Caldwell House (also known as Coldwel, Callwall)

Further details about Caldwell Estate are available on the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historic Monuments of Scotland website http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/334095/details/caldwell+house+estate/

REFERENCES

1. MAPPED SOURCES

Unless otherwise stated all maps referenced are from the online National Library of Scotland Map Collection http://maps.nls.uk

Timothy Pont; Manuscript Maps of Scotland; Pont 33: Renfrewshire (circa 1590)

Stops at border of Renfrewshire and Ayrshire but lands around Caldwell Tower (Coldwel) indicated with Ramsy in area of Ramshead.

Joan Bleau Renfroana Renfrew (Atlas of Scotland) 1654

As Pont but with clear indication of local water course.

1752-55 Roy Military Survey of Scotland (Lowlands)

Map showing gardens that pre-date existing Caldwell House with topographic indications of probable location. Location of water course to immediate west of gardens obliterated (i.e. explained) by later topographic changes associated with introduction of road to south of later Adam Caldwell House. Location of escarpments/slopes to north east of gardens place location in area in front of (to north of) existing Caldwell House. The enclosed area shown on the map is consistent with the site of the now defunct walled garden to the west of Ram's Head. Evidence of a wall base and associated building remain. Main avenue of trees on east edge of Roy garden shown on later Ordnance Survey maps and some trees (Lime) remain. Line extends from area to immediate east of Caldwell House to quarry in field south of Ram's Head. The Roy map does not show the principal house of the estate.

Charles Ross - A Map of the County of Renfrew, 1754 (East Renfrewshire Council Archives)

Contains a rare showing of the mansion that preceded the Adam mansion and the major routes through the county at the time.

John Ainslie - Map of the County of Renfrew, 1796

Ainslie's map shows original road through estate along with possible detail of lake adjacent to location for existing ice house. Also original water course shown prior to later road alterations, thus supporting location of gardens shown in Roy's map. Although no clear physical evidence has been found, cartographic comparison studies indicate the formal garden of the Roy map extended to the area to the south-west of the Adam mansion - as indicated by the remains of the avenues shown on Ainslie's map. The map also gives the first indication of ‘Fort William' in fields behind the road through nearby Uplawmoor, possibly associated with William Mure's position of Colonel of the Renfrewshire Militia. Early census records for Neilston Parish include reference to a Fort William Inn.

Ordnance Survey Maps

The site suffers from being at the junction of four maps of the First Edition Surveys, partly caused by the boundary between Renfrewshire and Ayrshire passing through the middle of the estate. As both the 25 inch and 6 inch First Edition Surveys were undertaken in 1856, a single set of notes summarise the collective findings. Within the walled garden areas of Ramshead it is the 6 inch map that provides more detail including planting arrangements, which differ from the detail of the 25 inch maps.

Ordnance Survey First Edition Six inch to One mile Ayrshire Sheets VIII & IX Surveyed 1856 Published 1858

Ordnance Survey First Edition Six Inch to One Mile Renfrewshire Sheet XV Surveyed 1857 Published 1863

Ordnance Survey First Edition 25 inch to One mile Ayrshire Sheet IX.5 with inset IX.1 (Beith) Surveyed 1856 Published 1858

Ordnance Survey First Edition 25 inch to One mile Ayrshire Sheet VIII.8 (Beith) Surveyed 1856 Published 1858

Ordnance Survey First Edition 25 inch to One mile Renfrewshire Sheet XV.11 (Neilston) Surveyed 1857 Published 1863

Ordnance Survey First Edition 25 inch to One mile Renfrewshire Sheet XV.12 with extension XV.16 (Neilston) Surveyed 1857 Published 1863

The now defunct walled garden to the west of Ram's Head is clearly shown with a layout of an approximate square divided into four equal sections (25 inch). There is a building or other structure shown on the north wall and some remains are still evident. It is this garden that is consistent with the walled area shown on Roy's map. Other features that relate to Roy's map include the avenue of trees shown running from the quarry to the area to the east of the existing Caldwell House. There are other tree alignments shown that could also be the remains of the gardens shown on the Roy map. Initial ground survey work indicates that the avenue was of Lime trees.The First Edition Ordnance Survey maps provide the earliest indication of the various paths, fencing and features that are associated with a typical 19th-century estate development. They also show the estate before changes to the approach to Caldwell House from the east and before the construction of the tennis court to the north of the house. Various evidence remains. Most of the paths are still traceable as is a significant amount of iron railing fencing. There are the remains of an ice house alongside the site of the former lake. On one of the paths there is an ornamental bridge. The walled garden at Ram's Head remains although significant changes to the area around the north wall and house have taken place. The pump shown to the south of Ramshead also remains. This is thought to be the site of the Brandy Well referred to by Pride. The supporting evidence includes the reference to the Brandy Hill in the Clementina Hunter Blair letter and the reference to the Brandyhill walks by Semple (1782). Of the original eastern approach to the estate, the line of Saugh Avenue is still clear although no trees remain. The foundations of the current bridge over the Lugton Water appear original and an iron gatepost marks where the original track entered the wooded policies to the east of Caldwell House.

