Post by Waverley on Aug 5, 2007 14:24:28 GMT 1
Allan's Pen (July 1938) from Glasgow Treasure Chest by James Cowan aka Peter Prowler.
At the eastern extremity of Glasgow Green by the river-side, a piece of masonry protrudes from the ground slantwise across the path, and in the wall just at this point there is a tablet bearing the simple announcement, "The Site of Allan's Pen." Who" Allan" was, and why the" pen," which apparently belonged to him, is commemorated in this way instead of Allan himself, is a question that has puzzled many a passer-by. The story is a strange one, and the re-telling of it may satisfy the curiosity of those" who have wondered what was the origin of this unassuming memorial. Alexander Allan, having built the mansion of Newhall, was determined that it should be a domicile worthy of his position as a wealthy Glasgow merchant. One unique detail in its construction was the lining of the chimney flues with copper; but this expensive operation did not have ,the intended effect of rendering the chimneys independent of the attentions of the humble sweep. Another cherished scheme of the' owner of Newhall was that there should be unbroken access from the grounds of the house to the bank of the,' river Clyde; but the public pathway along the river-side prevented this; However; where there's a will there's a way. Mr. Allan soon found the' way. He had the pathway built over, and the public, instead of having an open walk along the river~ bank, had then to pass through ,the. tunnel thus created, from the point where the memorial stone now is, to Rutherglen Bridge. A Scottish pen, or pend, is generally expected to be wide enough to allow of the passage of a horse and cart. Mr. Allan made his pen eight feet wide, and the same high, the top of it being turfed over so that his ground would be continuous from the house to the riverside. But the public did not appreciate Mr. Allan's idea of substituting a tunnel for their pleasant open pathway, and, although no drastic action 'was taken as in the later instance of Harvie's 'Dyke farther up the river, the citizens found means of making the usurper regret his temerity in interfering with their right-of-way. ' A considerable part of Mr. Allan's business was in cloth woven for him by the hand-loom weavers of Bridgeton. Everyone of these men now refused to work up his material for him, and even increased rates of pay failed to tempt them. As if to aid them in their protest, the Clyde came down in flood during the ensuing winter, carrying with it quantities of ice which pounded to pieces the greater part of the detested sub-way, although its sides had been substantially built of stone, and the top arched with brick. Repairs were never completely made good, possibly because further misfortunes quickly overtook the owner. A panic in the cotton market, and a sudden fall in the price of sugar, ruined his interests in these commodities, and in a despairing effort to retrieve his fortunes the unlucky merchant committed some folly, as a result of which he had to escape to Ireland, whence he never returned, dying there in 1809. . In the meantime the lands of Newhall had been sold in lots. The mineral rights were acquired by William Dixon, of Govanhill, and for some time prospecting for coal was carried on. The coal was duly discovered, but the sinking of satisfactory shafts was found to be impracticable owing to shifting mud always closing them up. All attempts, therefore, were at last abandoned. Years later, after Clydeview Terrace was built, some alarm was caused to the occupants of the houses there, by signs of subsidence supposed to be caused by the presence of these old shafts. Nothing serious happened, however; but as I walked along the front of this terrace recently I could still see, the filled-up cracks which had appeared in the walls at that time. For many years after Mr. Allan's death an unmarried daughter and also a widowed daughter occupied smaller buildings within the grounds of Newhall, although the mansion itself had been sold. One of these ladies had very prominent teeth, in which some artificial metal facings were unduly noticeable, and she became known to the mischievous youngsters of the district as ., Jenny wi' the iron teeth," As time went on exaggerated notions of Jenny and her doings became current, and the neighbourhood being at that time rough and overgrown with bushes, the children became afraid to go there after dark. Towards the end of the 19th century Newhall mansion was demolished, and it was after this had been done that someone claiming to be a relative of the unfortunate merchant, wrote to one of the Glasgow daily newspapers suggesting that a tablet should be fixed to indicate the position of Allan's Pen. In view of all the circumstances, it seems strange that anyone should consider either the pen or its builder worthy of a memorial stone; but there it is, and whether or not it is worth remembering, Allan's Pen will not be forgotten as long as that stone remains in position.
