MOLENDINAR - Where Glasgow Began
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 31 ม.ค. 2024
- The Molendinar Burn. It runs from Frankfield Loch to Hogganfield Loch then onwards for two or three miles towards Glasgow, where it ends in the River Clyde.
In the 6th century it flowed through a ravine by a small hill and a cemetery, and this was where a priest named Kentigern buried the body of a holy man named Fergus.
Today, that ravine is now Wishart Street, the small hill is now The Necropolis, and the Molendinar Burn is culverted over and out of sight.
Kentigern went on to establish an early Christian settlement on the site, which is now occupied by Glasgow Cathedral, and beneath the Blackadder Aisle in that holy place probably lies the body of Fergus, as indicated in an intricately-shaped ceiling boss in that aisle. This, is where the grand city of Glasgow began, and today Kentigern, now Saint Kentigern and affectionately known as Saint Mungo, is the Patron Saint of Glasgow.
As the Molendinar Burn wriggles its way from Frankfield Loch to the River Clyde, it can be difficult telling what sections are natural and what sections have been fiddled with or diverted by man in order to power any number of mills and industries, of which there were plenty along its length.
Using old maps, and some photographs, we piece together much of the course of the waterway, and examine how its existence was crucial to Glasgow's early beginnings, from that early monastic settlement to the Second City of the Great British Empire.
One old map by John McArthur dating to 1778 was invaluable in charting the route of the Molendinar as it made its way through Glasgow. Other later maps allowed us to see much of the route outside the city.
From the cathedral we make our way over the Bridge of Sighs towards the ancient holy well, Lady Well, then cross Duke Street by Tennent's Wellpark Brewery into Duke Wynd.
In the end, we come across the only section of the Molendinar Burn still visible today in Glasgow city centre. The burn that gave life to Glasgow.
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As an elderly American woman I would just like to say how much I enjoy your videos. It’s such a pleasure learning about Scottish history from you. I love the Scottish accent and could listen to you talk all day. I don’t think American accents are as beautiful as those of the British Isles. I hope your channel grows and grows 🙏
Thank you Michele.
outstanding ed , very best of scotland to you , im a big Gerry Rafferty fan.
Fantastic video. I spent my childhood close to everywhere in this video. I knew most of the stuff but there’s some great things I’d never heard of. The engineering of the modern streets with these waterways involved is even more impressive. The history of our city is amazing
Absolutely.
Another fascinating video about how the much forgotten past made us. Thanks Ed.
Told to me by my Grandpa from Webster street Bridgeton, "Napoleon was a mighty man a mighty man was he,he sailed across wee mollies burn and captured Polmadie" .
I haven't heard that rhyme, but wouldn't the burn by Polmadie, on south side of Glasgow, be "Moll's Mire"? Allegedly from Queen Mary's horse being trapped in it on retreat from Langside. Always wondered if it had an etymological connection with "Mollindinar", &, now you've brought it to light, "Mollie''s burn". Need anexpert on old Brythonic.
Thanks Ed, this was fascinating! I knew a little about the burn and it's course down Wishart street, but that old print of the weir or waterfall just at the point where the bridge now stands, was astonishing! And as someone who has been for a long time, fascinated by the cathedral and it's surroundings, this was priceless. The photographs of Ladywell street were also a first for me. Great work and thank you again!
Thanks John. It's an area of the city packed with history.
That was great Ed, thanks again. Your videos and stories are always interesting because you focus on the local history of an area and go into details that most TV programs just don't do. These are the stories of oor ain wee toons, hills and bit of glen and you're doing a great service keeping these places remembered and relevant. 👏👏👏
Cheers Greig.
Absolutely amazing. So much important history beneath our feet and yet most of us know nothing about it. Thankyou so much for all you hard work, Ed, and your fascinating takes.
Many thanks Martin.
We lived on the other side of the Necropolis on Fisher st my gran on Nuneaton st and then at the top of Dunchatten st.
Your photo of Wishart St. with the burn running alongside was a real memory trigger.
I haven't lived in Glasgow for many years, but when I'm back, I usually take that walk down under the bridge towards the Ladywell, but my memory could never quite recall the rout of the burn after the Ladywell and was doubting my memory of seeing the burn run openly.
