West of River Clyde
River Crossings
River Calder
2. Kaldar - second crossing on River Calder near
Kaldar.
Identification
Given its position downstream from the confluence of
the Calder with the burn running from Nerston it is
likely to be on the minor road from Flemington through
Barnhill to Blantyre (present High Blantyre). This road
with a bridge is shown on Roy. The present day bridge
is of fairly recent date but the river (see photo) could
be forded hereabouts although there would be steep slopes
to negotiate on either side of the river.NS 677 574.
Associated route
From the route shown on Roy the most likely explanation
is that this developed as a slightly quicker route to
Glasgow by heading directly for Flemington rather than
joining the Hamilton - Glasgow route near Priory Bridge.
3. Calderwood Castle - third crossing over River
Calder near Calderwood Castle. It is just above the
confluence of the burn mentioned in 2 above.
Identification
While it may have been connected with the castle (near
Craigneath Castle) it is more likely to have been at
Crossbasket where Roy shows a route. The eastern approach
to a ford would have been steep but it is more level
on the other side of the river. NS 667 565.
Associated route
In Roy’s day this was the only crossing between
the (East) Kilbride area and Blantyre with routes beyond
these places to Eaglesham and Ayrshire and to Bothwell
Bridge and the east.
Pont does show Bothwell Bridge but in the absence of
confirmatory evidence we cannot assume that any long
distance route existed in his time so it is safer to
assume the more local route.
4. Newhous - fourth crossing over River Calder
at Newhouse
Identification
Given its proximity to Torrance and being downstream
from the Rotten Burn this was probably near present
Newhousemill although his Newhous is not shown as a
mill. NS 655 534.
Associated route
No road is shown on Roy so it may just have allowed
nearby farms to access the (East) Kilbride area and
beyond.
River Avon
6. Glassford - second crossing
on River Avon
 Identification
Bridgeholm on A712, 2 miles east of Strathaven. NS 733
455.
Associated route
This is a puzzling crossing. Roy shows a route from
Lesmahagow to the crossing and, north of that, a road
running past Glassford Kirk which runs only for another
two or three miles to terminate at Thinacres. There
is no Strathaven - Stonehouse link nor with Hamilton
to the north - in any case there is a more direct Hamilton
- Lesmahagow link through Larkhall. It is hard to account
for the Lesmahagow link unless it goes back to the Priory
in the middle ages. The only other reasonable explanation
would be access to a mill or to Glassford Kirk.
Possible fording point over Avon
near Glassford
7. Barncluith Burn running into River Avon near
to Old Avon Bridge.
Identification
Near Barncluith, south of town centre. NS 729 547.
Associated route
It is shown on Pont’s original map as a ford, i.e.
the road line goes through the river. The 1850’s
6" OS map shows a ford here.
It is unlikely that this crossing being so near to the
Old Avon Bridge was of more than local use, perhaps
to give access to Barncluith.
West of River Clyde
Placenames
12. Spittel, near Blackwood
Identification
Spittal, two miles north-west of Blackwood. NS 773 448.
It is not known if it ever catered for travellers.
Associated route
It is 200 or so metres from a road Roy shows running
from Lesmahagow to Stonehouse and about 500 metres north
of the Roman road but any link with these roads would
be tenuous without additional evidence.
14. Foulford
Identification
Near Auchlochan, between Lesmahagow and Coalburn. NS
8137.
Associated route
Given the absence of any roads passing through here
on Roy’s maps, this ford may just have been of
local use.
15. N & O Stockbrigges
Identification
Stockbriggs and Over Stockbriggs, 2 miles north west
of Coalburn. NS 7936.
Associated route
If referring to a bridge or causeway it was likely of
local use only. Roy shows no routes in the area.
16. Glassfurd (see crossing
above)
Identification
Glassford, near Strathaven.
Associated route
It is not clear if the name refers to a local ford near
the village or down at the Avon. As said there, any
route would probably be local.
Lower Clyde Map
East of River Clyde
River Crossings
River Kelvin
2. Boigton (shown also on Dunbarton map)
Identification
South-west of Torrance.
This is not the "Roman"
bridge as proved by the stream running from Milngavie
to the Kelvin and the position of Kessington (NS 5671).
The next stream to the east has a Fluchter nearby which
suggests this crossing was just south-west of Torrance
(NS 6173). Pont shows a Badhindrocht (drochaid, a bridge)
nearby. There is a slight possibility that the crossing
was the stepping stones shown on the 1925 1" OS
map between Cadder and Balmore but against this is the
fact that no such route is shown on Roy. There is also
the possibility that the crossing was at the present
day location which is shown on Roy.
