The Story of Stepps

Millerston

Millerston has always been dominated by the presence of Hogganfield Loch. As previously mentioned, Hogganfield ice was at one time used extensively by Glasgow shops for refrigeratory purposes, and there were several ice-houses in the vicinity of the loch. A large brick building on the north-west shore, for long employed in the manufacture of artificial ice, was still in existence in 1919, but was by then occupied by other tradesmen, including a slater.

Millerston - Station Road

The Victorians and Edwardians made use of the loch for recreational purposes, especially for skating and curling in winter, but such use was greatly inhibited by the fact that much of the shore was in private hands. In 1912 a Sub-Committee of Glasgow Corporation was appointed to consider the acquisition of additional ground at the loch. By the beginning of 1915, however, the Corporation still had only two short strips at the western end, adjacent to Cumbernauld Road, in its possession. Some of the landowners seemed reluctant to sell their ground to the Corporation, including Mrs Mary Pinkerton, who owned much of the southern fringe. She was not keen on the scheme because it "would bring crowds of people" to the loch. Eventually the Corporation was able to acquire all the ground it needed for the creation of a public park. Property bought over included the old Millerston School (next door to the ice factory), purchased from Lanark County Council in 1924 for £800. About a hundred unemployed people were put to work to lay out a promenade, almost 2½ miles in length, around the loch. A peninsula on the eastern side was cut through to form "a picturesque island". By August 1923 the Kirkintilloch Herald was able to report that the loch was now "a public park, with all the appurtenances of notice-boards bearing the rules and regulations, and with an attendant in Parks Department cap to feed the swans..." It was not until July 1924, however, that the park was formally opened to the public. The water surface was then said to be 53 acres, and the pleasure ground "specially reserved for the use of picnic parties" amounted to over 60 acres. A hundred rowing boats and two motor boats were provided for recreational use. The Glasgow tramway network was extended from Riddrie to Millerston to coincide with the opening of Hogganfield as a public park. Nowadays (1995) the loch is still popular with Glasgow families, as a place of recreation. Amenities include boating and a pitchand-putt course. The loch is also popular with anglers - in 1979 it was stocked with over 7,000 fish (bream, roach, tench and carp). The island created from the former peninsula is a Bird Sanctuary, where heron can be seen, and several species of wild duck, as well as many other birds.

Millerston Cross

During the nineteenth century the land around Millerston/Hogganfield was divided between farming and industrial use. Hogganfield Farm was offered on a 17-year lease in December 1791, when it was said to extend to about 80 acres. It was offered for lease again in 1837, together with local coal and iron workings. Apart from coal, limestone and fireclay mining, and ice manufacturing, the principal local industry was a bleachwork, situated just across the road from what became the entrance to Hogganfield Park. During the middle years of the nineteenth century it was operated by Adam Strang & Co., but in 1859 it was put up for sale. The works were then said to include, among other erections, "Boiling, Starching, Calendering and Steam Can Houses". Later that century the works were in the possession of Messrs Stevenson. At around 5.30am each morning, it is said, young girls from Chryston wearing white aprons could be seen walking through Stepps on their way to start their day at the bleachfield. They did not return until 6.30pm. The bleachworks lasted into the twentieth century, but by 1919 was said to be on short-time working.

Mossvale - Station Road

Millerston U.F. Church originated as a Mission Station of the Free Church of Scotland in 1846. The present church was built in 1856, at first designated as a "Preaching Station". The lease of the ground was for 999 years, from Martinmas, 1856. On 7th July 1859 the Rev. John Lumsden Walker was elected as first Minister of the Congregation. In 1929 a majority of members decided not to go along with the great number of U.F churches who were uniting with the Church of Scotland at that time, and decided instead to remain separate. The church was thereafter known as Millerston United Free Church (Continuing). An assignation by the Trustees of Millerston U.F. Church of Scotland in favour of Trustees of the Millerston U.F. Church of Scotland (Continuing) was recorded in the General Register of Sasines on 23rd February 1935, in order that the trustees of the newly-designated church might be confirmed as possessors of the 999-year lease. By 1937 the manse had fallen into such a state of disrepair that demolition was recommended. This was effected in the spring of 1938. In 1946 a former organist and choirmaster of the church, Mr Peter Williamson, bequeathed the sum of £1,300 to the congregation for erection of a new manse. Building work was eventually carried out during 1951-52.

In 1911 the early history of Mossbank Industrial School, Millerston, was described in the columns of the Kirkintilloch Herald in the following terms:

MOSSBANK INDUSTRIAL SCHOOLS.- Mr. James M'Farlane, who has been a member for twenty years of the committee in charge of the Mossbank Industrial Schools under the Glasgow Juvenile Delinquency Board, has prepared a statement dealing with the progress of the schools. In 1869, when the schools were first opened, he states, the School Board was non-existent, and the children of that day were without the modern restraint of that great factor in the life of the young. The inmates of the institution partook more of the character of delinquents than in more recent times. They were looked upon almost as wild colts, and were watched at every corner. From their want of training and previous history a great part of the term of their detention was taken up in reclaiming them from their wayward proclivities, with the result that it was often very difficult for them to do well either during their stay in the institution or in after years. Twenty years later the institution had emerged from the chrysalis stage. The School Board, after 15 years' existence, had wrought a mild discipline on the children of the city, and it was found that the character of the lads admitted had greatly changed, as in the great bulk of cases they were more sinned against than sinning. This better type of lad gave them an earlier start in welldoing in the institution, and with the training of the Boys' Home a much better chance in after life. Every inducement was given to the lads to extend their educational knowledge, and not long ago every lad in the Home, 28 in number, was in attendance at the Technical College.

Mossbank eventually closed in 1970.

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