Your pic was very helpful
When Glaswegians say the old saying of "The Clyde made Glasgow etc" I feel my inner smug lecturer fighting for dominance 😂
I noticed you corrected yourself re the outfall of the Molendinar today. About 12 years ago I read almost to the point of obsession on the Molendinar and it's course through ancient Glasgow and the tales, riches and tribulations it brought. I believe the reason for the redirecting of the burns outfall was due to worries over escapes, attacks etc that the large arched entrance below the court building would provide. This was done around the time of the building of the court.
You have reawakened my "obsession" with the Molly and feel the urge to refresh my memory with the invaluable details I read and enjoyed feverishly those years ago. Thanks for your effort and work provided.
Yes, it's certainly an interesting subject. Just where that old-course arch is at The Clyde, there's a gap in the court buildings, presumed deliberate as they didn't want to build right on top of the burn course.
I have only recently discovered your channel. I love it, and have subscribed. This video was particularly poignant for me. I have never heard of the Molendinar burn, but there were several references in this video that brought my youth back to me. My mother and father lived on St Peter St in Cowcaddens when I showed up in the early 60s. We lost our mother two short years later. She was laid to rest in St Kentigern's in Glasgow. Dad remarried two years later and moved the family South to England, trying to leave the pain behind I think. On trips back home at Easter, me and my younger brother would walk from our grandmother's house on Bellrock St in Cranhill down to Hogganfiled loch and circumnavigate the loch. When the time came for me to be confirmed and take a confirmation name, my dad suggested Mungo. I wasn't real thrilled with his suggestion, but took the name to please him. Got some stick from my English school friends for that. I have spent the last thirty years in the US, but have made numerous trips back to Scotland. Never seem to have the time to explore Glasgow, or anywhere else for that matter. Thank you for making these videos. Looking forward to discovering more.
Thanks Steve.
Well done Sir. Thank you for the education.
Thanks for the research on this, Ed. My ancestors came from Townhead and lived on Parliamentary Road, before the slum clearances. That area of Glasgow has always fascinated me, and, yes, Blackadder's Aisle is definitely a holy place, no matter one's religion.
Thanks Anne. Blackadder Aisle is indeed a very special place.
Loved this video, thank you, Ed 💞
Really good vid as always Eddie.Cheers.
Great video, really interesting stuff and I loved the music. Thanks for posting.
Many thanks.
Thank you Ed,
Ed, you used to be able to access the Molendinar behind the old Great Eastern hotel, someone actually went into to the culverts years ago
& took loads of pics along the way, they got as far as the Glasgow High Court where the tunnels were to small to go any further.
the pics were either on the Hidden Glasgow or Urban Glasgow websites.
Many thanks. Yes, I saw those images online. They're very interesting, and I probably should have included one or two of them.
My father in law was a Glasgow fireman and back in the 70s pert of his job was to check under John Lewis store on argyle street he told me him and another fireman would go onto a small row boat on the molendinar burn underneath argyle street
Thanks for this Ed. Love the forgotten history you find out. Well done
Thanks Alfred.
Thanks Ed. Look forward to your videos ❤
Cheers Heather.
Great video Ed 👍
Thanks Jim.
Ed, Another great video of the history of Glasgow. Love the music as well. G
It's a topic whose surface I have merely scratched.
Simply the best love your videos pal
Thanks Patrick.
Thanks so much for sharing,I found that really interesting 👍
Thanks Douglas.
Brilliant Ed absolutely brilliant
Thank you.
Hi Ed from Canada 🇨🇦 fantastic stuff ...very much enjoy your journeys !
Thanks Todd. All the best to Canada.
Thanks ed , educational and interesting.
Cheers Susan.
What a fascinating insight into a part of Glasgow i was brought up. Thankyou for your diligence . Ian
Cheers Ian.
awesome, really great.
Excellent video Eddy. Fascinating. I never knew about the Molendinar burn, although I'd heard the name before.👍
Thanks Robert. A very big part of Glasgow's past.
Thanks Ed, another great video. Between late 1978 - early 1981 I worked in Lister St, I would often go to the cathedral during my lunch break for the same reasons as you, and to soak up the history. Look forward to your next video Ed.
