IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Kirk Wynd, GLASGOW, G76 0AW

Montgomery Square bounds two sides of Eaglesham Parish kirkyard and was once the High Street. Gas works were situated in Gas Works Lane which 19th century maps show to be Kirk Wynd which leads off Montgomery Square beside the cottage pictured in the background. Kirk Wynd is known locally as Gassy Brae in reference to the gas works that were once situated here. The Darvel and Newmilns weavers used to make the 16 mile journey from Darvel to Eaglesham on occasion carrying a piece of finished cloth for the markets and collecting a new clue of yarn which would arrive with the carriers from Glasgow and Paisley. The Weavers' Trail http://www.geograph.org.uk/article/The-Darvel-to-Eaglesham-weavers-trail starts or finishes depending on the direction of travel at Montgomery Square following a route along Kirk Wynd http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1490402 ; passing Park Farm http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1490436 http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1490362 ; Netherton, Carrot http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1434824 ; Myres Hill http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1434824 Crook Hill http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/89608 ; High Overmuir http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/89605 ; Auldhouse Burn http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/89604 ; Low Overmuir Farm Road http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/89602 ; Pogiven Bridge http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/89600 ; track to High Carlingcraig http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/240520 before descending to Darvel http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/78857 . Click on this link to discover about the Eaglesham cotton mills http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1450337 .

Montgomery Square was once the High Street of the mediaeval village. A single-storey cottage in Montgomery Square built by 1789. The 1861 census indicates that Jonathan Kennedy, a shoemaker and his wife, Helen Kennedy, a handloom cotton weaver resided in the cottage. The emunerator, James B. Yuille describes Montgomery Square as "... Backrow (known also as Montgomerie Square which name is not properly applied as neither the ground nor the houses form a square)..."

Looking dow Montgomery Street towards the spire of Eaglesham Parish Church in the snow.

Cross Keys cottage in Montgomery Square is recorded as being tacked to Robert Montgomerie in June 1773. John Arneil later owned the cottage and Cross Keys Inn http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1875376 for many years.

The Cross Keys Inn, 1 Montgomery Street and cottage http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1821585 in Montgomery Square were recorded as being tacked to Robert Montgomerie in June 1773. John Arneil (1790-1868) owned the Cross Keys for many years and operated a receiving house from which letters from Glasgow arrived every evening and were despatched every morning. The armorial arms panel http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2876629 from the fourteenth century Polnoon Castle http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1480519 sits above the entrance to the Inn. The two-storey house on the far right of the photograph stands on the site of the Royal Oak Inn. Alexander Johnston had a butcher shop on the ground floor of the house in the 20th century. Links to other hotels http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1484257 and inns http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2012069 .

Pillar House is a two-storey house built around 1780 with a doorpiece with detached Roman Doric columns. William Gemmell, a joiner and self-taught sculptor who spent his whole life in Eaglesham, created a group of life-size statuary that were once widely exhibited in the west of Scotland.

Montgomery Street was originally named South Street. This view looks towards the crossroads with the Parish Church http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1424798 in the distance. In the lane beside Pillar House is Statue House, a museum owned by East Renfrewshire Council and dedicated to the work of local joiner and self-taught sculptor William Gemmell (1814 - 1891) . The museum contains a collection of William Gemmell's works. An online exhibition of the William Gemmell collection can be seen at Portal to the Past, East Renfrewshire's Heritage Collection http://www.eastrenfrewshire.gov.uk/heritage/heritage_exhibitions/williamgemmell.htm . Links to other views of Montgomery Street http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1484234 http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1484238 http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1484242 .

Pillar House is a two-storey house built around 1780 with a doorpiece with detached Roman Doric columns. William Gemmell, a joiner and self-taught sculptor who spent his whole life in Eaglesham, created a group of life-size statuary that were once widely exhibited in the west of Scotland.

Repairs being undertaken on the 1780 building on Montgomery Street. It is Category B listed http://portal.historicenvironment.scot/designation/LB5270.

Alex W. Dalgliesh, Gunsmiths; and Alan P Futton, designer & goldsmith. The building is Category B listed http://portal.historicenvironment.scot/designation/LB5268.