Part Two

HENRY HOULDSWORTH
Born in Nottingham, in 1774, Henry Houldsworth, accompanied by his wife and two children, moved to Glasgow in 1799 to manage William Gillespie's cotton-mill in North Woodside. Houldsworth became the owner of the mill in 1801 and, two years later, he began constructing a new steam-powered mill in Cheapside Street, which proved to be among the largest mills operating in the Glasgow area. When drawing up plans for powering his new mill, Houldsworth approached James Watt for advice. The mill, which stood six-storeys high, was 230 feet long and 40 feet wide. Incorporated into the supporting framework of the building were iron pipes through which, steam to power the looms was passed. The steam-pipes helped maintain a warm environment, not for the benefit of the workers, but necessary for the production of textiles. Whilst the 'central heating' might have been welcome in the winter, I expect that during hot weather it would have been most uncomfortable. Work was completed on the Cheapside Mill in 1805.

By the late 1840’s, as well as the Cheapside Mill, there was only one other cotton mill operating in Anderston. Recognising that the demise of the textile industry was not far off, Houldsworth opened a mechanics shop adjacent to his Cheapside Mill. This new enterprise afforded him the opportunity of not only repairing his own machinery, but also of offering his services to a wider clientele. In time the mechanics shop developed into an iron-works, which became known as the Anderston Foundry. The Cheapside Mill eventually fell silent during the late 1860's and eventually, like most of the other mills in the area, the building was pressed into service as a bonded warehouse. The iron foundry remained in operation until around 1930.

Henry Houldsworth married Jane Richardson in 1795 and shortly after their arrival in Glasgow the family took up residence in Cranstonhill mansion, a small villa that stood to the west of Anderston village. The union of Henry and Jane produced three sons, Henry, born in 1797, William was born in 1798, and John, born at Cranstonhill in 1807.

Within the grounds of Cranstonhill Estate was a Zoological Garden. Unfortunately, no records remain detailing the contents of the zoo or if the public had access. When Anderston achieved Burgh status in 1824, Henry Houldsworth was elected as the first Provost. He served as Provost from 1824 until 1832 and held the office again between the years 1837-39. His youngest son, John, also held the office of Provost from 1843-46. Between them, the Houldsworth's held the position of Provost of Anderston for thirteen of the Burgh's twenty-two year existence. Henry’s son, John, was in fact the last Provost of the Burgh, Anderston being annexed by Glasgow in 1846.

An energetic and demanding employer, Houldsworth
became entwined in numerous disputes with his
workforce. In an effort to keep costs low by forcing
down wages, he employed Irish immigrants who were
desperate for work and willing to accept low
remuneration for their labours. In June 1837 a longrunning
cotton-spinners strike culminated in the death of
an Irishman, employed at the Cheapside Mill, who
refused to support the strike-action. Five men were
arrested and sentenced to seven years transportation for
their part in the crime.

Henry Houldsworth acquired the Estate of Coltness, near
Wishaw, Lanarkshire, in 1836. Three years later he
established the Coltness Iron Works and, in 1848, at the
age of seventy-four, he opened the Dalmellington Iron
Company, at Dunaskin. Henry Houldsworth died at his
Coltness home on 10th October 1853. His mortal remains
lie buried in the Churchyard of Dalmellington Old, near Wishaw.

Apart from the mill in Cheapside Street, perhaps the most memorable monument of recent times to Henry Houldsworth was St. John's Episcopal Church. The church, opened in 1850, stood on the corner of Houldsworth Street and Argyle Street and was known locally as ‘The English Church’. The first minister of the church was Alex D’orsey, principal teacher of English at Glasgow High School. Soon after the congregation vacated the property, around 1959, the building was used as a joinery shop.

The splendid building was removed in July 1971. The only local reminder of Henry Houldsworth is the Cranstonhill thoroughfare that bears his name. John Houldsworth married Eliza Muir in 1836, and in due course, they were blessed with a family of four children, two boys and two girls. John was a well-respected, even-tempered man who had a passion for the arts and sailing. He was elected Provost of Anderston in 1843 and held the Office until Glasgow annexed the Burgh in 1846. He went on to become Senior Bailie of the City of Glasgow. He purchased property at Number 1 Park Terrace in 1857, and had plans to furnish the house in the most magnificent style imaginable, but he died in 1859, before the work was completed.