Associated route
This is uncertain although a route north through present
day Torrance to the Campsies and one coming from Kirkintilloch
are suggestive.
10. North Calder Water (shown as river
opposite Flemington), near Garturk
Identification
Over North Calder, just west of A725 Bellshill to Coatbridge
Road. NS 7262.
Associated route
This crossing is depicted as just west of the Shirrel
Burn. If it was very close to this it would fit Roy’s
crossing and road which led to the Monklands but it may
have been further west with no clear reason for its presence
except perhaps a kirk that lay on the north side of the
river but that is unlikely as it was in a different parish.
Given the east-west trend of the river here the crossing
must have been on a north-south line.
11. Shirrel Burn, tributary of North
Calder near Garturk
Identification
Crossing near to present day Shirrel Farm. NS 7461.
It is quite close to the above crossing.
Associated route
It may just have been of local use as the Shirrel is
not a particularly significant burn.
12. Same river, near Gimmerstone
Identification
North Calder, near Gartness, south-east of Airdrie and
east of A73. NS 780 644 approx..
Associated route
Roy does not show a north south route here so it is
unlikely to have been on what is now the A73 route.
It is however less than two miles to Airdrie and may
have been a convenient route for places south of the
river to reach the town.
South Calder Water
Shown as tributary of Clyde, near to Bothwell.
14. At Parkhead
Identification
Over South Calder near Jerviston and north of Forgewood
- one and a half miles north of Motherwell. NS 750 587
approx.
Associated route
There is no nearby road shown on Roy’s map. The
omission of the bridge at Bothwellhaugh
(given its supposed Roman age) suggests that this bridge
was not linked with it as the Bothwellhaugh bridge would
have given easy access to the Motherwell area from Bothwell
Bridge. This leaves just the possibility of it being
local or on a route from the Motherwell area to the
north although this is unlikely when nothing is shown
on Roy.
15. At Thostoun
Identification
Over South Calder near to Cleland House. NS 785 575
approx.
Associated route
Despite its approximate location this is at least a
mile from the nearest of Roy’s roads with no particularly
obvious function, except local movement.
16. Burnhead, near Bonkle
Identification
On South Calder, just west of Bonkle. NS 830 568 approx.
Associated route
Like the crossing below there are no links with any
of Roy’s routes. It may just have been for local
use.
17. Tributary of South Calder at
Bridgend
Identification
Auchter Water at Bonkle, close to above. NS 834 566.
Associated route
The implied route would be south of the South Calder
Water which would lead to the Wishaw area and also to
the crossing above. However, on Roy’s map the road
from the east (a road leaves the Edinburgh - Glasgow
road at Kirk O’Shotts and runs to Allanton and
then Bonkle) terminates at Bonkle nor is there a road
associated with the previous crossing which indicates
any movement to the Wishaw area may just have been local.
19. Mouse Water just north of Lanark,
near Dyck
Identification
Cleghorn Bridge over Mouse Water, east of Cleghorn.
It had been thought to be Roman as a Roman road passes
through here although it is more likely that it crossed
at a nearby ford. Nevertheless there was a bridge here
at least in late mediaeval times (it is mentioned in
1512-13) and certainly in Pont’s day. NS 9047 4526.
See NMRS NS94
NW3 and T
Reid‘s study (Fords, Ferries, Floats, and Bridges
near Lanark).
Associated route
Pont shows a mill here but it would also have led to
what was a main road in Roy’s day (partially following
the course of the Roman road) up towards Carluke. Having
said that there was a shorter route from Lanark to Carluke,
as well as one to the east via Carstairs.
East of River Clyde
Placenames
20. Strongait, near Kirkintilloch
Identification
Not identified, although Blacklands (shown south-west
of Strongait) is at NS 671 707.
Leadmanfoord, near Moffat Water (tributary of North
Calder) in east of map
Identification
Ford Bridge, 3 ½ miles east of Airdrie on A89
and 1 mile west of Caldercruix. NS 802 672. This is
confirmed by Roy who shows Leadmanford. The 1:25000
map shows Ford Bridge and Stepends Farm. In Pont’s
day it was presumably a ford.
