THE GARDEN HISTORY SOCIETY IN SCOTLAND
EAST RENFREWSHIRE HISTORICAL DESIGNED LANDSCAPES & GARDENS SURVEY RECORDING FORM
A. GENERAL SITE INFORMATION
SITE NAME:
Neilston Cemetery
ALTERNATIVE NAMES OR SPELLINGS:
None
ADDRESS AND POSTCODE:
Neilston Road, Barrhead G78 3PS
GRID REFERENCE:
NS 499 583
LOCAL AUTHORITY:
East Renfrewshire (Historical County Renfrewshire)
PARISH:
Neilston
INCLUDED IN ‘THE INVENTORY OF GARDENS & DESIGNED LANDSCAPES IN SCOTLAND ’:
No
TYPE OF SITE: (eg. Lands caped estate, private garden, public park/gardens, corporate/institutional landscape, cemetery, allotments, or other – please specify)
Cemetery
SITE OWNERSHIP & CONTACT : (Where site is in divided ownership please list all owners and indicate areas owned on map if possible)
East Renfrewshire Council
1
SIZE IN HECTARES OR ACRES:
1875 – 2 acres 0.76 hectates (approx) 1960 – 10 acres 3.5 hectares 2008 – 18+ acres 7 hectares
PUBLIC ACCESS ARRANGEMENTS/OPENING TIMES (If any):
Free access at all times
NATIONAL & LOCAL AUTHORITY DESIGNATIONS: (eg. Conservation Area, Green Belt, Tree Preservation Order(s), Nature Conservation Area, etc.
None
LISTED STRUCTURES:
None
B. HISTORICAL SURVEY INFORMATION: MAPPED, DOCUMENTARY & PUBLISHED SOURCES
MAPPED SOURCES: (please list maps below in date order and attach copies where possible. Give the description or title, date, maker’s name if known, and for Ordnance Survey maps give the date of survey, edition number and sheet number)
Unless otherwise stated all extracts from map images are reproduced by kind permission of the Trustees of the National Library of Scotland
Ordnance Survey Renfrewshire 25” to 1 mile Sheet XVI.3 Surveyed circa1895 Published 1897
2
Ordnance Survey Renfrewshire 1/2500 Sheet XVI.3 Surveyed 1911 Published 1913
Ordnance Survey Renfrewshire 1/2500 Sheet XVI.3 Surveyed 1939 Published 1947
3
PRIMARY & DO CUMENTARY SOURCES: (plans, manuscript documents and other estate records) Please list material consulted in date order and attach copies where possible. Give description of material, and location and reference number of archival holding.
1905? Neilston Parish Heritors – Index to Lairs, Giffnock Library
HISTORICAL ILLUSTRATIONS & PICTORIAL SOURCES: (drawings, paintings, photographs, aerial photographs etc. Include type, subject, artist, source or reference location, and date if known)
RCAHMS National Collection of Aerial Photography: Neilston, Renfrewshire Scotland, Vertical Aerial Image, Ordnance Survey Photo Image Sortie Sheet 26/45/NE, October 1946: 006-023-004-901-C
Ordnance Survey Photo Image Sortie Sheet 26/45/NE 1946
4
BIBLIOGRAPHY OF PUBLISHED SOURCES: (Statistical Accounts, Gazetteers, Directories, Travel Accounts etc.) Please list publications consulted in alphabetical order. Include details of author, title, journal or periodical, and date, volume/edition and page numbers where relevant.
Metcalfe DD, William M A History of the County of Renfrew From Earliest Times 1905
Laws, J J The Neilston Story Neilston Community Council 1988
Pryde M D J P, David History of Parish of Neilston A Gardner ASIN: B0008BN3KA 1910
Barrhead Area Cemeteries Eastwood Council Leisure & Recreation Department 6 March 1979
PRINCIPAL PERIODS OF DEVELOPMENT:
1875 – First record of cemetery on this site 1878 – First recorded burial 1897 – Cemetery appears on OS map of Renfrewshire (entrance on Neilston Road.) 1913 – Ordnance Survey map shows new extension to cemetery with gates on Lochlibo Road 1946/47 – Ordnance Survey aerial photograph and map record further extension to south west of cemetery, doubling the area of the previous burial ground 1971 – Ordnance Survey map shows permanent paths and roadways in all three phases 2000 – Further land acquired to south west and area almost doubled again 2001 – First burial in recent extension 1 st February
PRINCIPAL ARCHITECTS/DESIGNERS ASSOCIATED WITH SITE: (please reference source o f information)
None found
ORAL RECORDS/REMINISCENSES Please include a list of any people interviewed during the course of research/survey work. Include name and role of interviewee (eg. family member, former employee, local resident), date of conversation and major dates, features or events recalled. Attach a transcript of the conversation if possible.
