Tomb at Garbethill near Cumbernauld

[purplepantman]

It lurks in darkest West Lothian, near Uphall. There's a bit on it here: >Clicky< (I never did get off my backside and investigate it further.)

Uphall, West Lothian! That's only a (large) penalty kick away from me. I'm on holiday at the end of the month so I've now got something to. A kind of tombhunter's Busman's holiday!

[purplepantman]

I went up to Cleddans this morning. What a place! Drove up to the main house. Got out the car. Looked about for someone to speak to. Next thing there's a chap at the window. Looked up and there was the owner with his head sticking out the first floor window. I explained why I was there. He said he didn't want any photographs taken and that "this whole place is private". I asked if I could at least see the tomb and was told "no!" and he repeated the private thing. "Nae bother!", I said. He stood at the window and watched me drive away for ages. He's probably still standing there now incase I come back.

"It's ma baw and yer no gettin a shot!"

It would have been great to get photo's of the old stables too. They're all overgrown and look amazing!

I'd love to hire a helicopter right now and just fly about his estate for half an hour with a big telephoto lens and a blinding flash! On the side of the helicopter I'd write "GET IT UP YI" in huge letters.

Oh well. I've chapped a few doors during this whole tomb thing and everyones been great.
I was bound to meet someone like him eventually.

[toomse]

You’ll have to get back to Cleddans SAS style if need be

There’s a tunnel requires urgent investigation

[toomse]

here's an archive map

[toomse]

I’m after your throne and crown now purplepantman

here's another one at Craigelvan near Coathill

[Ronnie]

A tomb with issues ... help ma boab, call out the social workers

[purplepantman]

You’ll have to get back to Cleddans SAS style if need be

There’s a tunnel requires urgent investigation

A tunnel and a tomb both within yards of each other!! God knows how I'd get near them?
Under cover of darkness with my black ninja suit and my night vision goggles?

That guy was just not entertaining me at all. He didn't tell me to fark off exactly but I'm sure if I kept at him he would have done. He wants that place kept well private! It really looked amazing too. The old stables are at a lower level than the house and they're all overgrown with bullrushes and other exotic stuff. There's old stone staircases leading down to them. It's like something from another time.

I was looking for the tomb as I drove up but couldn't see any sign of it coz it's located around the back.
Whatever's going on up there, he aint sharing it. It was like he was angry I'd found his secret paradise or something. The whole brief five minute visit was kind of wierd really.

Someone else try going up for a laugh - I dare you! Just to see what he says.

The thing is, if I or someone else really wanted to see it, could he really stop me?
Right to roam and all that! But then again, it is his back garden after all.

I’m after your throne and crown now purplepantman
here's another one at Craigelvan near Coathill

That's the one I visited on Saturday.
I called it Glenhove because it's on the Glenhove plantation farm land (the farm's about 500 yards to the north) but you're right, it's very near Craigelvan. Thanks anyway Toomse!!

A tomb with issues ... help ma boab, call out the social workers

Haa! Wonder what that means? Could it mean that's where the stream rises? On the older maps you see the word rises a lot. I'd imagine this is where the stream/burn pop's out of the ground. Could issues mean the same?

Thanks!
Matt

[toomse]

re tomb at Cleddans

Purplepantman the owner of The Stables Courtyard may have access rights to the tunnel (Mrs R Lawrie 01236874602).

+ there’s two occupants listed at Cleddans Farm

Cleddans Farm: Mr R Millar 01236872104
Mobile 0776589210

No2 Cleddans Farm: 01236873893 (don’t have a contact name)

maybe the other half would be more accommodating with access to the tomb

[JayKay]

I’m after your throne and crown now purplepantman

here's another one at Craigelvan near Coathill

jeez, ma hoose is on that map, need to get on the mountain bike at the weekend I reckon!

[Knightmare]

This thread is very good. I've got an old map and discovered that the tomb probably pre-dates the house itself. Possibly the same family but before they decided to build the house. Also interesting that Cleddans was once called Claydens. So perhaps the family had links to fireclay mining in the area.

Incidentally Cleddans comes from the gaelic "Claddhan" meaning "A Ditch"

[purplepantman]

Thanks for all the help with this guys.
Not sure what my next move will be with regards the tomb at Cleddans.
Need to have a think about it.

