Johnstone, Mill Lade System

NS46SW 289 43458 63849

(NS 4343 6386). NS 413 622 to NS 432 637 A survey was undertaken of the remains of a dam and lade system stretching 2.5km through Johnstone.

Lade, 3m wide, commences downstream of former Johnstone and Milliken meal mills, at NS 4134 6224 at dam (1) across Black Cart, with surviving sluice adjacent. Continues through site of former reservoir to overflow sluice on S side of road bridge at NS 4140 6251, then under bridge via individual lade arch into site of Cartside cotton mill (1792, now paper works). Exits industrial site at NS 4163 6252, following river bank to sandstone rubble tunnel entry at NS 4172 6275 (DES 2002, 99). Tunnel ends at NS 4187 6296 at remains of dam (2) on Black Cart, where open lade continues, heavily overgrown to site of Hag cotton mill (1794), directly above dam (3) at NS 4207 6312. Dam 5m high, partly incorporating natural whin dyke on W bank.

From intact sluice at side of dam, lade continues through mill lands of Johnstone, passing sandstone masonry bridge at NS 4232 6334, bridging sluice at branch off lade to 1950s turbine house. Site of dam (4) on river at NS 423 633 for Johnstone meal mill, abandoned 1780s.

Lade enters Johnstone Old cotton mill building (1782) at NS 4237 6337. Buried lade tunnel exposed below High Street during realignment in 1986, then passes through individual lade arch in disused Johnstone bridge at NS 4244 6342. Lade continues underground to NS 4255 6343, where exits from brick arched opening in E gable of building.

Curved dam (5) on Black Cart at NS 4255 6345, from where lade continues E, passing under bridge at NS 4265 6343 and continuing past overflow sluice to river at NS 4271 6343. Identical parallel lade directly on S. This open section of lade designed by prominent millwright George Meikle in 1790s to settle water dispute; also formed Johnstone's public washing green.

Lade continued through Johnstone Laigh cotton mill (1784) at NS 4282 6349 (site redeveloped with housing 2002),then tailrace carried on for 500m, parallel to river and partly in tunnel, to re-enter Black Cart at NS 4323 6373 where final 100m of lade still evident. Sixth dam survives downstream at NS 4343 6386 at commencement of lade on N bank, continuing for 1km to site of Linwood cotton mill at NS 444 645.

NS 4197 6307 Former lade from dam on N side of Black Cart Water at NS 4187 6296, evident as shallow ditch, to rectangular mill foundation on bank of lade at NS 4197 6307, returning to river at NS 4207 6312 directly above Johnstone Old cotton mill dam.

Site of Johnstone waulk mill, working in 1730s, subsequently used as a lint mill, then as a saw mill by 1850s. Dam improved for use of Hag cotton mill opposite in 1794.

S Nisbet 2003