Kirkintilloch, Town and Parish

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1894 edition. Excerpt: ...may have drawn the same cool and crystal fluid 2,000 years ago" In a drought the people had to get water from the river Luggie which served for some purposes, but bakers had to get good water carted from considerable distances. Before the introduction of gas it can easily be guessed that walking the streets on moonless nights was never a recreation, and for children it was a painful task. To add to the horrors of the "sheuchs," and the danger of falling in, the air was thick with rumours of resurrectionists, and stories of Burke and Hare. There was also a pretty strong belief in ghosts and witches. With all the modern improvements, however, and the increased comforts and conveniences of civilisation, somehow or other Kirkintilloch was even a more lively and "heartsome" place then than now. These were the days of the mail coaches and carriers' carts, before railways were much in vogue; and the old town had her full share of the profit and excitement of the traffic on the roads, which were the principal mediums of conveyance for passengers and goods. But the canal was quite as interesting as the roads, for the trade on it was also very great. All the traffic between Edinburgh and Glasgow, Falkirk, and other places on the route, passed through Kirkintilloch; and the passenger boats were objects of unceasing interest. Boat-houses or sheds were erected on either side of the Townhead bridge, for the convenience of the travelling public. There were three kinds of boats for passengers then in use viz.: "swifts," " flys," or "hoolets," and "luggage boats." The "swift," as its name betokens, was the fastest, and carried only passengers, with their personal luggage. The...