Even the name seems to change depending on what maps you look at.
I've mentioned before that I've seen it called Claddens and thought this was a mistake.
Then I came across this published 1890....


But then this published by the same map-maker only 14 years later....


And as Knightmare states, in 1817, the area was called Claydens.

I've frequently seen names on old maps change but it's mostly just to shorten the name (eg Longrigg to Longrig etc) but not swapping vowels about as in this case. To go from Claydens to Claddens to Cleddans in 100 years is a bit weird if you ask me. At this rate, by 2300 it'll be called Portobello!

[purplepantman]

Just thinking!
On Knightmare's 1817 map, it actually says "Tomb".
Now for it to say Tomb, on a map of that (small) scale, whatever tomb is there must be quite big or important.
Hmm!?

Also Knightmare, could you have a look at your map and see if you can find the magic "T" word anywhere else on it?

Cheers
Matt

[Knightmare]

There are no other tombs showing on my 1817 map. Lots of the place names have changed or have been altered slightly but lots of the old roads follow the same routes as present day.

I've been doing some research of my own and apologies if i'm going off subject slightly but i have discovered some interesting stuff which happend fairly nearby Cleddans, Riggend in fact.

I have an old first edition book called Airdrie: A Historical Sketch which details some very interesting and forgotton Historical information about the town.

As it happens Airdrie was formed by the Hamilton Family who had a large house in the grounds where Monklands Hospital now stands . No tombs im afraid but the interesting part is that there is information that Wiliam Wallace and his army camped in a field to the east of Airdrie House (probably hosted by the Hamiltons themselves) on their way to the battle of Falkirk. In the book it states the folowing information:-

Extract from:- Airdrie – A Historical Sketch (Page 4)
Tradition has it that on a field to the east of Airdrie House, William Wallace and his followers encamped on their way to the Battle of Falkirk and a large upright stone at Riggend used to be pointed out as one which Wallace sharpened his “twa edged claythorn”

On my photo i have placed a line from Airdrie House to Riggend which cuts through lots of fields but is pretty much a line that can be followed all the way to Falkirk. So this account that he was in Riggend seems pretty credible.



The only question is:- is there a large upright stone at Riggend that has survived all these years. It seems from the book that the stone is something that stands out a mile so i would imagine that if it has survived, will still be very visible. Maybe even the locals of Riggend know about its existance. Riggend hasn't changed too much over the years so there is some hope.

Below is a photo of Riggend today.



Let me know what you think....is it worth a site visit!!!!

[purplepantman]

How interesting!

When I was doing this....

viewtopic.php?f=15&t=8806

....a few Sunday's ago, I took a pic of this stone which was right next to where I parked my car.
It just seemed to stand out and for some reason I photographed it.
Perhaps this is the very stone! It's not quite Riggend but it's only about a mile or so to the west.



It's exactly here...

http://www.bing.com/maps/default.aspx?v ... &encType=1

Did it have "Wully W" written on it? Not that I could see but I didn't look around the back of it.

Interesting bit of history though. I've heard of that book and know it's quite hard to get hold of.

Cheers
Matt

[Knightmare]

Thanks Purplepantman.

Not sure if this is the stone although it may be a good candidate and is not far at all from Riggend.

I have since found a reference to it on the following : http://www.thesocietyofwilliamwallace.com/min.htm

DEPUTY CONVENOR ( Duncan Fenton): Duncan brought in an article from BBC History magazine, which tried to excuse Butcher Cumberland’s actions in the aftermath of the Battle of Culloden. Too many modern day historians seem to want to santise our history to make it more palatable. Member Debbie Bardo e-mailed Duncan to watch out for this article. Duncan remnded members that Doors Open Day is approaching. During the month of September, many properties open their doors free of charge to the public. More information can be found at www.doorsopendays.org.uk

Duncan reminded members that the annual commemoration at Robroyston will take place at the monument on Saturday 2nd August, beginning at 2.00 pm. The Campsie Nairn pub has been booked from 3.00 till 5.00 pm for refreshments. It is situated in Woodhill Road, just off Auchinairn Road (B812). Duncan thanked Scott Love for cleaning the graffitti from the Wallace Stone at Riggend, and tidying up the surrounding area.

Might try to find a way of contacting these people to get the exact location.

There are some other references to it on other forums similar to this one but nothing solid. However it would appear from the rather ligitimate reference on the website above that it does indeed exist.

I'll be back soon with info.