Garepool, Garepool Burn

Place-name:	Garepool
Suggested Meaning:	slimy, filthy, or muddy pool
element	S. gar ‘slimy, filthy, or muddy’
element	Standard Scottish English pool ‘pool’
Place-name:	Garepool Burn
	Place-Name: Garepool + Scots burn ‘stream’
Place-name:	Paterson’s Well
	a well, named after a spring, named after surname Paterson
Place-name:	Fountainhead
	head or source of a spring
Blaeu Coila (1654):	Poulshell B.
OS Name Books (1855-57):	Garepool, Garepool Burn
Location:	Ordnance Survey (1892-1960)

Other Forms

Poulshell B. (1654), Polshill Burn (1876), Harehill Burn (1878), Polshill Burn (1993)

Garepool

Scots gar ‘slimy, filthy, or muddy‘ + SSE pool ‘pool’

The entry for Garepool in the Ayrshire Ordnance Survey Name Book (1855-57) reads –

A large pool in the river Nith, about 4 chains N. E. of the mouth of Garepool Burn.

Thank you to Dr. Simon Taylor for explaining the first element of the name is Scots gar ‘slimy, filthy, or muddy substance, specif. that produced by algae in a pond or river’ [1]; that presumably collected at the pool.

N. B. Originally, I had considered the name to be Gaelic garbh ‘rough, boisterous’ [2] and Gaelic poll, poul ‘pit, hole, pool’; [3] i.e, ‘rough pool’.

Garepool Burn

Place-Name: Garepool + Scots burn ‘stream’ [4]

The entry for Garepool Burn in the Ayrshire Ordnance Survey Name Book (1855-57) reads –

A burn rising on the Knipes, and flowing southwards into the river Nith

The ‘Authorities for Spelling’ were Thomas Hamilton, Polshill; Archibald Brown, Westland and a Property Map – with no date reported.

The Ordnance Survey Map (1895) shows the Garepool Burn rising on the Knipe and then further downstream it flows past Polshill farm before joining the Nith, upstream from Garepool on the Nith.

There are several examples of Garpel Burns or Waters found in Ordnance Survey Name Books across Ayrshire, Dumfriesshire, Kirkcudbrightshire and Renfrewshire which appear to be a variant of Garepool Burn.

Sir Herbert Maxwell entry for Garpel Burn in ‘Place-Names of Galloway’ [5] which includes a reference to the early P. (Pont) form reads –

Garpel Burn (P. Garvepool B.) ‘Balmaclellan’ Garbh [garv] pol, rough stream

There is no early equivalent form of Garepool Burn to be found on Blaeu Map Coila Provincia, based on Pont’s Manuscript. However, the map shows Poulshell B. (burn) rising in Chnip Hill (The Knipe) and downstream joins the River Nith just beyond N. (Nether) Poushil.

For many, the burn to this day is still known as Polshill Burn* and the name has survived in Polshill farm on its banks. It is one of a number of burn names in the parish of New Cumnock with the first element British pol- ‘stream, burn’ which at some later stage the term burn was appended by those that were unaware that it was already part of the name, i.e. the original name of this water-course was simply Polshill.

At some time long after burn had been appended to Polshill Burn it was renamed Garepool Burn. Of course, since Polshill Burn was the name as late as 1664 it was not renamed by Gaelic speakers. The most likely explanation is that locals named it after the pool called Garepool in the Nith, i.e. the burn that entered the Nith near the Garepool [6].

Moving up the burn we encounter the remnants of previous industries namely the New Cumnock Water Works and the Nithsdale Tile Works [7] and of course spectacular views over the Nith valley.

N.B. Parallels can be drawn with Polquheys Burn where this ‘burn, stream‘ name was later renamed Muirfoot Burn, after Muirfoot farm which sat on the banks of the Nith near where its joined by the Polquheys Burn [8].

Paterson’s Well & Fountainhead

• Paterson’s Well: Personal Name Paterson + SSE well ‘well’
• Fountainhead: SSE fountain ‘a spring‘ + SSE head ‘source of a spring, stream‘

 (added 12th May 2026)

Paterson’s Well was the name applied to a spring on the banks of the Garepool Burn, situated roughly half way between the source of the burn on the lower north facing slope of Hare Hill and its meeting with the River Nith. The name does not appear in the Ordnance Survey Name Book of the parish of New Cumnock (1855-57) and the earliest reference countered thus far appears in 1876 in the plans for water supply schemes in the parish (see below). This suggests that the name preceded the development of of the scheme. The surname Paterson does not appear to have any relationship with Polshill farm through the years, e.g baptisms, Census etc. and as such the origin of the name remains a mystery.

