by youngsod » Thu Oct 07, 2004 2:25 pm
This village is where my dad grew up in. It's named Bothwellhaugh, but is known by everyone who lives there as The Pailice'. It was a typical mining village from what he's told me. They lived in a room and kitchen in Douglas Street (which he swears blind I didn't get my name from!), Sounds not too bad until you realise he lived there with mother, father, granpa & 7 brothers. From what he tells me and from what I've heard from others it was a fantastic place to live, and everyone loved it. Of course this was mainly due to the community rather than the housing.
Pops and family moved out in 1948 to Community Road Bellshill which was a palace as it had an inside bog. From what he's told me the village died a slow death after the mine shut, and I think it was finally demolished in the late 60s. Nothing remains of the village itself, though I think the wee visitors centre is an old farm building of some kind. In fact the street my dad grew up in is now in the middle of the Loch, at the bothwell end.
There is a Cairn there, and every year there was a celebration. However I think last years was the last one as there are so few people left still alive.