Into the 19th century, ancient buildings and relics - many more than now - still existed in good condition throughout the country, spanning a very long time in history. Even here in quiet little Carmunnock, wrote the Glasgow Courier of September 25th, 1832, there was great excitement when a hoard of coins was discovered. About 80 silver coins dating from Queen Elizabeth, King James I (VI) and Charles I and II had been found the previous week wrapped in what appeared to be an old stocking embedded in the wall of an outhouse being taken down at Gallowhill Farm.
The Statistical Accounts and today’s Museum Records Department report that the treasure was put in the care of the Laird at Castlemilk House. Perhaps someone only a lifetime earlier hid the precious collection in the outhouse wall and then either forgot it or was unable to return.
Some of the steadings at Gallowhill Farm were probably considerably older than the farmhouse. By that advanced time, farming was at last coming into its own. Within its extensive boundaries of the period, the parish also included for instance: Bellcraig, High Flat, Muir Farm, Muirside and the Cathkin Farms on the east; on the south Waterside and Waterbank (Catgill); then to the north Windlaw Farm (past which the main road from Carmunnock ran down to Glasgow in those days). As well as the High-, Mid- and Laigh or Lower Nethertons down the hill from the village, there were East and West Castleton (off Croftfoot and Dougrie Road), one of them latterly Castlemilk House’s home farm, and close to us here Picketlaw and of course Parklea.
Winter and summer, in all weathers, there would be much journeying on foot or horseback along dusty roads to mills, farms and villages. Although change houses or drinking houses were age-old meeting places throughout the country, it is of the 18th and 19th century that we hear about the many in Carmunnock.
Drinking houses were just ordinary homes where the householder was allowed by the Laird to sell liquor, and his customers could sit round his fireside to enjoy refreshments and share news. How many drinking houses there were in the village is uncertain. It is thought there were quite a number, and this could have been because some who had no licence bought liquor from those who did, and then sold it profitably in their own homes.
Some farms sold liquor too: for instance Boghead Farm, High Netherton and Picketlaw. Probably there was too much drinking now that people had more money. Farmers were beginning to benefit from improvements in crop-growing and stock-raising, tradesmen were doing well and mill workers from down at Busby were earning a good wage. Thirsty from their labours, the men were always glad of social company.
Those were the days long before breweries took over. Then in the late 1880s or during the 1890s, the new Laird of Castlemilk, Mr. William Stirling Stuart, decided that there was a need for a Public House in the village. In the tenement on Kirk Road at the foot of Rowan Bank, the ground floor at the north corner became the favourite haunt of villagers and travellers alike. People here were told by their earlier folk that The Cathkin Rest (where no. 1/5 in the Kirkgrove complex is now) was opened with great geniality and an air of goodwill by the Laird who liked to think of himself as a benefactor.
But it was also whispered that in the past, Carmunnock’s Parish Council had frequently expressed great concern to him about the Estate Office’s liberal dispensing of permission for drinking houses in the village. So now, with better control against obtaining liquor illegally, and if further permission or licences were refused, most of the drinking houses - particularly the unofficial ones - would be forced to close.