Thanks Danny. Always something very calm and peaceful inside these big old cathedrals.
That was great research Ed. I have always wonered what happened to the Molendinar. Thanks.
Cheers. 👍
Very nice video Ed. Your research skills are certainly highlighted here. Otherwise it would never be evident that the Burn was still visible at so many places in the city. I always enjoy the history that’s the basis of your films. Thanks so much.
Lynn in Naples FL 😊
Cheers Lynn.
Fantastic video Ed.👏. For all the years I lived in east end I did not know that the lady well was still there. Will pop over to see it soon....👍👍
Cheers David.
Great video, you put in a lot of research there. !
Cheers. 👍
Thanks Ed,
It's almost like a quick trip home from Australia, every time I see one of your
fascinating videos.
Today was particularly poignant because I'm an Allan Glen's boy
(until 15 yo) and, even as a young fellow, I was particularly interested
in the origins of Glasgow and its history, and it wasn't too far away
to be examined closely.
Thank you, for cheering me up with yet more happy memories.
Charles
Thanks Charles.
Fascinating.
Thanks Ed, Born in Rottenrow and lived in the Drygate for a bit, Parents met each other working in the T brewery.
I've Heard of the Molendinar burn but thought it was done away with long ago, fascinating to know some small stretches can still be seen, big grated arch into the Clyde is amazing.
I thought that big grated arch was where the burn entered the Clyde, and it did at one time, but someone commented that it enters the Clyde elsewhere these days.
Hi Ed, once again a very informative video. I remember as a teenager in the 1950's seeing a 'St Mungos' Well' in the backyard of a building facing the Barras in the Gallowgate. It was ciruclar and built of stone if I remember correctly and had a plaque describing it and wondered if it is still there. Re the Necropolis and St Kentigern. A few years ago there was an interesting discussion on the Glasgow Forum website where it was proposed that the Necropolis was actually an Iron Age fort originally, built on a volcanic plug like Dunbarton, Stirling and Edinburgh and it would have made sense for Kentigern to set up his mission there. seeking the patronage of some local Chief. Made sense to me.
Bob Hay (faithfull follower in Australia).
Hi Bob. I can see reference to the well online in the following Canmore page:
canmore.org.uk/site/44275/glasgow-gallowgate-st-mungos-well
The Iron Age Fort seems probable, although it would need hefty man-made defences on the eastern side where there is less in the way of natural rocky or sloping defences.
Another interesting video thanks Ed. I think we tend to look at cities and assume they have always been there. They are what they are, if you know what I mean. Your videos are fantastic history lessons and certainly give a great insight into how things were all those years ago. Thanks again Ed.
Thanks Bryce. It's a fascinating subject whose surface I only scratched.
@@EdExploresScotland I can only imagine Ed.
A very interesting video Ed. I admit that I've not heard of the Molendinar Burn before. Maybe its because I was dragged up on the south side of Glasgow. 😁 Great video 👍
Many thanks. Yes, the Clyde can be a pretty big barrier, with those on one side or the other not venturing over that bit of water too often.
In the 90s I worked in the old Alexander's public School, converting it into Ladywell business centre. If you go down the side of it and down a wee path to the left you should be able to see the tunnel where the burn comes out from below Duke St. It's a bit overgrown with trees now but was clearly visible back then and is the spot where the famous old pic of boys playing in the Molendinar was taken. Basically across the burn from where you were standing in Duke Wynd which 30 yrs ago was the back of the Great Eastern Hotel.
Tremendous work Ed. Much appreciated insight. So does it now trickle underground through culverts to end up in the Clyde.
Thank you. It's mostly underground in culverts. I thought it entered the Clyde by the High Court building, but apparently it enters elsewhere near the weir on Glasgow Green.
Great video Ed, interesting stuff. Knew of someone in the days before you tube who traced in photographs the river clyde all the way to its source up in the hills of south lanarkshire.
Sounds like a task that would take some time.
Lovely video Ed. Very interesting. How places change eh
Absolutely.
Interesting video, as always Sir 🫡
When I met you last year in The Clutha, you’d just been for a walk around this area if I remember rightly.
