History Of The House
The house was built in 1884 for
The name Birkmyre originated in Flanders where they were in the weaving business.
The families connection to Port Glasgow was through Adam's Grandfather who was in 1818 made a partner in The Gourock Rope Works in Port Glasgow.
The last Birkmyre's to occupy the building lived in the house between 1913-1928. This was Adam Birkmyre's Niece and her daughter.
There was originally no wall around the building. The wall (which is still there today) from Castle Road round to Knockbuckle Road was added by local trades men using local stone from Whitlea Road. This was another almost parental act of the Birkmyre's looking after local people as it gave employment to local men during the slump which followed the 1918 war.
Mr Birkmyre was somewhat an interesting character, not only did he enjoy his baths as you will find out but he was never late for work. He had a rotating deck chair in the garden so that it could be turned through the day and always stay facing the sun.
He had no need for a garage at Shalott but traveled each day to the Gourock Rope Works in Port Glasgow by cab. He was a very punctual man and each morning he would lite a cigar and at 8am precisely would leave in the cab via the red drive gate. The cigar would be finished just as he arrived at the mill building.
The last mill that the Birkmyre's owned was in New Lanark. This was closed in 1968.
There is a stone on the side of the building that has the words "Hope For The Coming Dawn" This was a family emblem and was incorporated into an early school logo.
Adam Birkmyre and Shallott
This photograph is dated 1931
This one was taken in July 2001
A view from the front of the house taken in 1944/45
The front of the house 2001. That is the same tree that is in both photographs, as you can see it is a little bit bigger!
The school grounds actually contain many old trees and at one time was surrounded by what might be called a small forest. The new building which has recently been added was built around some of the larger and older trees.
Photographs Then and Now
This page last modified on Saturday, January 08, 2005
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