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Historian investigates the ‘lost village’ of Garscadden

Eric Flack is piecing together the heritage of the former mining village, which was demolished in the 1920s.

18 November 2009 20:34 GMT

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A Drumchapel historian who used to play as a youngster in the ruins of Garscadden before it was demolished in 1927 is appealing for anyone who has memories of the 'lost village' to contact him.

The 19th century mining locale - which once boasted a school, a shop and its own church - was the proud home a thriving community of 650 people, with as many as 14 crammed into one home.

The location of the former mining village now hosts a council refuse depot. Eric Flack is a local historian who is now trying to piece together the past of Garscadden.

Historian investigates the ‘lost village’ of Garscadden

He said: "There were five rows and each row contained 20 houses. These people were employed as iron stone miners, although they were digging out coal.

"The conditions were very primitive. You had to pay for your own tools and get your tools sharpened."

Garscadden was situated halfway between Hardgate and Bearsden. It was thrown up quickly by the mine company to accommodate workers and their families.

It was grim, with as many as 42 people sharing one dry toilet. However, when the mine closed in 1907, many of the villagers were reluctant to leave.

Eric added: "I think people should remember their heritage and where they came from. With genealogy now becoming very important to some people, people came from villages like this and all traces of these mining villages in Scotland are now disappearing."
 

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  1. Default avatar

    1. 09 Dec 2009 05:14Colin.'G' said

    RE: Eric Flack, local historian. I have just recently investigated a family tree for a family called Fleming.This man's Uncle was an 'ironworker'at Garscadden. And,by co-incidence,I was a milk-boy delivering milk and groceries to the the last remaining houses there in the 1950's. Could you furnish me with a contact address with Mr Flack, so that I can put them in touch? Colin.G

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    2. 09 Dec 2009 09:56Millward said

    Hi, You can contact me at ericflack@BTopenworld.com The reason they are all "iron miners" is that the company Merry & Cunningham were ironmasters and paid lower pay rates that "coal masters". They were digging coal as well as iron.I have a William Fleming Pitheadman in the 1881 census. House 2 Row one.I do have a "Peg Fleming" in a 1920 school photo

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