Inspiring, I will need a visit to Glasgow Cathedral as I’ve never been inside it.
Cheers Graham. I love these old cathedrals. I always make an effort to visit a few when in England, where they are generally off-the-scale for grandness.
Lincoln Cathedral is incredible. Was in it a few years ago, as is that whole area - tons of history there.
Enjoy your videos Ed and the research, Care you take in producing them comes through every time. Another winner!
What did you do to piss-off the crows?
Thank you. These crows always seem to be having a barney about something.
Great video, very informative and compelling... I am venturing inside very soon so stay in touch Ed my friend for video of Inside 👍🏴
Thanks. I would think again about your venture. Just too dangerous; water and air quality issues. There are images online of someone's else's venture, but it really is full of very real hazards and not recommended.
Makes me proud to be Scottish ed. Regardless of my own religion. Your musical content also has inspired me to dig out my old Yamaha PSR 740 Workstation & jam & jig !!! With my headphones on of course...!! As my other half may cut the cable 👍
Music's got a lot going for it.
Moulin Rouge, your back teeth etc....Molendinar, pertaining to mill or millers.
I learn something new every day.Thanks!
Atb
Very interesting video again. I was surprised when I saw the title of this episode as I live near Molendinar in Queensland, Australia (emigrated here 16 years ago from Fife). I hadn’t heard the name when I lived in Scotland. You prompted me to ask Mr Google how the Aussie version got its name and, surprise, surprise, it was named after your Molendinar Burn! Next time I drive through there I’ll think of you Ed. 😊
That's interesting. Thanks Laura.
Kai, that pond and wee park is still there. Ignore the Buckie bottles and the odd shopping trolley. 😂
Forbes, the pond has definitely gone. At least the last time I looked. The waterfall is still there.
Molendinar a name i have heard of many a time but I had absolutely nó idea ít was the start of Glasgow pure magic to see how Glasgow became to be Brilliant video thanks Ed
Thank you.
In the early 1950’s the drinking well named Ladywell was working passersby could drink from a metal cup which was bolted to the wall with a chain….at that time the Molendinar Burn was clearly seen running beside the black ash football pitch where the “north part of Armadale Street” runs off Alexandra Parade now called Armadale Path…..it was also clearly seen running behind no. 100 Duke Street which was then the Great Eastern Hotel (directly opposite the Duke Street Women’s Prison) which was in effect a huge lodging house for men and has now been converted into flats….from there the burn passed through College Goods Station in High Street on its way towards the Trongate before running into the Clyde about 300 yards south….
Cheers John. I remember those metal cups with the chain at drinking fountains. The good old days.
Excellent video as always Ed, I'm not a religious man either, although I did get dispatched to the Glasgow City Mission every Sunday. I wonder if it was the molendiner burn in the coup I used to play in as a boy. It was at the top of Croft street off the gallowgate. It didn't look like drinking water though, it was a deep purpley black colour. I wonder if Holywell street that was next to Camlachie primary school was named after the holy well you spoke about. Great video Ed, more enjoyable when it's somewhere I grew up in and roamed about.
Cheers Colin. I was trying to check the course of the burn, but am unable to locate Croft Street.
Great stuff Ed, pity you missed the waterfall on the burn at Provan Mill.
The burn now enters the Clyde just below the weir on the Green and can be seen at low tide. Formerly it entered the river 😊near the High Court.
Thanks Forbes. I can see that waterway now on modern satellite images. In an 1892 map the burn disappears for a bit in the area of Provan Mill, probably flowing into the mill dam, and there is another bit of water that the burn then emerges from. In some areas there are countless bits of water; the burn, canal, weirs, dams and lades, and it can be difficult telling what's what. That waterfall is not shown on the 1892 map, and is perhaps a modern feature.
maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/side-by-side/#zoom=17.6&lat=55.87762&lon=-4.19575&layers=168&right=BingSat
I had no idea the burn entered the Clyde on the Green. Probably explains why there was no water flowing out of the exit by the High Court.
Could play in the burn when I was a boy in Blackhill. Where the waterfall is at Provanmill, was the site of the actual mill. I was told that is what drove the mill wheel & the pond at the bottom of the falls, where Blackhill youths used to swim up to the 1960's was originally the mill pond. The pond is now filled in, was more or less destroyed by vandalism by 1970.
