CROY

CROY

1
The north side of Croy village. The village of Croy was once a mining community, but like surrounding areas, the mines have gone and most of the employment opportunities, although the new town of Cumbernauld did provide some outlet. Croy itself is predominantly Roman Catholic in origin. This was mainly due to the hard times in Ireland, especially the potato famine. The exodus of people from Ireland to such exotic places as America, depending on how much financial clout one had, mainland Britain was a lesser option. The west of Scotland, in particular Glasgow, was very popular with the Irish immigrants. The trouble was that the people had suffered the most in Ireland in dire poverty, were ordinary men and women, mostly country men, farm workers etc. Arrival in Glasgow must have been a cultural shock for many of those poor people, vast numbers of them moved out into the country, after all the countryside had been part of their livelihood for most of their lives. The families followed the rail line as they knew that somewhere would be a village or town. Croy was probably nothing more than a few hamlets, owned mostly by Presbyterians, but with the influx of the Irish Catholics, the village soon grew and became a little part of Ireland. Today Croy is still pretty much a Roman Catholic village on the main rail line between Glasgow and Edinburgh and like the rest of Scotland, past identities are slowly being overtaken by a high tech world. During the wars the village has contributed to the defence of the United Kingdom and like Kilsyth and the surrounding area, has never lost the radicalness that highlights the mining communities. It has also achieved many sporting accolades, villagers played for the famous Glasgow Celtic and First Division teams, both in Scotland and England. It has also provided two world boxing champions. I am sure that most of you will have heard of one of the world's finest accordian players, Will Starr. Even today he is still remembered in the north of Scotland with an element of reverence afforded to many of the great entertainers of the Scottish music hall. He toured with some of the greatest entertainers, the Mansfield Singers, Kilsyth, the Scottish tenor Robert Wilson, Dave Willis, Jimmy Shand, and travelled the world.In a number of interviews I was carrying out some years ago with senior citizens, I was told a story about an old Kilsyth Irish Protestant. After having attended an Orange Lodge meeting, he crossed the road to the barber's shop owned by a Roman Catholic called Peter Montgomery. Peter asked the old man in question "I wonder if you could do something for us, the gate of Croy Chapel has came loose and needs repairing." "Aye", says the old Orangeman. When he arrived at the chapelhouse he recognised the parish priest as being from the same area in Ireland. The two men negotiated the repairing of the gates but the old Kilsyth man would not take any payment from his fellow Irishman. Instead he settled for a glass of whisky. As he was leaving, the parish priest once again asked him to take some payment for the job he had done. He settled for another dram of whisky. Both he and the parish priest shook hands but before leaving the old Orangeman turned to the clergyman "Father", he said, "No wonder there are so many Catholics in Croy, your holy water's great".

King of Scotland

Robert 2nd 1371-90

2
Croy Station. On the right side of the print is the newly constructed waiting area for trains heading towards Edinburgh.

Croy Band Committee

Member James Bolan 1975

3
Some of the new houses in the village of Croy.

4
Croy Station, Glasgow line on left side of print.

United Kingdom Monarcks

George 2nd 1727-60

5
This is near Croy Hill, the gully you see on the left skyline is the line of the Roman wall, or should I say, this area was used as a moat, as the Romans engineering skills were pretty far advanced, so much so that they would use natural structures rather than build a man made wall. On the right hand side skyline is Barhill where the Romans occupied a fort just above the village of Twechar.

Croy Band Founded

in Smithstone 1860s

6
War Memorial to the soldiers who fell serving in the British Army
and the memorial is situated at the north main door of Croy Chapel.

W.E. Gordon VC.

Gordon Highlanders 11/7/1900

7
Croy Chapel.

8
New housing in the south side of the village.

9
Croy Chapel from the main Cumbernauld road.

10
The north side entering the village of Croy.

11
The village of Croy looking south.

Croy Parish Band Hunderth

Anniversary 1875-1975

13
The village of Croy.

14
Main entrance to Croy Chapel.

October 1921 Mr Robert Thomson,

Appointed Professional Guide Croy Band.

15
Croy Hill looking down into the Forth and Clyde valley, the hill structure you see slightly left of print are the remains of coal mining in the area. The Forth and Clyde canal runs through the centre of this valley and is now under reconstruction.

16
This is the remains of Croy School, now demolished.

17
From the old pit bings looking towards Castle Hill.
The village of Croy is to the left but out of print.

1921 & 1926 Coal Miner Strikes, Suop

Kitchens set up at Smithstone & Croy

18
The Coronation Row in the village of Croy, on the main Kilsyth Cumbernauld road.

19
From the Croy Hill area looking down on the Forth and Clyde canal.

20
This is the old Croy schoolhouse.

21
The village of Croy.

22
From Croy Hill looking down into the village, centre of print, Croy Chapel.

Croy Parish Band Win

Glasgow Charitie Trophy 1965

23
Entering the village of Croy from Kilsyth, the building directly to our front opened with an enthusiastic baptism named the Celtic Tavern but Croy, like the rest of the area, has now caught up in the 21st century, where change is commonplace. The pub is now renamed the Croy Tavern. The square type building is Croy Miners Welfare where most of the village functions and get togethers are held.

24
This is one of the many footpaths that connect Cumbernauld New Town to surrounding villages. From the footpath you can see the village of Croy and part of Kilsyth on the hillside, Garrell Hill on the right skyline, Lairds Hill on the left, and just showing is the small peak of the Meikle Bin.

25
Former Croy schoolhouse , the quarry in the background,
is situated on the south side of the village.

26
The village of Croy.

27
From Croy Hill looking down into the valley, the Forth and Clyde canal.

28
Village of Croy, looking south towards Cumbernauld. Since this print was taken the village road system has been changed to a more safety orientated construction. When introduced with calming devices, as too often happens with todays motorists, they consider these small villages more of a speedway than a place where people live.