Significant Personalities of Kirkintilloch and District by the Research Group, Wednesday 19th November, 2pm, Park Centre.

On Wednesday 19th November, the Research Group will present profiles of a selection of the 22 personalities they researched for an exhibition in the foyer of the William Patrick Library from 6th to 13th September as part of Doors Open Day 2025. The personalities cover a wide range of professions and backgrounds, the common thread being that they are all buried in the Old Aisle Cemetery. A guided walk around the Old Aisle on the afternoon of 6th September took in 11 of the graves, covering 15 of the personalities. 

This is the third year that the Research Group has held an exhibition on this theme, and the personalities studied this year include the Alexander family, who ran Alexander's stores, a family of GPs, a number of other shopkeepers including Daniel Jack, who ran a well-known bicycle shop, the MacDonald family who were builders in the area and a former provost, John Shanks. The exhibition also included former member of the Society Susan Ross, and David Rollo Senior, the father of current member David Rollo.

The profiles will be presented by Research Group members Jenny Burgon, Don Martin, Ivan Ruddock and Barrie Stewart and the meeting will be held in the Park Centre at 2pm on Wednesday 19th November. Come along and see which personalities are profiled and whether they stir memories for you.

Doors Open Day and Old Aisle Cemetery Walk, Saturday 6th September 2025

This year's Doors Open Day in East Dunbartonshire is on Saturday 6th September 2025. The Society's contribution is an exhibition in the foyer of the William Patrick Library profiling significant local personalities, mostly buried in the Old Aisle Cemetery, Kirkintilloch. In connection with the exhibition, which will be on view for the following week, a guided walk around a selection of these graves will start from the cemetery's belfry at the Old Aisle Road entrance at 2.00 pm. The full programme for 2025's Doors Open Day may be downloaded here with details of the Antiquaries exhibition and walk on pages 9 and 11 respectively.

The grave of David Lawson, the founder of the transport company,
in the Old Aisle Cemetery. The business expanded in the 1920s to
include buses and 'Land Cruise' coach tours, and the Lawson brand
continues to this day as a funeral undertaker. (© I.S.Ruddock)

Doors Open Day and Old Aisle Cemetery Walk, 7th September 2024

This year's Doors Open Day in East Dunbartonshire is on Saturday 7th September 2024. The Society's contribution is an exhibition in the foyer of the William Patrick Library profiling significant local personalities, mostly buried in the Old Aisle Cemetery, Kirkintilloch. In connection with the exhibition, which this year will be on view for the following week, a guided walk around a selection of these graves will start from the cemetery's belfry at the Old Aisle Road entrance at 2.00 pm. The full programme for 2024's Doors Open Day may be downloaded here with details of the Antiquaries exhibition and walk on pages 13 and 14.

The grave of Joey Henderson and Robert Somerville. Joey died on 1st March
1929, a few days after giving birth, and her grief stricken husband, Robert, took
his own life in December 1931. He was a lecturer in chemistry in the University
of Glasgow and had been involved in the campaign to erect a plaque on the
birthplace of Archibald Scott Couper at 25 Townhead. (© I.S.Ruddock)

UPDATE: Doors Open Day and Old Aisle Cemetery Walk, Saturday 9th September 2023

The Society's exhibition on significant personalities buried in Kirkintilloch's Old Aisle Cemetery opened on Saturday morning, 9th September. This was part of its contribution to East Dunbartonshire Doors Open Day and will be available for viewing until Saturday, 16th September.

The William Patrick Library with the Doors

Open Day banner. (© I.S.Ruddock)

Part of the Antiquaries exhibition in the William

Patrick Library. (© I.S.Ruddock)

In the afternoon of Doors Open Day, a guided walk was led by the Antiquaries around a selection of the graves featured in the exhibition, with the assistance of Alistair Strang, a Commonwealth War Graves Commission volunteer guide, who described the work of the Commission and gave brief biographies of some of the First and Second World War casualties buried in the cemetery. To finish off the tour, Kirkintilloch photographer and entrepreneur, Edward Z Smith, entertained the large group of participants by outlining the history of the 'Spider Bridge' which previously crossed the southern end of the Old Aisle Cemetery. This wrought iron bridge was part of a right of way from Waterside to Lenzie station, and was the result of the campaign by John Ferguson (also in the exhibition) in 1885, but was demolished in 1987 and not replaced.

