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THE PARISH OF CARMICHAEL

Has but one resident landlord, M. T. Carmichael of Eastend, who farms largely of his own acres; and a view of his mansion, on the east end of Tinto, is included among the illustrations of these volumes. In noticing the families of this parish, too scant attention has been paid to that of Eastend, and it appears strange, as the writer of the antiquarian pages and the Laird of Eastend are related to each other. A friend has supplied the missing sentences, and they are reported, although beyond the scope of the topographic pages, yet correctly, as no omission he can remedy should appear in this Work.

The family of Michael Thomson Carmichael of Eastend have been in possession of that property for centuries, some natives affirming that they are the older of the Carmichael chiefs. Most of the family papers prior to 1677 were accidentally destroyed, but there still remains in their possession a contract of marriage of a daughter of the family, dated 1568. From 1677, the estate descended from father to son to John Carmichael, who, dying unmarried in 1789, left it to his nephew, Maurice, eldest son of his brother, Michael Carmichael of Hazelhead, by Mary, daughter of John Hay of Restalrig. John Hay of Restalrig, grandson of Sir John Hay of Alderston, a cadet of the Tweeddale family, was secretary to Charles Edward in 1745, and, after Culloden, accompanied that prince to France; the estate of Restalrig, which he held in right of his wife, Anne, daughter and heiress of James Elphinston of Restalrig, was forfeited to the Crown, and the Carmichaels of Eastend now represent his family, and possess a pair of diamond knee-buttons, given by the prince to their ancestor. Maurice Carmichael having sold his paternal property of Hazelhead, added to his Eastend estate by buying largely in the neighbouring parish of Symington; and, dying in 1841, was succeeded by his eldest son, the present proprietor, who married Mary, daughter and heiress of William Thomson Honeyman of Mansefield, Ayrshire, son of Sir William Honeyman of Armadale, Bart.; and, by the entail of Mansefield, M. T. Car

michael of Eastend now bears the name and arms of Thomson of Mansefield in addition to his own, as may be seen from the shield engraved on the map for this parish. The mansion of Eastend is warmly placed among trees and plantations, on the northern slope of Tinto; it shows well from the Carlisle road, or from the Caledonian Railway below it, and commands a view of the Quothquhan, Carnwath, and Lanark hills, the windings of the Clyde, and the heights of Carmichael and Carstairs. The Eastend estate (248) bulks for more in Symington than in Carmichael, as it stretches from Broadfield (941), on the Clyde, by Westfield (908), up the slopes of Tinto to Lochlyock, northwest of Tinto, and part of the land is farmed by the Laird of Eastend. Like his neighbour of Shieldhill, M. T. Carmichael appears to discharge the duties of his station, as he is a commissioner of the public buildings, property and income and assessed taxes for the county, and a Justice of the Peace.

Carmichael House, occupied by the factor on the estates, is very moderately rated on the valuation roll, stands well on the eastern slope of Carmichael-hill, 1056 feet, at no great distance from the Carlisle road, but too far from the railway line to be well seen. The plan of the mansion-house of Carmichael was on a magnificent scale, but only the wings to north and south were built, the connection being by a long corridor; and the house occupied appears to be plain enough, the windows being of the last century size--not over-large, and the parks on the old domain are of the richest herbage; here and there are trees of the grandest size, and miles apparently of lime-built walls enclosing gardens, orchards, conservatories, etc., but much of it in a sad state of dilapidation; it may be doubted if any where on this side the Irish Channel, the "one stone falling away from another" could be more impressively seen. Absenteeism of the landlord rarely produces such a wreck of property; but it is the ornamental alone that appears to be uncared for, as the rent-roll of the farms seem to be as fairly maintained as in any of the parishes in the Ward; and those who have the advantage of knowing the factor and his friends would look for all that. The drive from the highway to the mansion is by an avenue-long,

broad-and which has been finely timbered, but the gateway is ever open, although no passage that way; and the size of the trunks of the felled timber show that the glories of the place of John, third Earl of Hyndford, have passed away. On the trees in the Carmichael policies, the statist of 1791 is eloquent; describing a “larix cut there, when twenty-four years old, the root of which was eight feet long, and was squared into planks of the mean breadth of seventeen inches; the Scotch fir thrives well, as does the silver fir, where it rises to a great height, making a beautiful and striking appearance." As before noticed, a great portion of the land near Carmichael House is let as parks, but does not appear on valuation roll as "let for less than one year"there being an entry of upwards of 240l. (851) for land in the policy let to a tenant in the parish of Lanark, and others of like class rating for 72l., 45l., 40l. 5s., 40l., 38l., 371., 301., 25l., 19., 13., 8., and 7., with smaller farms near the mansion, which appear entered in name of the factor. The land and houses of Eastmains lie between the mansion, and almost within the domain; are fertile, but of moderate value; those of Westmains, of smaller amount, are farmed by the factor.