Fountainhead was the name given to the spring about a mile further up Garepool Burn and a half-mile from the summit of Harehill near the disused Antimony Mine.

Paterson’s Well emerged as an important source in the future plans of the water supply for New Cumnock, which were initiated by the Local Authority of the parish also known also referred to as New Cumnock Mutual Improvement Society [9].

The Local Authority of this parish, in pursuance of instructions from the Board of Supervision , have been for some time past engaged in looking after a water supply for Pathhead and Mansfield villages, and a committee along with Mr McDerment, C.E., Ayr have been engaged examining the different sources where a supply could be got, not merely for these villages, but for all the villages in the parish ; and at a meeting of the Local Authority held on Saturday presided over by Mr. John Hyslop of Bank – reports were laid on the table, giving minutes details of various schemes. As analysis by Dr. Wallace, Glasgow of the water of five different springs was also submitted, showing Harehill and Glenfarm springs to be the best. The meeting was adjourned for a month to allow of further inquiry, and the committee empowered to communicate with the Marquis of Bute as to be allowed to draw from Harehill.

Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald, Saturday 02 October 1875

The water supply of Pathhead and Mansfield villages were of specific interest, which were served by individual wells at that time.

The Local Authority of New Cumnock met up again on 4th September, with John Hyslop of Bank, Esq. in the the chair with the view to consider the report of Messrs J. and A. Leslie, civil engineers, Edinburgh, on the best way of supplying New Cumnock with water. Mr A. Leslie explained that the district requiring to be supplied with water lies partly on the north side of the River Nith, and partly on the south side [10] –

• North : Mansfield & Pathhead; population 800, rental £1000
• South: Castle, Afton Bridgend, Connelpark, Craigbank; population. 2000, rental £2000

The options and the costs of supply were as follows –

1. Independent supply for the north side from Glen springs : £1072
2. General scheme for the whole district from Glen springs : £2653
3. Independent supply for the south side from Paterson’s Well and Polshill Burn: £1821
4. General scheme for the whole district from Paterson’s Well and Polshill Burn: £2244

We have therefore no hesitation in recommending the adoption of a scheme, which in the first place shall utilize Paterson’s well, and this amounting to 7 gallons per head in the driest seasons, will be sufficient for the wants of the community for a good long time and if it should turn out that the burn water is sometimes so impure as to be unfit for use, a small store pond may be constructed to hold a few days supply or sufficient to last till the burn clears itself, which judging from the nature of the gathering ground, and the appearance of the channel of the burn, it will do very quickly.

We do not see that there would be any commensurate advantage obtained by incurring the expense of carrying pipes up to the top of Hare Hill so at to catch the water of the antimony mine at its mouth., as the cost of conveying material up to such a height , would amount to something very considerable , but of course that is a thing which if considered necessary in after years can be done without affecting the scheme propose to be carried out.

The result of the discussion seemed to be that it was the general opinion both in the meeting and also with the public that a scheme embracing the villages both on the north and on the south sides of the Nith was more desirable than a partial scheme for Pathhead alone, and also that it was desirable that the waters of Polshill Burn, Paterson’s Well and Burnton Burn be submitted to Dr. Wallace of Glasgow for analysis. The following gentlemen: The Chairman, Messrs. James Gray, Robt. Brown, Wm. Gilmour, and Wm. Arthur, were appointed a committee, to get the above waters analysed, and to bring up a full report at next meeting.

Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald, Saturday 16 September 1876

It is interesting to note that the general scheme from a place-name perspective was named’ Paterson’s Well and Polshill Burn’, which thus far is the earliest record of the name Paterson’s Well while the burn was known as Polshill Burn, presumably by the members of the Local Authority, as opposed to Garepool Burn the name agreed in the Ordnance Survey Name Book (1855-57).

As customary, an anonymous poem appeared in the local newspapers. In this case the drama of the ‘Harehill Water Scheme’, which singled out local worthies in the committee – Gray (coalmaster), Brown (coalmaster) and Moodie (Inspector of the Poor & Collector of Water Rates) ‘ [11] –

Opening of New Cumnock Water Works

The New Cumnock Water Works on the banks of the Garepool Burn were formally opened on 2nd February 1878 and the event well reported in the newspapers.

