by Guacho » Sun Jan 06, 2013 11:32 pm
THE town and lands of Ruchazie formed part of the estate of the Provan, which belonged to Sir Robert Hamilton of Silvertonhill. The old manor house, with crow-stepped gables, vaulted basement and huge fire-place, still stands at Provanhall; and the initials, R. H., with the Hamilton coat of arms and the date 1647, are cut on a carved stone above the arched gateway leading into the court. The lands were acquired , by the town of Glasgow in 1667.
In 1729 the lands were laid out in the farms into which they are at present divided and were feued to various tenants. Finally, in 1767, exactly one hundred years after buying the estate, the town rouped off the feu duties, and practically ended its connection as landowner of the Provan. Glasgow, however, retained the mill of Provan and a few adjacent acres, which it still possesses as well as the water rights of Hogganfield and Frankfield Lochs, in order to secure water to drive the mills lower down the Molendinar Burn. The town still keeps a titular connection with the estate, and annually appoints a Bailie of Provan. In 1812, there was an official of this name, for a large estate needs a factor. When the town purchased the lands, William Anderson was appointed Bailie and collector of rents, and was recommended to hold courts "with all convenience." The office is now entirely honorary, and is generally given to one who has rendered important service to the city, but who no longer occupies a seat in the Council. The present custom is accordingly a relic of a duty which has long since passed from the concern of the city.
(Ruchazie, JF Miller 1920)
The three ward mills were probably in existence in the twelfth century, when the burgh of Glasgow was founded, but it may be assumed that at that time the inhabitants, in accordance with the practice of a later period, got their meal ground
nearer home. Molendinar Burn was always at hand, and was sufficient to supply the water-power needful for a small community, and, following the precedent set by the king with regard to royal burghs, the bishops of Glasgow must from the first have provided a mill for their burgesses. Perhaps the earliest town's mill, as already suggested, was situated near the place called Milndam, now included in Glasgow Green, or it may possibly have been the mill which was latterly added to the endowments of the sub-deanery, as the position of either of these was more convenient for the inhabitants than was the site which, in the beginning of the
fifteenth century, was assigned to them for their town mill.
With regard to the erection of this mill, we fortunately have some authentic particulars. It was situated at a higher part of the same stream which supplied water-power to the subdean's mill, and adjoined the lands of Garngad possessed
by the community. As set forth in a document, dated 4th February, 1446-7, and still preserved, Bishop Cameron (1426-46) allowed the burgesses to erect a mill on the Malyndoner Burn, upon the south side of Gardyngad, in consideration of their giving two pounds of wax yearly to the keeper of the lights around St. Kentigern's tomb, and it was acknowledged that the stipulation had been regularly implemented during the bishop's lifetime. This mill and its successors on the same site existed for upwards of four centuries, but little is known regarding the management of these mills till the preserved Council records begin in 1573. Six years previous to that date the common mill, kiln, and mill lands were mortgaged in security of 400 merks, borrowed at 10 per cent., the usual rate of interest at that period.
For increasing the volume of water in the Molendinar Burn some impounding and collecting works were executed at Hogganfield and Frankfield Lochs. The natural outfall of the latter loch was towards Luggie Water, but its contents were brought by an artificial cut into Hogganfield Loch, and thence sent down Molendinar Burn. The lochs were situated within the barony of Provan, belonging, in the beginning of
the seventeenth century, to the Hamiltons of Silvertonhill, and the town seems to have had some early arrangement with these proprietors for improving the water supply. In 1625 the town treasurer paid to the laird of Silvertonhill " for the
libertie of his watter to the tounes mylnes thir thrie yeiris bygane,"
The laird's own mill of Provan being situated on the same burn, about a mile above the town's highest mill, he had the first use of the water, though any improvement of the supply would be of mutual advantage. In 1667 the Town Council of Glasgow
got entire control over the water supply by the purchase of the barony of Provan, including the lochs and mill. After they entered into possession further operations at the lochs and cast between them were carried out, and the mill, which, besides
grinding the produce of the newly acquired barony, was a useful auxiliary to its neighbours farther down the stream, was set to a tacksman on a 19 years' lease.
Provan-mill, with its water-wheel driven by the Malyndoner as of old, though for other purposes than the grinding of grain, is now the sole survivor of those possessions which in other days and under other conditions formed the backbone of city finance.(Glasgow Memorials, Robert Renwick 1908)