THE VERREVILLE
Patrick Colquhoun, one-time Lord Provost of Glasgow, established the 'Verreville Glass Works' at Finnieston in 1776. The name Verreville is of French origin and means ‘glass town’. The company was the first factory in the Glasgow area to specialise in the production of fine flint crystal table-glass. Set amidst spacious green fields, Finnieston still maintained a rural ambience at the time the Glass Works was built. The factory was easily identifiable for miles around due to its tall cone-shaped chimney reaching up into the as yet, unpolluted clear blue sky.

John Geddes became involved with the Verreville around 1785, with the works eventually passing into his control in 1802, at which time, he also constructed a pottery to the south of the Glass Works. Geddes and his wife, Christian Robertson, lived in a large house adjacent to the Verreville. With its well-kept lawns and large garden stretching down towards the Clyde, Geddes’ house commanded an unobstructed view from where he could watch his ponies graze in the fields, just before the river. John Geddes was described as a tall, handsome man, who was well known throughout Glasgow as Colonel of the Anderston Volunteers, of whom we shall read shortly. Grace Street originally ran at an angle between Stobcross Street and Finnieston Street, until the street name was relocated to Cranstonhill in the late 1960's. The street was named in memory of Geddes' young daughter, Grace, who died from burns after her dress caught fire as she was dressing for a party one evening. The child was sadly mourned throughout the community.

The Verreville Works exported produce to Europe as well to the American markets and in 1820 the production of fine china and  ornamental-ware was added to that of glass. Geddes was first to apply steam-power for grinding and engraving glass and earthenware in the Glasgow area. He remained with the Verreville until it was sold for £9,000 in 1835, to Robert A. Kidston, owner of the Anderston Pottery. The firm changed hands several times until finally, in 1864, Robert Cochrane procured the Verreville, in whose family the business remained until it was sold in 1918. At the height of manufacture, being equal in design and quality to anything produced in Europe, wares from the Verreville commanded exceedingly high prices.

For over fifty years, three examples of 'Verreville Pottery' featured as an attraction at the People's Palace, Glasgow Green. Following examination by experts, during November 1971, the articles attributed to Verreville were in fact pronounced to be Meissen Pottery. The error was discovered by mere chance; apparently researchers had discovered several unrecorded Verreville trademarks. It was decided to inspect the pieces on display in the People's Palace to see if they bore any of the newfound brand trademarks. To the astonishment of all involved, the trademark of 'two crossed swords' revealed that the items on display were not in fact Verreville, but Meissen. For more than half a century visitors to the museum had been staring in wonder and amazement at the beauty and quality of what was thought to be Verreville Pottery. Much to the dismay of the curator of the People's Palace, the items were relocated to the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum. It is thought likely that the Meissen pieces belonged to Robert Cochrane, onetime owner of the Verreville, who had gathered the items as part of his private collection. When the articles of pottery came up for auction, fifty years after Cochrane's death, it was assumed the pieces were examples from the Verreville at Finnieston.

Other Potteries operating within the district included, the Delftfield (1751), the Lancefield or Anderston Pottery (1824-38) and the Hydepark Pottery (1837-44). The 'Verreville' occupied ground on the east side of Finnieston Street, a little to the south of the  present Clydeside Expressway. In later years, the Clan Shipping Line occupied a workshop and offices on the site until the area was finally cleared for commercial development during the 1970’s.

THE ANDERSTON VOLUNTEERS
When Britain went to war with France, regiments of volunteers were formed throughout the United Kingdom as defence against invasion. Among the regiments formed were the Anderston Volunteers, raised in 1803. The regiment, part of the 6th Glasgow Battalion, was composed of eight companies, comprising of thirty-two officers and five hundred men, under the command of Colonel John Geddes of the 'Verreville Pottery'. Two officers of the Volunteers are named as Lieutenant Hugh Ross and Major Richard Gillespie. The Volunteers were known locally as "the Anderston Sweeps" or "the Sugarallie Corps" because of the black uniform they wore.

A report in the Glasgow Courier of 1st May 1805 records an account of the presentation of a sword to Col. Geddes by a number of his admirers. On this same occasion, Mrs Geddes presented the Volunteers with a fine set of Colours comprising of the King's and the Regimental Colour.

John Geddes was remembered for his martial bearing as he rode his black Arabian horse through Anderston. He was immortalised in the words of a well-known street musician of the era, Alexander McDonald, better known as ‘Blind Alik’

In Memory of
John Geddes
and family of Verreville

Part of the old village of Anderston, Main Street, c1863

End of part two

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