The participants in the guided walk in the Old Aisle Cemetery
hearing about the history of the site and the belfry. (© I.S.Ruddock)

The group at the monument to Father James Bonnyman, the first Roman
Catholic priest appointed to Kirkintilloch for an extended period and who
was responsible for the building of St Ninian's. (© I.S.Ruddock)

Photographer Edward Z Smith, an enthusiast
for the much lamented 'Spider Bridge', giving
the story of its construction and demolition.
(© I.S.Ruddock)

Alistair Strang, representing the Commonwealth War
Graves Commission, describing its work and
the backgrounds of some of the casualties buried
in the Old Aisle Cemetery. (© I.S.Ruddock)

Doors Open Day and Old Aisle Cemetery Walk, 9th September 2023

This year's Doors Open Day in East Dunbartonshire is on Saturday 9th September 2023. The Society's contribution is an exhibition in the foyer of the William Patrick Library profiling significant personalities buried in the Old Aisle Cemetery, Kirkintilloch. In connection with the exhibition, which this year will be on view for the following week, a guided walk around a selection of these graves will start from the cemetery's belfry at the Old Aisle Road entrance at 2.00 pm. The full programme for 2023's Doors Open Day may be downloaded here with details of the Antiquaries exhibition and walk on pages 9 and 10.

 

The grave of Alexander Bain, telegraph engineer and inventor of the electric
clock, who died in 1877. He was posthumously awarded an 'Emmy' in 2016 for the
invention of line scan for image transmission and is now recognised as the 
'father of television'. (© I.S.Ruddock)

Doors Open Day and Town Centre Walk, 10th September 2022

This year's Doors Open Day in East Dunbartonshire is on Saturday 10th September 2022. As its contribution, the Society will have an exhibition of historical and contemporary photographs of significant buildings of Kirkintilloch in the foyer of the William Patrick Library. In connection with the exhibiton, a guided walk around these locations will start from the library at 2.00 pm. The full programme for 2022's Doors Open Day may be downloaded here.

The former Liberal Club building in Eastside as viewed
from beside the Luggie. (© I.S.Ruddock) .

Update on Doors Open 2019: Saturday 7th September

The Society contributed to this year's Doors Open programme in East Dunbartonshire on Saturday 7th September by its presence in the Town Hall and by hosting a guided historical walk in the Auld Aisle Cemetery.

In the refurbished Town Hall, the Society provided an overview of its activities and photographs of 'old' Kirkintilloch using a display of photographs assembled by Don Martin and two projected PowerPoint presentations. Various committee members and office bearers - Rita Bennie, Liz Coroon, David Graham, Valerie McClure, Louise Nixon, Murray Reid and Ivan Ruddock - were in attendance during the day to provide information and answer visitors' questions.

The Society's stand in the Town Hall. (© I.S.Ruddock)

The display of photographs in the Town Hall. (© I.S.Ruddock)

The afternoon tour of the Auld Aisle Cemetery started with an introductory talk by Don Martin about the history of the Cemetery dating back to the 12th Century, the different spellings of Lenzie and their pronunciation together with stories about the activity of Resurrectionists who robbed graves for medical research. This was followed by visits to nine headstones of particular historical and cultural interest - a worker engaged on the construction of the Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway, a carrier, a poet, a canal boat owner and entrepreneur, a scientist, a philanthropist, a priest and an engineer now recognised as the 'Father of Television' by the award of an Emmy - where Ros McMeekin, Don Martin and Ivan Ruddock outlined their lives and careers. At the end of the afternoon the twenty strong group was reminded of the history of the Spider Bridge, a right of way that linked Waterside with Kirkintilloch Station in Lenzie, by local businessman and photographer Edward Z Smith.