None
5
C. SITE SURVEY Use map provided to mark positions and boundaries. Take photographs where possible.
ARCHITECTURAL ELEMENTS Note the materials used, the dates and styles of various phases of development, and category of listing if appropriate PRINCIPAL HOUSE OR BUILDING:
There are three substantial roughcast brick buildings at the Neilston Road entrance to the cemetery. The “lodge house” measures approximately 40feet by 40feet, is T shape in plan with windows to the east and south, a shutter covered door on the east side and bricked up doors and windows on the west side. Behind the lodge is a roughcast brick shelter and toilets( 24 feet by 18 feet) which is permanently closed and to the west of this is a small roughcast brick store (12 feet by 10 feet) with a door on the east end. All three of these buildings have slate roofs and appear to be in fairly good state of repair. The lodge building was built at the opening of the cemetery. It appears on the 1897 Ordnance Survey (OS) map. The shelter and toilets do not appear on the 1913 OS map but are on the 1971 OS map.
OFFICES (stables, outbuildings, etc):
None
HOME FARM OR MAINS:
None
BOUNDARIES (External & internal; estate walls, ha -has, park fences etc.):
A substantial perimeter wall surrounds the 1960s cemetery. This has been breached to allow access to the 21 st century extension. The wall is about 6 feet 6 inches in height, just under 2 feet thick at the base and about 1 foot thick at the top. The wall is made of roughly dressed sandstone with large dressed sandstone copings 6 inches high and 1 foot wide and 3 to 4 feet long. These coping stones taper from the base to a sharp central ridge on top.
GATES/GATE LODGES:
Gates and gate piers (with distinctive coffin tops) at Neilston Road probably date from 1875.
Gates and gate piers at Lochlibo Road entrance, late 19 th /early 20 th century to cemetery.
Gate Lodge at Neilston Road entrance to cemetery with a shelter behind it on the NW side. This building is constructed of brick, roughcast and with a slate roof. The building appears on the 1897 Ordnance Survey map.
6
Neilston Road Gates and Gate Piers with Coffi n Detail
Lochlibo Road Gates and Gate Piers
7
GARDEN BUILDINGS (Summer houses, view houses, temples, grottoes etc):
None
CHAPELS/MAUSOLEUMS/BURIAL GROUINDS:
No chapels or mausoleums within cemetery
General View Across 1875 Cemetery from the North West
8
General View Of Late 19 th /Early 20 th Extension from the North
General View of Late 20 th Century Extension From the East Showing Planting along Lochlibo Road
9
CONSERVATORIES/FERNERIES:
None
GARDEN STATUARY (Fountains, statues, sundials, monuments etc.) Note any inscriptions:
None
BURIAL GROUNDS/CEMETERIES (Note principal memorials and headstones with inscriptions where possible):
Cochrane Family Grave Shanks Family (ceramic sanitary ware) Grave Including Catherine Cranston of Willow Tearooms Fame
10
1878 Military Grave First World War Grave
Examples of More Ornamental Graves in Cemetery
11
One of Two Stones by an Edinburgh Monumental Mason
BRIDGES:
None
TERRACES : (Including steps & stairways):
None
WALLED GARDENS:
None
GLASSHOUSE RANGES:
The remains of glasshouses and cold frames are faintly evident to the west of the shelter near the Neilston Road entrance.
12
AVENUES, CARRIAGE DRIVES, ORNAMENTAL WALKS, SERVICE DRIVES ETC:
Ceramic Gutter on Each Side of Main Access Roads Showing Profile of Later 19 th Century Drainage
ROCKERIES:
None
WATER FEATURES (natural & man -made including rivers, cascades, lochs, pools etc.):
The drinking fountain that appears close to the turning circle near the centre of the 1913 map has completely disappeared.