The Irvine Herald painted present as one of ‘infectious diseases exposing themselves and their families to deadly contagion‘ and the hopes for the future of ‘a plentiful supply of water from such a never-failing source of purity‘ [11] –

Occasionally the calm, quiet, serenity of our upland parish is disturbed by events of more than mere local interest, and although the proceedings last Saturday afternoon were of the most formal description, it may safely be said that never before in the annals of our history falls to be recorded an event of such magnitude and of such beneficial importance to the community as the turning on of a plentiful supply of good, fresh, sparkling, pure spring water, so indispensable to cleanliness and good health. A plentiful supply of water from such a never-failing source of purity, all surface drainage and sewage pollutions will be avoided, and our population protected from much of the unnecessary disease, suffering, and death which now afflict them. The practice of drawing supplies of water from pump-wells in villages has over and over again been condemned by men of authority and no such practice should exist. Evidently there are yet in our midst people who prefer to suffer, to use bad water, to allow infectious diseases to encircle them, exposing themselves and their families to deadly contagion, and mayhap premature death, rather than pay a tax of so small a sum as a shilling a-year on the rental to secure a proper supply of water from pure sources.

Irvine Herald, 09 February 1878

Some brief notes on the responses from the key participants –

• John Hyslop, Esq, of Bank, in opening the proceedings, briefly referred to the past history of the scheme, and trusted it would prove one of the great blessings ever given to New Cumnock. Although some had appeared dissatisfied, and showed a disinclination for the water, now that they had tried it, now that they had proved it, he felt assured that all would acknowledge that the committee had done the best thing they could for New Cumnock.
• Mr Wylde (representative of Mr. Leslie, engineer). ‘I am a native of Edinburgh, that Modern Athens which prides itself in its splendid supply of water, and, standing here as I do today, the highest compliment I can pay you is, that you have secured for New Cumnock a supply of water far surpassing that of Edinburgh, and second to none in Scotland (Cheers)’
• Mr Connolly was understood to present Mrs Hyslop with a silver key and ask her to be graciously pleased to now turn on the water on, but the gentleman spoke so low that to the bulk of the audience his remarks were lost.
• Amid loud cheers Mrs Hyslop stepped forward, and with gracefulness, and yet an amount of physical determination, commenced turning the little handle, which proved to be no sinecure, for it had to be turned well-nigh thirty times ere the hills resounded and re-echoed as cheer after cheer in rapid succession rent the air, and the water gushed forth on its mission to proclaim to the villagers the consummation of our hopes and fears, the end of all strife, the faithfulness of the committee’s mission, and the completion of the contractors’ labours.
• The key presented by the contactors bore the following inscription: – “Presented to Mrs John Hyslop, Bank House. On the occasion of the opening of New Cumnock Water Works. February 2d, 1878.”
• The New Cumnock Brass Band paraded the streets during the day, and at the fountain head* rendered valuable service by playing appropriate airs at intervals, the audience joining in the singing the 100th Psalm, “Auld Langsyne,”, “God save the Queen,”, &c.

*fountain head – the generic name of the head of the spring.

The Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald report [12] on the same day provides an account of the analysis of water and the plans for providing the supply to the village of Afton Bridgend. Of particular interest are the details of the transfer of water from the the spring, i.e. Paterson’s Well, into a regulating cistern, holding about 200 gallons, by means of cast iron pipe while a precautionary short-pipe has been led from the cistern to the Garepool Burn, should the water supply fall short. Stand wells have been erected at convenient distances, so that no householders will have more than fifty yards to go for their supply.

Dr Wallace, of Glasgow, also analysed the water, of which the following is a summary – “It is a water of very fine quality for dietetic and all domestic uses. It is clear and colourless and possesses just sufficient hardness to prevent it from being insipid to the taster and from exercising an energetic action upon the fresh surface of lead.” The water is drawn from spring on the farm of Polshill, known as “Paterson’s Well,” and is situated on the edge of the Garepool* or locally better known as Harehill Burn**.

The water is gathered from the springs by means of a perforated clay pipe, surrounded by loose stone and kept back by a clay puddle wall and is run into the regulating cistern, which holds about 200 gallons, by a four-inch cast iron pipe. The purity of the water had enabled a filtering basin to be dispensed with and in the meantime at least it has also been deemed unnecessary to construct a reservoir, as the run of the springs is amply sufficient to provide a supply of from 12 to 16 gallons per day to each individual in the water district. If the supply should, however, fall short, a pipe has been led from the cistern to the Garepool Burn*, which will give additional supply, and the cistern has been so constructed that the springs will always be first available.

