Falfield Mills

Port Eglinton was the terminus of the Glasgow- Paisley-Ardrossan Canal, built in the early 1800s.

Port Eglinton

The canal was first proposed by the twelfth Earl of Eglinton who wanted to connect Glasgow with his harbour at Ardrossan. Construction began in 1807 and it was opened in late 1810. Due to insufficient funds the canal only reached as far as Johnstone.

The canal and port were important to industries in the south side of Glasgow.
Raw materials were brought in and unloaded, and finished products were shipped off on narrow, horse drawn barges. Many of the industries in this area, such as the Caledonia Foundry and Falfield Mills, could have used Port Eglinton.

The Glasgow-Paisley-Ardrossan Canal was the scene of a disaster in 1810 when 85 people drowned in an accident at Paisley. The canal closed in 1881 and, and like many canals, a railway was built over it.

1st edition Ordnance Survey map (1857) showing Port Eglinton. Falfield Mills can be seen at the bottom of the image. (click on above image for larger version)

View of Port Eglinton © Glasgow City Libraries. Licensor www.scran.ac.uk. (click on above image for larger version)

A series of archaeological trial trenches were excavated on the canal and its banks in the Port Eglinton Area in January 2008. The trenches showed that the canal was approximately 1.3m deep and had vertical sides at this point. The construction of the canal side wall suggests a possible wharf, which would have been used to load and unload goods transported on the canal. This wharf was capped with neatly squared and dressed stones.

Infilling of the canal appears to have taken place quickly in one go. The canal was filled in so the ground level was the same height as the wharf. No silt deposits were found at the bottom of the canal suggesting that the canal may have been dredged, or fully re-excavated, prior to backfilling. This would have ensured that the railway engineers had firm ground on which to build. The canal was backfilled with foundry waste material, from a foundry adjacent to the south bank of the canal at this point.

Falfield Mills

Falfield Mills were constructed in 1821 for George Foster and produced cotton. They were taken over by G L Walker & Co, power loom cotton manufacturers around 1840.

At this time there were many new innovations in the Scottish cotton manufacturing trade. Traditional hand-loom weaving was being replaced by steam power and machinery.

The Mills are shown on the 1st edition Ordnance Survey map of 1857, as a main mill building, a boiler house, engine house and warehouse, and a large house, thought to be Falfield Mill House. This house had a large formal garden, and we know that in 1844 John Hendry, who was probably the manager of the mill, occupied the house. As the mill expanded in the later 19th century, the formal gardens were built on, however the house remained.

1st edition Ordnance Survey map (1857) (click on above image for larger version)

2nd edition Ordnance Survey map (1892) (click on above image for larger version)

By the time the 2nd edition Ordnance Survey map of 1892-94 was produced, the mills had expanded and were producing cotton and silk. Cotton and silk production continued at the site until the early 20th century. After this date the mill buildings were altered numerous times and re-used for other businesses, for example furniture works, art printing works, engineering works, small factories and stores. The mill buildings were demolished in 2007 after a comprehensive historic buildings survey.

Falfield Cotton Mill, Falfield Street mid 20th century © Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland. Licensor www.scran.ac.uk (click on image for larger version)

1950s Ordnance Survey map (click on above image for larger version)

1960s Ordnance Survey map (click on above image for larger version)

1970s Ordnance Survey map (click on above image for larger version)

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