Geograph - photograph every grid square

For further information, see NS3477 : Cardross Old Parish Church, which shows the front of the same building.

The present photograph shows the rear. The small enclosure in the foreground, right of centre, contains some memorials to various members of the Geils family, who were prominent landowners in this area: NS3477 : The Geils family burial ground.

It would be natural to assume, as I did, that they are responsible for the name Geilston, which is applied to a nearby part of Cardross (not far to the NW – see the map). However, the place-name is considerably older, and has a different origin.

The Geilston estate was purchased by General Thomas Geils in 1805. The family also acquired land elsewhere in the area: see NS4274 : Dumbuck Quarry and NS4175 : Strowan's Well. See also NS3478 : Old wellhead, Geilston Gardens.

In his book "Cardross – The Village in Days Gone By" (1985), Arthur F. Jones comments on "the area known as Geilston from time immemorial. The name means the 'tun' or farm enclosure of the 'ghillies' or farm servants. ... It is mere verbal coincidence that for so many years last century a family called Geils owned the estate – though their presence may well have been responsible for fixing the spelling of the name 'Geilston'."