@@EdExploresScotland Hi Ed, the burn used to continue from the pond at what is now Molindinar Park ( we called it Provanmill Park) it continued through the whisky bond & ran between the railway & the back of Acrehill St, then between Monkland canal & Craigendmuir St passing under the (same) railway towards Blochairn on Blochairn side.oppo Alexandra Park, between canal & railway sidings. After that, a mystery to us from Blackhill as we could not get visas beyond this point.
Footnote: Kentigern later moved down to Wales, where he founded St Asaph Cathedral. The legend of the salmon and the ring is also featured locally, and can be seen in the stained glass windows of the cathedral.
Cheers Brian. They travelled long distances in those days, and no buses or trains.
Wow Ed ! Almost 10K views on this one already ✊🏼
Yes, for some reason the videos about Glasgow seem to get way more views than anything else. No one's interested in seeing me in the great outdoors eating pies!
For Your Pies Only….Hardcore Fans 🤣
Fascinating as always Ken. Thank you.
I visited Duke Street abattoir back in the 60s. It was a very large and old abattoir then serving the cities meat trades. I was just wondering if in its origins the waste material was dispensed into the burn?
If you mean the abbatoir on the Duke Street/Melbourne Street corner, then that was a few streets away from the course of the burn, and therefore unlikely to have been so-used.
Thanks Ed
Love Ur videos covering west of Scotland, one thing I do have as a question is the topography of the burn. I live just off of blackhill and can't figure out if the change of hills have happened and the burn is piped round my area. There is a random water pump that sinks into an area but this is post m80 construction so originally thought there was some water mass coming down from the north. But yeh send a DM or comment so I can show sources of water before the M8 which was originally the monklands canal
Cheers Hunter. The following link is for a side-by-side map in the National Library of Scotland's excellent online map facility, with an 1892 map on the left and a modern satellite image on the right. You can zoom in and move to other areas up, down, left, right. It shows the area around Blackhill and Provan. As you can see, there are many water sources, from the burn itself to the Monklands Canal and any number of dams or weirs and mill-lades. You can see that the M8 motorway followed the course of the Monklands Canal for much of the way. If you zoom in close you can see that the thin blue line of the Molendinar Burn comes very close to the Blackhill Locks of the Monklands Canal. Hopefully examination of this map will answer your questions.
maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/side-by-side/#zoom=15.7&lat=55.87603&lon=-4.19139&layers=168&right=BingSat
Went to St Kentigerns on Duke street across from the prison which was annexe of St Mungo’s and the Molindinar burn ran at he back of the school, we lost a lot of balls over the wall that separated the school from the burn
Good informative video. Always been interested in this waterway, was at school next to it in Duke St, football ended up in it a few times. I knew the route from Hoganfield and where you see it in Provanmill, but get confused with the sign next to Alexandra Parade train station and how it then comes down Wishart St ??
Many thanks. The following link is for a side-by-side map in the National Library of Scotland's excellent online map facility, with an 1892 map on the left and a modern satellite image on the right. You can zoom in and move to other areas up, down, left, right. You can see that train station. If you follow Alexandria Parade to the left, or west, you can see the blue line of the Molendinar between the Parade and the Monklands Canal. Although the burn then disappears on the old map as you move further west, you can see the dotted line of what seems to be called the Royalty Boundary. Following that boundary takes you to Wishart Street. The Molendinar Burn appears to have followed that boundary for a bit, and as such that dotted line is the course of the Molendinar Burn.
maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/side-by-side/#zoom=16.5&lat=55.86452&lon=-4.21085&layers=168&right=BingSat
Many thanks Ed.
Lived in In this area and went to school here first at Golfhill primary then ONSLOW DRIVE secondary so I’m familiar with the area and the molly as we called it. I am proud to say I was christened in the cathedral not that I has much say in it😊
My Gran stayed in St James road now all student buildings. We used to hear about the Molendinar burn. Think there is a chip shop called the Mollendiner somewhere nearby! Always wondered where the burn really was. Thanks as now know so much more.
Cheers Alan.
