The Rottenrow of Glasgow / [by David Murray].

  • David Murray
Date:
[1896]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The Rottenrow of Glasgow / [by David Murray]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Glasgow Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Glasgow Library.

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    that they exchanged pastoral staves.1 Kentigern’s friend and protector, King Rydderch Hael, lived part of the year at Pertnech, a town upon the royal demesne (in villa regia quae Pertnech nuncupatur), probably the modern Partick.2 A road must have connected the two places ; and the Rottenrow is referred to in 1494 as “Via que ducit ad Partwich.”3 The Rottenrow was therefore the recognised road from Glasgow to Partick, and, if so, it can scarcely be gainsaid that the continuation of the Roman road from Drygait followed the course of the Rottenrow. The Rottenrow was for long one of the principal accesses to Glasgow.4 One of the city ports—the Rottenrow Port—stood at its western end,5 and 1 Vita Kentigemi, xxi., xxxiii., xxxix., xlv. In the Aberdeen Breviary the burn is called Malyndinor. The corruption Molendinar is modern. The name has nothing to do with molendinum, or a mill; and the spelling has probably been altered to suit this fancied etymology. In the Town Council Minute of 3rd October, 1581, it is called “the burne Malyndoner.” 2 In 1136 it is called Perdeyc, between 1147 and 1153 Perthec, in 1172 Perdehic, in 1174 and 1179 Pertheic, and in 1181 and 1186 Perthec. See The Regality Club, i., p. 143. Pertnech is the reading of the best MS. of the Vita Kentigemi, c., xlv. The lands of Partick formed part of the royal demesne (in dominio regis). At the dedication of the cathedral 7th July, 1136, King David, for the peace of his soul, and the souls of his father and mother, his brothers and sisters, and the salvation of his son Henry, gave to God and the church of St. Kentigern of Glasgu that land in Perdeyc which Ascelin, Archdeacon of Glasgow, held of him by the same meiths and bounds as Ailsi and Tocca held it {Registrum Episcopatus Glasguensis, i., p. 9). 3 In 1642 ff]2 os. 8d. Scots is “debursit for calseying of Parthwick lone” (Watson, Memorabilia of the City of Glasgow, p. 92). This probably refers to the western part of the Rottenrow. 4 Brown calls it “the north-west entry to the first Cross of Glasgow” (History of Glasgow, ii., p. 82)- 5 It is mentioned in 1512 “Porta Vie Ratonum de Glasgw” (Diocesan Register, ii., p. 464). When a visitation of the plague or pest was apprehended orders were given to close the ports, and watchers were placed at them. On 31st October, 1588, “ Siclyk it is statut that . . . the Rottin Raw port to be lokit nicht and day, and the kie thairof to be keipit ather be maister Andro Hay or maister Harie Gibsoun” (Town Council Minutes, 31st October, 1588. See also 29th October, 1574; 20th September, 1584; 20th August, 1606; 31st August, 1650; 13th September, 1701). Both evidently resided in the Rottenrow. See infra, p. 59. During the Jacobite rising of 1715 guard was kept regularly, amongst other places, at the Rattonraw (Watson, M emorabilia of the City of Glasgow, p. 322). Andrew Hay was the well-known parson of Renfrew. See infra, p. 59. Harie Gibsoun was a notary in extensive practice, clerk of the burgh court, and law agent of the town (Munimenta Universitatis Glasguensis, i., pp. 90, 122; Burgh Records, 1573-1642, p. 455, Burgh Records Society). He was owner of two tenements “at the Rattounraw heid,” and of certain lands in Provandside, which belonged to the chaplainry of St. Michael {Munimenta Universitatis Glasguensis, i., p. 75, 159, 169). His wife was Anabella Forsyth, daughter of David Forsyth of Blackhill. Their daughter, Helen Gibson, married Thomas Baillie, merchant in Glasgow, and was mother of Robert Baillie, Professor of Divinity, 1642-1661, and Principal the following year. It seems probable that another daughter, Mary, was the wife of Andrew Spang, and mother of William Spang, minister of the Scottish Church at Campvere, Principal Baillie’s correspondent.
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