At the eastern extremity of Glasgow Green by the river-side, a piece of masonry protrudes from the ground slantwise across the path, and in the wall just at this point there is a tablet bearing the simple announcement, "The Site of Allan's Pen." Who" Allan" was, and why the" pen," which apparently belonged to him, is commemorated in this way instead of Allan himself, is a question that has puzzled many a passer-by. The story is a strange one, and the re-telling of it may satisfy the curiosity of those" who have wondered what was the origin of this unassuming memorial. Alexander Allan, having built the mansion of Newhall, was determined that it should be a domicile worthy of his position as a wealthy Glasgow merchant. One unique detail in its construction was the lining of the chimney flues with copper; but this expensive operation did not have ,the intended effect of rendering the chimneys independent of the attentions of the humble sweep. Another cherished scheme of the' owner of Newhall was that there should be unbroken access from the grounds of the house to the bank of the,' river Clyde; but the public pathway along the river-side prevented this; However; where there's a will there's a way. Mr. Allan soon found the' way. He had the pathway built over, and the public, instead of having an open walk along the river~ bank, had then to pass through ,the. tunnel thus created, from the point where the memorial stone now is, to Rutherglen Bridge. A Scottish pen, or pend, is generally expected to be wide enough to allow of the passage of a horse and cart. Mr. Allan made his pen eight feet wide, and the same high, the top of it being turfed over so that his ground would be continuous from the house to the riverside. But the public did not appreciate Mr. Allan's idea of substituting a tunnel for their pleasant open pathway, and, although no drastic action 'was taken as in the later instance of Harvie's 'Dyke farther up the river, the citizens found means of making the usurper regret his temerity in interfering with their right-of-way. ' A considerable part of Mr. Allan's business was in cloth woven for him by the hand-loom weavers of Bridgeton. Everyone of these men now refused to work up his material for him, and even increased rates of pay failed to tempt them. As if to aid them in their protest, the Clyde came down in flood during the ensuing winter, carrying with it quantities of ice which pounded to pieces the greater part of the detested sub-way, although its sides had been substantially built of stone, and the top arched with brick. Repairs were never completely made good, possibly because further misfortunes quickly overtook the owner. A panic in the cotton market, and a sudden fall in the price of sugar, ruined his interests in these commodities, and in a despairing effort to retrieve his fortunes the unlucky merchant committed some folly, as a result of which he had to escape to Ireland, whence he never returned, dying there in 1809. . In the meantime the lands of Newhall had been sold in lots. The mineral rights were acquired by William Dixon, of Govanhill, and for some time prospecting for coal was carried on. The coal was duly discovered, but the sinking of satisfactory shafts was found to be impracticable owing to shifting mud always closing them up. All attempts, therefore, were at last abandoned. Years later, after Clydeview Terrace was built, some alarm was caused to the occupants of the houses there, by signs of subsidence supposed to be caused by the presence of these old shafts. Nothing serious happened, however; but as I walked along the front of this terrace recently I could still see, the filled-up cracks which had appeared in the walls at that time. For many years after Mr. Allan's death an unmarried daughter and also a widowed daughter occupied smaller buildings within the grounds of Newhall, although the mansion itself had been sold. One of these ladies had very prominent teeth, in which some artificial metal facings were unduly noticeable, and she became known to the mischievous youngsters of the district as ., Jenny wi' the iron teeth," As time went on exaggerated notions of Jenny and her doings became current, and the neighbourhood being at that time rough and overgrown with bushes, the children became afraid to go there after dark. Towards the end of the 19th century Newhall mansion was demolished, and it was after this had been done that someone claiming to be a relative of the unfortunate merchant, wrote to one of the Glasgow daily newspapers suggesting that a tablet should be fixed to indicate the position of Allan's Pen. In view of all the circumstances, it seems strange that anyone should consider either the pen or its builder worthy of a memorial stone; but there it is, and whether or not it is worth remembering, Allan's Pen will not be forgotten as long as that stone remains in position.