Newhousemill Road Bridge is a rather infamous B listed structure on the back road between East Kilbride and Hamilton. The road that it is on runs through Calderglen Park. It is necessary to cross it to reach the part of the park that stretches towards Hamilton.
As one crosses this very narrow road one can perceive the difficulties experienced by drivers as they try to pass through this narrow bit of road. Look out for the bits of bumper lying around and examine the bridge for the regular repairs to its structure.
If you ever have cause to use your sat nav be sure not to be driving an HGV! Mr J has many stories to tell of the HGV's that got stuck on this bridge having followed their sat nav to get to East Kilbride from Hamilton. There are also some stories about the reverse journeys. Police are regularly called to sort out the traffic chaos that results. The bridge has been damaged many times and on inspection when placing the cache, there is clearly a new parapet in place!
The bridge is a late 18th century, single span of dressed stone with a corniced arch.
In 1792 General Torrance moved his cotton mill from Cotton Square to Newhouse to utilise the water power of the Calder water. The lands at Newhouse were part of the Torrance estate and in the 1740's a manse had been erected for the minister of the parish church. However the house was vacated in 1790, a factor which probably further encouraged the general to move his mill to the site. The mill is clearly marked on the 1st edition of the OS map but has since been cleared away for modern housing. However three workers' cottages that were built in 1792 still remain. It is thought that the current bridge was built to service the mill. (courtesy of British Listed Buildings).
The cache is not on the bridge but is in a place where the bridge can be clearly viewed and admired notwithstanding the vegetation at the time of year of cache placement!
The cache has been placed with the kind permission of the Calderglen Rangers.
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