fires in the countryside to make the Germans believe that this is where the targets were and it just so happens that some of these targets were indeed situated just of Newhousemill Road, so it is possible that the uneven ground at the waterworks sites could have either had deliberate bombs dropped, or stray ones. There is no doubt plenty of things to be uncovered on these sites and one day they will reveal their secrets.

For some of Hamilton’s older residents, they can still remember deep water being on that site. In July 2023 I was on holiday in the south of Spain, and I met with Hamilton man Davie Hughes, and he was telling me that when he was a young boy he can still recall going up to the old reservoir and doing a spot of fishing and this would have been in the 1950’s.

When we stopped using the Hamilton Reservoir run by the Hamilton Water Works, we started to get our water from other sources at the Daer water and over time our reservoir’s dried up and faded in people’s memories. Wellbare is nothing more than a marshy piece of broken ground and Cadzow, as stated, is very unsafe. Some companies have currently been sinking Co2 shafts and pipes to test the land up there, why I do not know but perhaps the land will be earmarked for something soon.

What memories do you have of Hamilton’s old Reservoir’s? If you can remember them, please let us know.

Researched & written by Garry McCallum – Historic Hamilton. © 2023