ANY OTHER FEATURES NOT INCLUDED ABOVE (Include any historic or modern feature and indicate use where possible):
None
13
PLANTED ELEMENTS : The garden or park should divide up naturally and historically into different areas, e.g. ornamental gardens, parkland, walled garden, policy planting. Each area should be delineated on a plan and current use noted . 1. ORNAMENTAL GROUNDS
GRASSED AREAS (Lawns, meadows, terraces):
Grassed areas are regularly mown to allow easy access to all of the graves
FLOWER BEDS (Indicate theme or type – parterres, perennial herbaceous border/annual bedding where possible. Note whether significant plant collection):
None
SHRUBBERY INCLUDING HEDGES & TOPIARY (Include deta ils of height, species etc. if possible):
Yew trees are trimmed to frame headstones
ORNAMENTAL TREE PLANTING (Single specimens, groups – include details of age and species if possible):
Multiple specimens of Horse Chestnut (severely pollarded) Yew, Sycamore, Turkey Oak, Holly, Acers, Cedar
AVENUE PLANTING (May also cross parkland and policy planting. Note predominant species and whether single or double planted if possible:
None
ANY OTHER ORNAMENTAL PLANTING FEATURE NOT COVERED ABOVE:
None
C2 KITCHEN GARDENS AND ORCHARDS
KITCHEN GARDENS (walled, hedged or other boundary. Note any other historical features and current use)
None
ORCHARDS (walled, hedged or other boundary. Note any other historical features and current use)
None
C3. PARKL AND
GRASSED AREAS (Note current use, amenity grassland, agricultural use – grazing, cultivation etc.):
Grassed areas between graves
14
TREE PLANTING (Individual specimens, clumps, belts, roundels etc. Note species if possible, and whether fenced):
None
ANY OTHER PARKLAND FEATURE NOT INCLUDED ABOVE:
None
C4. POLICY WOODLAND PLANTING
COMPOSITION (Note composition of woodland; deciduous/coniferous/mixed, and principal species if possible. Note current use eg. commercial timber cropping/amenity woodland):
None
ANY OTHER POLICY WOODLAND FEATURE NOT INCLUDED ABOVE:
None
C5. VIEWS, VISTAS, BORROWED LANDSCAPE & PERIPHERAL AREAS
KEY VIEWS (please note views inwards to the house, outwards from the house, and internally within the landscape):
None
BORROWED LANDSCAPE (please note any features, natural or man -made, lying outside the designed landscape which act as eye-catchers or contribute to the outward views):
None
PERIPHERAL AREAS (please note any features lying ou tside the main landscape but which are clearly designed eg. regularly spaced roadside/field boundary trees, estate walls etc.):
None
GENERAL OBSERVATIONS ON CURRENT CONDITION OR CARE OF THE LANDSCAPE
The cemetery, in the care of East Renfrewshire Council is in good repair. The buildings are safe but abandoned. The planting is easy to maintain.
SURVEY DRAWINGS AND/OR PHOTOGRAPHS
Please include a list and copies where possible of any drawings, photographs made/taken during the ground survey.
No separate survey drawings made. Photographs of principal stages of development see above.
15
D. SUMMARY HISTORY OF THE SITE This section should be set out in chronological form and should include information on the way the site has developed and changed since it was first recorded, using dates and maps where possible. The names of owners, architects or designers involved, and relevant historical events should be recorded, and the sources noted.
The 0.76 hectare Neilston Cemetery opened in 1875 to replace the churchyard surrounding Neilston Parish Church, with an official opening ceremony in 1878. The land used was probably formerly farmland. Many of the fine headstones in the 'new' cemetery were by monumental sculptors, William Robin of Paisley and Martin Scott & Co, Glasgow. The 1897 Ordnance Survey map records the cemetery opening off Neilston Road through a carriage gate with side gates, and a gate lodge to the left hand side. Early planting probably included Holly and Yew. The central carriage drive continues north- west up the hill to a central turning circle and footpaths follow the walled perimeter of the grounds. Early family lairs (tombs) included Cleland, Wilson and Shanks. The 1913 Ordnance Survey map shows the cemetery more than doubled in size to 1.8 hectares and extending to Lochlibo Road in the north-west, with addition of another carriage entrance with side gates, and the carriage turning circle relocated centrally between the two entrances. A drinking fountain was installed adjacent to the turning circle and a glasshouse and cold frames built alongside the gate lodge. Tree planting in this phase included Yew, Cedar, Sycamore and Turkey Oak. Turner of Parkhouse and a further branch of the Shanks family were amongst the first interments in the extended cemetery. William Shanks JP, the first Provost of Barrhead, was buried in the family plot in 1929 and in 1934 Kate Cranston, of the Glasgow Willow Tearooms fame, was interred in the Cochrane family lair. By 1939 the cemetery has been extended to the south-west increasing the area to 3.5 hectares. Later in the 20th century a shelter and toilets were constructed adjacent to the gate lodge. In 2000 the area of the cemetery was again doubled to around 7 hectares and is now bounded by Neilston Road, Lochlibo Road and Donnies Brae. The first burial in the new extension took place in February 2001.
NAME:
East Renfrewshire Historical Designed Landscapes and Gardens Group under the auspices of the Garden History Society in Scotland
DATES OF GROUND SURVEY WORK:
February 2009
DATE RESEARCH COMPLETED:
July 2011
16