Ordnance Survey Second Edition & Later Editions Six inch to One mile RenfrewshireSheet XV.SE Revised 1895, Published 1898

Ordnance Survey Second & Later Editions 25 inch to One mile Ayrshire Sheet 008.08 Surveyed 1895 Published 1897

Ordnance Survey Second & Later Editions 25 inch to One mile Ayrshire Sheet 009.1 Revised circa 1895 Published 1896

Ordnance Survey Second & Later Editions 25 inch to One mile Renfrewshire Sheet 015.11 Revised circa 1895 Published 1897

Ordnance Survey Second & Later Editions 25 inch to One mile Renfrewshire Sheet 015.12 & 16 Revised circa 1895 Published 1897

Ordnance Survey Second & Later Editions Six inch to One mile Renfrewshire Sheet XV.SE Revised 1912, Published 1915

Ordnance Survey Second & Later Editions 25 inch to One mile Ayrshire Sheet 008.08 Revised circa 1908 Published 1910

Ordnance Survey Second & Later Editions 25 inch to One mile Ayrshire Sheet 009.1 Surveyed 1909 Published 1910

Ordnance Survey Second & Later Editions 25 inch to One mile Renfrewshire Sheet 015.11 Levelled 1908 Revised circa 1912 Published 1913

Ordnance Survey Second & Later Editions 25 inch to One mile Renfrewshire Sheet 015.12 & 16 Levelled 1908 Revised circa 1912 Published 1913

The Ordnance Survey Second and Later Editions at both six and 25 inch scales show major changes to Caldwell Estate. These include the creation of the road leading from the east to the south of Caldwell House; the construction of a vista 'funnel' to the south of the house; creation of pheasant shooting coverts to the south west of the house; and the construction of the tennis court area to the north of the house. The funnel vista and the tennis court area are still evident. The various paths around the estate are all clearly marked.

2. PRIMARY & DOCUMENTARY SOURCES

Extract from letter from Clementina Hunter Blair to her brother David, written whilst staying at Caldwell with her sister Anne Hunter Blair (wife of Wm Mure of Caldwell) dated 17 June 1799. Originals at Blairquhan, home of the Hunter Blair family.

"Caldwell June 17th 1799... ...Mr. Mure is at present in the very agony of making a new garden here - it is situated on the top of the Brandy Hill behind the Stables and Offices and is reckoned an uncommon fine foil - he has also converted the old House into Stables and means next year to take away the Offices entirely which will be an immense improvement to the place for at present they are not a beautiful ornament I never saw a man as keen about all the operations on his farm and place as Mr. Mure - oh how often when I see him occupied with all these things do I wish you home and settled in your own house equally active in the concerns of all your Place..."

Deeds Relating to Mures and Their Various Properties, Ch.2635-3799 National Library of Scotland

Mure of Caldwell Family Papers, MS4941-5018 National Library of Scotland

Invoices and Receipts for Work Done on the Caldwell Estate GD1/1314/1 (1861-1890) and GD1/1314/2 (1884-1920). National Records of Scotland (National Archives of Scotland, NAS)

3. HISTORICAL ILLUSTRATIONS & PICTORIAL SOURCES

Front elevation of Caldwell House, 1773-4; Register House Plans series RHP2549 National Records of Scotland (NAS)

Ramsay, Philip A. Views of Renfrewshire: with historical and descriptive notices. William H. Lizars, Edinburgh; 1839.

RCAHMS Aerial Photography Digital Collection 29 May 2008. Oblique Aerial Images DP049020 to DP049024

RCAHMS Threatened Buildings Survey 9 April 2010. Images DP078509 to DP078525

Buildings At Risk Register for Scotland. Images from April 1992 to July 2011

4. BIBLIOGRAPHY OF PUBLISHED SOURCES

The Caldwell Papers (Maitland Club), 1885 Part 11, pp. 178-9

Crawfurd, George 1710. The History of the Shire of Renfrew

Pride, David 1910 A History of the Parish of Neilston. Paisley Alexander Gardner

Robertson, George 1818 The History of the Shire of Renfrew

Semple, William 1782 The History of the Shire of Renfrew

Sinclair, Sir John 1791 Statistical Account of Scotland. Vol. 2 Edinburgh: William Creech.