Very interesting. They should have this in the city’s school’s history
Just a little request, in your next video could you turn the music down a bit?. It's just when you listen via headphones to you talking at comfortable volume and then the music kicks in it blasts your ears a bit. That's my only slight criticism, apart from that your videos are great and I've even taught my elderly mother to use TH-cam on her TV as she's originally from Govan.
Given it still exists on the surface in places means the burn itself as a whole still exists, just flowing under ground in pipes these days?.
Cheers Kevin. The sound in the videos is something that I both pay a lot of attention to and which gives me constant angst. If I listen to the video on headphones, all volumes, whether of me chatting or in a voiceover, and the music, is all okay, with none of it standing out as being much louder than anything else. In many ways I would want the music to be a bit louder and more prominent than me talking. I think basically it very much depends what you are listening with - i.e. what type of headphones, because the frequency response varies greatly in the world of headphones - and also your ears. As an old guy my ears shouldn't really be picking up many frequencies over 2kHz, but I'm clearly making alterations above that frequency and hearing the difference. Maybe I'm making the final music mix too heavy in the upper frequencies, but I am comparing my mix to other professionally mixed tracks.
It was by the clear Molendinar Burn
Where it meets and runs with the River Clyde
That they tell the tale of the Holy One
Who went fishing down by the riverside.
A holy man, from Fife he came
And they say his name was Kentigern
And it's by the spot where the fish was caught
The Dear Green Place was born.
Ed.. I owe you an apology.
Been watching your vids for ages but I never comment or like 😔
I am so sorry.
Thank you for all the research that you do. Your vids are xlent mate and very informative 👍
Also love the fact you create all those tunes that go with these vids. That's just so impressive 👌
Have to admit tho. I often laugh and think you must sprint back to your camera in those walk-away scenes.
We are in Glasgow after all 😂😂
Please keep doing what you're doing and thank you 👏
Cheers Graham. No need to apologise. I sometimes liken the video comments to the visitor book in a museum where most folk just write, 'Very good.'
Thanks Ed. The Molendinar Burn often comes up in conversations. I learned a lot from watching your video and will pass on the knowledge.
Thanks Stephen. Don't take what I say as gospel, as it was a huge subject, and I'm bound to have introduced a few inaccuracies. But hopefully I've given a reasonably sound overall picture.
Always wondered where the burn was being covered over by modern buildings and streets. And also loved the music made my hairs stand up can i ask what it's called please.
I also remember way back in 70s being give my mug in primary school of glasgow 800
I just made the music up in the house. I make bits of music on Cubase Elements, and if I think they fit in a particular video I use them. Sometimes they work; sometimes they don't.
@@EdExploresScotland wi can truly say that piece of music truly worked love it
Thank you for being informative.
Checked the whisky online Ed, Moses Risks Royal Vat No5. £300 in Italy last year. 🙀👍
It’s a pity you never went down from the moulin Dina r family learning centre as there is still an impressive water fall there that disappears underground.
Someone else mentioned that waterfall. It can sometimes be difficult to tell, but I suspect that waterfall is more recent, and not actually part of the original Molendinar Burn.
Can you get access to the Ladywell
Yes, it's in Ladywell Street (the little bit that's left), just off the end of Wishart Street, close to Tennent's brewery.
the Molendinar ran behind St Mungos school in Duke St
👍👍👍
I know that old fantastic house so well my anty and uncle and cousins stayed there when those new house's we're not there instead iit was big massive 100 plus feet trees and my uncle Ricky always had 2 German shepherd's as well that my granda had trained and gave him and if you don't beleave me my last name and there's was Simpson my anty and uncle Ricky Jean loved that old house
As opposed to the origin story of Glasgow's name, the popular, but lazy, explanation as "dear green place" has always seemed a bit contrived if not cod. Much more sensible is the explanation that it was originally "Eglescu" (sp?) "The place of the church", and most people accept it being built there, on the Molindinar banks, as the founding point of the city.
A Stonemason at the Cathedral told me that when they lifted the floor they found a finger with a ring on it under the Alter.
Probably belonging to a previous stonemason who hadn't lifted his finger out the way quick enough!
A good guess would be the ground.