The map above shows the original location of where
the first Haughfoot Lodge met. Just one mile South of Stow with
Torsonce House overlooking the area. As no evidence of any buildings
now exist, the exact location of the Haughfoot Hamlet has been a
matter of much discussion and debate within the Lodge. Brother James
B Hogg has kindly sent me copies of the only two maps that exist
that show a location for the Haughfoot Hamlet. The one dated 1763
is not very accurate or detailed so I do not show it here. The one
shown above is dated 1755 - one year after the old Turnpike Road
to the West was opened (1754). It clearly shows Haughfoot as being
(at that time) midway between the Gala Water, to the East and the
Turnpike road to the West.
The other road or possibly just a track running
parallel to the river and the turnpike, from South to North passes
through both Haughfoot and Haughhead. I think that we can clearly
deduce that in 1702 and for most of the Years that the Haughfoot
Lodge met here that this was the route that travellers used, probably
on horseback, they would have forded the rivers at the various junctions
we see where it meets the river.
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We now move to the above OS map, dated 1853 and
Haughfoot is no longer shown. It shows the Waverley Railway Line
(opened in 1849). Although Haughhead has survived, the road that
passed through Haughfoot is no longer shown. It is fairly clear
that the Railway line now covers large sections of where the old
Road originally was. On the 1755 Map, the Ford Marked No 4. to the
South of Haughfoot is clearly exactly where a Railway bridge now
is. I think it fair to assume that the Railway builders altered
the course of the river here so that the bridge would go over at
right angles.
So if the buildings at Haughfoot still survivied
just prior to the coming of the Railway, it clearly would have had
devastating consequences for the survival of Haughfoot. It's main
communication link would be gone. Even if the Railway did not run
right through Haughfoot, it was probably too close for comfort.
Brother Harry Carr speculated, in his book about the Haughfoot Lodge,
that the Meetings probably took place in an Inn or Tavern. The loss
of the Road would devastate that trade. Indeed it could also be
speculated that when the Turnpike opened in 1754, Haughfoot had
already become isolated from through traffic.
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