The water is brought in a four-inch cast-iron pipe to the first village of Afton Bridgend, where the pipe is carried through the classic Afton, the pipe being embedded in the stream and covered over with concrete. Beyond this point branches are formed with pipes of smaller bore to the other villages. Stand wells have been erected at convenient distances, so that no householders will have more than fifty yards to go for their supply. All along the pipe track, which measure nearly seven miles, sluice cocks are placed, and in the village, at the chief points, fire plugs have likewise been put in.

Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald, Saturday 09 February 1878

* Garepool Burn as opposed to Polshill Burn ** Harehill Burn a third offering of the burn’s name!

Paterson’s Well is first shown on the Ordnance Survey Map (1892-1914), on the west bank of the Garepool Burn while the regulating cistern sits nearby labelled as M.H., man-hole.

The remains of these can be found in the rushes by the side of the burn. Presumably the well is the square stone feature covered in moss while the metal cover within some form of concrete is the man-hole cover.

Examples of the stand wells at that time are found in the postcards of the Castle below. On the left the stand well can be seen at the corner of pavement on the left hand side of the road at the junction with the kirk-port. On the right the stand-well is just down the slope beyond the junction with the Castlehill. Stand wells were known locally as public fountains.

Five months later the news was less positive. The Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald newspaper report begins with ‘We had the occasion lately to visit the town of New Cumnock …‘, without defining ‘We‘, so presumably the views below are those of the Herald staff at the time [13] –

It seems, however, that after that the store had been formed – and, strange to say, so constructed as to contain only 200 gallons – it was found that the supply was inadequate to the demand, and steps were taken to remedy this defect.

Instead of enlarging the store for the spring water, the engineers have arranged for the water from the Polls Burn* being led into the store when the same is found to be necessary. Unfortunately, the water from this burn is far from being agreeable to the taste. From the fact of it having to run a considerable distance through the moss, the taste of the water is peaty, and unpleasant to drink. The result of this is, that the townspeople have fallen back upon their wells.

It is unfortunate that the engineers should have thought it necessary to use the Polls Burn* water, as in our opinion it would have been a simple matter to have enlarged the present store, so that instead of holding only 200 gallons, as we have said it does at present, it might have been made to hold four or five times that quantity, and we are assured that sufficient water would be forthcoming were this done.

Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald, Saturday 06 July 1878

*The report refers to Polls Burn which should read Polshill Burn, which in turn is an alternative to Garepool Burn!

Years later, still uncertainties –

New Cumnock gravitation water has been many times this season, and former seasons, unfit for dietary purposes, and is always worst in summer, from the reason that is partly gathered on mossy land, which, being dry on the top in summer, is easily carried off with water if spates of rain. And as to colour, it might pass for beer. The original supply is from a very large spring, which, as compared by Dr Wallace, Glasgow, was as two to eight against Loch Katrine; and it is understood that the spring is quite capable to supply the demand by enlarging the present tank, or making an additional one, which could be done at a small cost, and the sooner the better. The change would be from the occasionally worst to be best gravitation water in Scotland.

Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald, Friday 20 Aug 1886

However, problems continued to thwart the dream of ‘the best gravitation water in Scotland‘ with a number of issues, including of all things water shortages and the demands placed on the increase in population at the mining communities of Connel Park and Craigbank.

George Sanderson in ‘New Cumnock Far and Away’ [15] notes that –

‘after the dry weather of 1889 the (New Cumnock Water) Board did away with their cistern and constructed a small duckpond affair as a reservoir at Polshill* – they well knew that it was large reservoir that was required but also knew it was out of the question to ask local ratepayers to fund this‘.

George Sanderson in ‘New Cumnock Far and Away’ [15]

*George Sanderson writing in 1992/1993 refers to Polshill Burn e.g. ‘Polshill Burn was browning and drowning the little from Paterson’s Well’. A clear statement that the burn is not known locally known as Garepool Burn.

In September 1891 plans were afoot to extend the New Cumnock Water Supply by ‘furnishing and laying about 1& 3/4 Miles of Cast Iron Pipes, 3 in. diameter‘ this being distance from Paterson’s Well up the hill to Fountainhead, near to the disused Antimony Mine [16] –

NEW CUMNOCK WATER SUPPLY. ESTIMATES WANTED for Furnishing and Laying about 1 & 3/4 Miles of Cast Iron Pipes, 3 in. diameter, for Extension of this Water Supply. Plans may be seen and Specification with Duplicate Schedule obtained on application and payment of Ten Shillings to Messrs ALLAN STEVENSON* & KERR , C.E., 14 Cathcart Street, Ayr , with whom Offers are to be lodged not later than MONDAY, 5th October, at 10 A.M. Contractors will meet at Polshill, Two miles from New Cumnock Station, on MONDAY, 28th inst., at 12 o’clock. The lowest or ant offer may not be accepted.