Associated route
On Roy’s map, at Caldercruix one mile east of the
ford, he shows his road (from Airdrie) dividing with
one branch heading to Avonbridge and Linlithgow and
the other heading for Armadale and the east. This latter
road could well be the road shown on Pont’s Lothian
and Linlithgow map that runs from Edinburgh through
Bathgate to beyond Barbauchlaw (near Armadale). It may
in fact be the line of the road the monks of Newbattle
are said to have built in the early middle ages between
Newbattle Abbey (near Dalkeith) over to their lands
in the Monklands (Airdrie/Coatbridge area)
Regarding the other road, there is a mention dating
from 1723 in McFarlane’s Geographical Collections
(Vol 1, p.318) of the Muir Road from Linlithgow bridge
to Glasgow which is likely to have passed over this
ford.
Given Pont’s inclusion of Linlithgow bridge and
Avonbridge as well as the road heading past Armadale
(strictly speaking, it is shown on Blaeu and not the
Pont original so may date from the mid 1600’s),
it is reasonable enough to assume these routes existed
at that time.
21. Spittel Scheen near to Mouse Water
Identification
Not identified. Perhaps near Kilncadzow NS 8848.
22. Hil, above Mouse Water in south-east of map.
Identification
Hole, one mile east of Kilncadzow, near A721, NS 898
481.
Although noted on Blaeu and the original manuscript
map as Hil, it is shown as Hole on Roy and later maps.
The likelihood is that is from Heol, early Welsh for
a road, as it lies on the Roman road.
Associated route
The Roman road north of Castledykes heading towards
Carluke.
23. Bridgend (see 15 above)
Identification
Auchter water at Bonkle. NS 8356.
GLOTTIANA Praefectura Superior
The Upper Warde of Clyds-Dail
River Crossings
None depicted
Placenames
1. Carnwath
Identification
Old ford over Carnwath Burn, just west of village. NS
975 466
Wath is an Anglo-Saxon word meaning ford and it is thought
(see for example NSA
- go to non-subscriber, browse scanned pages) that the
ford was just west of Carnwath over the Carnwath Burn.
The presence of the motte so near to this ford may indicate
it was partly sited there to control movement using
the ford.
Associated route
By Roy’s day Carnwath was on a number of main routes
leading to Edinburgh, Peebles, Biggar, Lanark and Carluke.
While not definite it would seem reasonable to assume
the ford was used in Pont’s day by the Edinburgh
road (shown on the Lothians sheet as running on the
north side of the Pentlands) and by routes going to
Carstairs and Lanark.
2. Spittel, at bend of Clyde near Carnwath
Identification
Spittal, one mile south of Carnwath. NS 988 450.
Associated route
Without confirming its origins it is hard to say if
this was used by travellers although it may be significant
that it was on the course of the Roman road (see RCAHMS,
Inventory of Ancient Monuments in Lanarkshire, 1978,
page 137, no. 262)
3. Stoneypeth, near Dunsyre.
Identification
Stonypath, 1 mile west of Dunsyre. NT 0548. This also
appears on the Lothians sheet where it is placed above
the road depicted on that map which runs from Edinburgh
to (presumably) Carnwath. Roy shows the same route quite
clearly but again the present Stonypath is about one
km north of the road.
The name itself is very old appearing as Staneypethe
in the Register of the Great Seal of Scotland in 1411.
Associated route
On balance it probably relates to the Edinburgh road
(even an earlier course of this) rather than a north-south
route as shown on recent maps as this track only appears
from 1868 (see 6"map
search for Dunsyre) onwards.
11.
Coulnauch, near Hyndford
Identification
This would have been another ferry in this area. It
is now called Cobblehaugh and must have been sited near
the farm. NS 9242. Cobble is an old word for boat and
the Coul in Pont's original map has the same meaning
(the Scottish National Dictionary has an entry for coul
fat meaning tub or similar vessel). See T
Reid (p.218/9)
Associated
route Probably Pettinain to Lanark rather than Biggar
to Lanark.
12.
Tillyfurd, near Lanark
Identification
This is on the Pont original but not on Blaeu. It is
sited at NS 892 405. It was an important crossing used
to bring coal and peat from the Douglas area into Lanark.
See T
Reid, (p.221).
Associated
route Lanark to Douglas and area.
13. Outhclyd, near Biggar
Identification
Wolfclyde, one and a half miles south west of Biggar
on A72. NT 020 362. Reid
(p.215) suggests this derives from Wathclyde where wath
has the meaning of ford.
Associated
route Although Reid says that it allowed access
to Carmichael, Symington and the Douglas district this
was probably at quite a late date as no road is shown
on Roy. Nevertheless, the antiquity of the name suggests
it was used at sometime perhaps to give local access
to Biggar in the middle ages.
sTh
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