C&E's Stonehouse - Home Sweet Home Traditional Cache

Welcome to our series – close enough to be a small walking trail round the village of Stonehouse but also suitable park and grab visits.

We have tried to choose significant locations around the village to show off some of its history.  Stonehouse is among the oldest parishes in Scotland and so it is very difficult to trace its origins. It was common to name towns after the first stone house built which was more often a church.  It has been known as a weaving community and has a strong agricultural heritage.  In August 1973 Stonehouse was designated to be the next ‘New Town’, projected to receive a population from Glasgow in excess of 35,000, with the likelihood of an increase up to 70,000. A similar project went ahead in East Kilbride but only the Murray Drive estate in Stonehouse went ahead and although it has expanded somewhat, it continues to be a semi rural village.

This cache is particularly significant to us as it is in our back garden!  Cache is disguised and is big enough for some small swaps.  

The houses here date from the late 19^th century and were mostly originally weavers cottages.  The houses were generally one storey terraced houses with the front door opening to the street. This door led to a stone-flagged entry which gave access to the weaving shop on one side and to the living quarters of one or two rooms to the other. A ladder from the entry to the loft gave storage and extra sleeping space. A washhouse was usually added at the rear of the building. The weaving shop would hold from one to six looms which were worked by the weaver and his family. Many of these cottages have now been restored, retaining their character and fine sandstone appearance.  The building which now houses the pub at the end of the road was once the weaving office where the workers went to sell their goods when completed.  

The front street, King Street, is the main thoroughfare of the village.  Funds were raised locally to create the community garden there.  Next door is Galloway and Macleod - a feed superstore.  The business is now in it’s third century of continuous service to the rural community being established in 1872, and then formed as a Limited company in 1923.