Thornyhill and Netherhouse (247-890) farın is on the N.W. of the parish, east of the Side-burn, near the Muirkirk road, and a little S. of Pretts-mill on the Douglas-water; the extent is considerable, being, that in the policy excepted, the highest rented on the estate, and as it is on the lower level and the northern division of the parish, the land may be fertile. Nethertown (247-927) farm is on the N.E. corner of the parish, near the Pettinain march, the Carlisle road, and the Clyde at Hyndfordbridge, in a level, enclosed, and fertile part of the estate. Crossdyke (247-942) farm does not appear as such on either Forrest's or the Survey sheet, but Crossridge is given on both, and lies S.E. of the manse, and near the Standing-stone-hill, 1014 feet; the land is high, well enclosed, and much of it arable.

Newside (247-1056) farm is east of the Standing-stone, west of Eastend policies, of moderate extent, and in a hilly district. Howgate and Redmyre (247-1066) are farms of like value as that of Newside, north-east of Howgate-hill, in a locality already

referred to, and pasture is abundant there. Bowhouse (2471082) farm, of no great size, lies south-east of the Carmichael policy, near to the Carlisle road, on the Covington march, not far from the Eastend domain, and has a fair share of arable land. Harleyholm (247-1076) farm is of moderate extent, adjacent to the church, north-east of Drumalbyn, south-west of Carmichael House, and in a well-enclosed section of the parish. Westgate (247) is a small farm north-east of the church, and on the south-western verge of the Carmichael policy. Devon-hill or Side (247-1254) is a farm of small extent on the Syde-burn, north-west of the church, and on the road thence to the strath of the Douglas-water. Shaws (247) is a small farm near midway between Hyndford-bridge and Thornyhill.

Carmichael Mill (247-1143) and farm is on the Clyde, east of Hyndford-bridge, near the Pettinain march, and where the mill-burn or stream dividing the parishes runs into the Clyde. The land is on the low level, well-fenced, and arable, as may be also the smaller farm of Carmichael-bank (247) near it. In the parish there is a cluster of minor holdings on the Carmichael estate, besides those before noticed as having parts of the policy parcelled out among them. For example, Crossdyke, besides the farm of that name, appears for £18, £12, and £12, Binnygreen for £15, Netherton £25, Fullwood £13, Fullburn and Warrenhill parks for £16 6s and £20.

Ponfeigh Place and Moor (247-886) farm is of considerable extent on the Ponfeigh-burn, the western march of the parish, near to the Douglas-water, in the coal district, arable on the north, and the moor southwards affording good pasture. Ponfeigh Townhead and Ponfeigh Townfoot (247-1180 and 1188) are two farms of moderate extent, and near the Douglas-water.

At one time a portion of what is now in the parish of Carmichael formed part of that of Douglas, but the latter is still more than three times the extent of the former parish. In the antiquarian pages reference is made to the connection of the family of Douglas with this parish, in which they are large landholders, as may be seen at page 62 of Vol. III. of this Work.

Drumalbyn (242-774) is a first-class farm as to extent, situa

tion, and cultivation; the position and intelligence of the occupant stand high also, and hospitality is no where practised more liberally; but it would be strange were it otherwise, seeing that the extensive agriculturists and large flock-masters of the Upper Ward of Lanarkshire are noted for the exercise of that virtue. Drum, according to Jamieson, is applied to little hills rising as ridges above the adjacent ground, and is topographically descriptive of Drumalbyn; as the homestead, a large and warm one, crowns the ridge from the Clyde eastward, and looked at from the westward, by the Douglas road, seems also to top the summit, the descent towards Covington being the longer of the two. The trees around Drumalbyn are old and large, and near it is a hamlet, once more populous and of greater importance than it now is; there being neither hamlet nor village in the parish of Carmichael of sufficient size to find place in the census for 1841, which were more minute than that for 1861.

Stonehill (242-819) farm is of considerable extent, under the Black-hill, 1220 feet, south of Drumalbyn, north-east of Ponfeigh, north-west of Howgate, and with a large extent of pasture, heathy and rough. Sandylands (242-1008) farm is of fair extent, on the Douglas-water, near the Lesmahagow road, west of the Shiels-burn, and has a good deal of arable ground upon it. Blinklie farm (242) is small, lies between Sandylands and Ponfeigh, near the coal-workings, and is arable. Woodlands (242-1120) farm is of moderate extent; is south of Drumalbyn, north of Stonehill, east of Sandylands, near the centre of the parish, where pasture abounds, and the farm being held by the enterprising tenant of the collieries in the parish of Douglas, it will be worked to the best advantage that experience and ample means can command. Burnhouse (242-1253), is a small farm on Shiels-burn, west of Sandylands, and near the Douglas-water level. Pretts Mill (242) farm and mill, is on the Clyde, and near the Douglas-water; it is level and arable.

Crookboat (242-1101) farm is of fair extent, on the "crook of the Clyde" where the Douglas-water enters it, and where a ferryboat plied. It is 684 feet above level of the sea, 200 feet under that of the homestead of Drumalbyn, opposite to the mansion

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