Whether you live in Balmore, Bankell, Bardowie, Barnellan, Barraston, Blairskaith, the Branziet, Craigmaddie, Fluchter or Langbank, you are in the Parish of Baldernock, which was once an administrative area, but is now only referred to as a church boundary. There has been a church at Baldernock since the 13th century.

People had been around since the ice had disappeared at the end of the last ice age. There is evidence of bronze age burials and of even earlier occupation of the wooded hills and moors. At that time, the wide Kelvin Valley would be very swampy and a natural barrier, which would explain why the Roman Wall runs along higher ground on its southern edge.

Later, in feudal times, the local landlords at Mugdock, Craigmaddie, Bardowie and Bankell let out their lands to tenant farmers.

The area was self-sufficient. As well as farmers and their cotters, there were craftsmen, trades people and even coal miners living fairly isolated lives because travel was difficult. People would get about on foot or, if lucky, on horseback, until the Statute Labour Roads and Turnpikes of the 18th century made wheeled traffic really practical.

The railway came from Glasgow to Milngavie in 1863 and the railway to Torrance was built mainly for coal traffic in 1879, but also carried passengers. This was the start of Glasgow folk settling in the country. After the First World War, there was a bus service and a few people had cars.

Today there is still a mix of farming folk and those who work in the City. We don’t all know each other, but there are many activities where it is easy to meet like-minded people.

(Geoffrey Jarvis 2002)

Auld Wives Lifts
Craigmaddie

For more information
see this site in Milngavie
who advise their people to walk our way.

Click here for some more pictures

More pictures and information on local history soon..
If you can help with contributions please email: history@baldernock.org.uk

Check our links page also

If you have information or pictures you would like to share please contact us.