(David Graham and Ivan Ruddock)

Ros McMeekin at Beatrice Clugston's
vandalised grave. (© I.S.Ruddock)

Don Martin speaking to the group in the old part of
the Cemetery. (© I.S.Ruddock)

Ivan Ruddock summarising the life and career 
of Alexander Bain. (© R.Ruddock)

Edward Z Smith (right) describing the Spider Bridge with 
the assistance of Matt Wilson. (© I.S.Ruddock) 

Doors Open: Saturday 7th September 2019

Doors Open Day for 2019 in East Dunbartonshire is Saturday 7th September and Kirkintilloch and District Society of Antiquaries will again be participating. The Society will have a display in Kirkintilloch Town Hall (10am - 4pm) of historic photographs and information on its activities, while at 2pm there will be a guided walk around Kirkintilloch's Auld Aisle Cemetery. During the walk, the significance of the belfry will be explained, the backgrounds of some of the personalities buried there will be given and the Spider Bridge, which used to span part of the cemetery, will be described. Intending participants on the walk should assemble at 2pm at the cemetery's main entrance at the top of Auld Aisle Road off Waterside Road.

The full programme for this year's Doors Open Day in East Dunbartonshire may be found by clicking here.

The belfry at the entrance to the Auld Aisle Cemetery. (© I.S.Ruddock)

Doors Open 2018: Saturday 8th September

The Society contributed to this year's Doors Open programme in East Dunbartonshire on Saturday 8th September by its presence in the Town Hall and by hosting a guided historical walk focusing on  the railways of Kirkintilloch.

In the Town Hall, the Society provided an overview on its activities and presented a display on the ubiquitous red cast iron telephone boxes manufactured in Kirkintilloch - "The Kirkie Kiosk", curated by Don Martin, the Society's secretary. Various committee members and office bearers - Rita Bennie, David Graham, Les Jenkins, Valerie McClure and Ivan Ruddock - were also in attendance to provide information and answer visitors' questions.

The Society's stand and exhibition in Kirkintilloch's Town Hall. (© I.S.Ruddock)

In the afternoon, Don led a walk from the Town Hall to Eastside where he described the extensive railway system that Kirkintilloch could once be proud of. In the vicinity of the town's former railway station and later the Forth & Clyde canal's unique aqueduct, he explained how the railway grew from the small beginnings of the pioneering Monkland & Kirkintilloch Railway and contributed to the development of the town's iron founding industry before closing in the early 1960s with barely a trace of its existence now being visible.

Don Martin giving his introductory
remarks outiside the Town Hall prior
to leading the walk to Eastside.
(© I.S.Ruddock)

Doors Open 2018: Saturday 8th September

East Dunbartonshire's annual Doors Open Day is Saturday 8th September and Kirkintilloch and District Society of Antiquaries will again be participating - this time by means of an exhibition and a guided walk. The full programme for Doors Open and other details may be found by clicking here. 

"The Kirkie Kiosk" is the Society's exhibition in Kirkintilloch Town Hall (10am - 4pm)  celebrating the locally manufactured telephone boxes while at 2pm a guided walk around the site of Kirkintilloch's former railway station will leave from the Town Hall. Information on the Society's activities will be available during the exhibition.

(© EDLC and D. Martin)

(© EDLC)

Doors Open: Saturday 9th September 2017

The Society contributed to this year's Doors Open programme in East Dunbartonshire on Saturday 9th September by its presence in the Park Centre in the morning and by organising a guided historical walk around what was Kirkintilloch Basin, now the Marina, in the afternoon.

In the Park Centre, two PowerPoint presentations showing historic photographs of the town and canal, and the Society's activities and programme were continuously projected; in addition, committee members - Rita Bennie, Ros McMeekin, David Graham and Ivan Ruddock - were present to provide information and answer questions.



Committee members 'manning' the Society's stand.

The presentations showing Society activities and historic photos.

 

In the afternoon, Don Martin, the Society's secretary, led a well supported walk from the Park Centre to the Marina where he described Kirkintilloch's industrial heritage including shipbuilding, iron founding and the role it played in the early days of railways as one terminus of the pioneering Monkland and Kirkintilloch system. 

The Society's secretary explaining the significance of  the Basin
Foundry, formerly located in what is now Kirkintilloch Marina.