Ayr Observer, Tuesday 22nd September 1891

*Architect Allan Stevenson was born at Tarbolton and the family later settled at Changue, Old Cumnock

Five man-holes, including the one established at Paterson’s Well stretched along the banks of the Garepool Burn.

Maps 7 & 8: (OS 1892-1914) : Reproduced with the permission of the National Library of Scotland

George Sanderson notes that John Hyslop of Bank continued to be a leading player in the Water Board as well as introducing ‘annual social outings‘ to Hare Hill, beginning in 1895 as follows [17] –

The Water Board also began to enjoy a social outing, thinly disguised as an official annual inspection of the water works. A stroll up the Hare Hill on a summer’s day showed that a lot of burn water still flowed into the system (and no filtration) but they put those worries behind them as they relaxed for a pleasant hour or two, at the Laird’s mansion up the furnace road.

Mr. Hyslop further developed the social side . At the springs away up on the Knipes he had a ‘sumptuous lunch spread out’ and in the evening the committee finished their shift with ‘a banquet at his residence.’ This annual expedition was to be a feature of the next thirty years, even gave this destination a name – Fountainhead.

George Sanderson, New Cumnock Far and Away, 1992

During three Harehill visits the following spring water supply were recorded [18] –

Committee Visit	Paterson’s Well gallons	Fountainhead gallons	Total gallons
08 Sep 1895	2250	1500	3750
15 Sep 1896	2057	1440	3497
22 Sep 1898	3240	1620	4860

However, the annual inspection of August 1902, ‘it was found that the yield of the springs was considerably reduced. Mr. Warren was instructed to prepare a report for the consideration of the committee‘ [19].

Despite the on-going problems a breakthrough saw the ‘Harehilll water eventually extended to Connelpark and Craigbank and a large settling tank partly solved the filtration issues [20].

The settling tank remains to this day –

The New Cumnock Water Board, like many other Water Boards, was fighting a losing a battle and a solution arrived in 1929 with County Councils taking responsibility for the providing water on a a greater scale than the struggling parish schemes.

Glenafton Reservoir

In 1929 Ayrshire County Council acquired the whole of the lands of Craigdarroch and secured the site for a reservoir and control of the watershed . At that time, the Afton Water Works was the biggest contribution to solving the problem of providing a supply of filtered water for the whole landward population of Ayrshire. Work began on the reservoir in 1931 which had a capacity of 638,000,000 gallons [21].

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

References

[1] Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd | gar

[2] Edward Dwelly ‘Illustrated Gaelic- English Dictionary|garbh

[3] Edward Dwelly ‘Illustrated Gaelic- English Dictionary|poll, puill

[4] Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. |burn

[5] Sir Herbert Maxwell ‘The Place-Names of Galloway’ | Garpel Water

[6] New Cumnock Place-Names | Polshill (in progress)

[7] New Cumnock History | Nithsdale Tile Works

[8] New Cumnock Place-Names | Polquheys (in progress)

[9] British Newspaper Archive |Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald, Saturday 02 October 1875

[10] British Newspaper Archive | Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald, Saturday 16 September 1876

[11] British Newspaper Archive | Irvine Herald, 09 February 1878

[12] British Newspaper Archive | Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald, Saturday 09 February 1878

[13] British Newspaper Archive | Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald, Saturday 06 July 1878

[14] British Newspaper Archive | Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald, Friday 20 Aug 1886

[15] George Sanderson ‘New Cumnock Far and Away’ (1992), p.91

[16] British Newspaper Archive | Ayr Observer, Tuesday 22 September 1891

[17] George Sanderson ‘New Cumnock Far and Away’ (1992), p.92

[18] British Newspaper Archive | Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald, Friday 30 September 1898

[19] British Newspaper Archive | Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald, Friday 22 August 1902

[20] George Sanderson ‘New Cumnock Long Ago and Faraway’ (1992), p.93.

[21] British Newspaper Archive |The Scotsman, Thursday, September 5, 1935

Maps

Reproduced with the Permission of the National Library of Scotland

https://maps.nls.uk/

Map 1: Ordnance Survey Maps – 25 inch 1st edition, Scotland, 1855-1882 (1856) | Garepool

Map 2: Ordnance Survey, One-inch to the mile maps of Scotland, 2nd Edition – 1885-1900 (1895) |Garepool Burn

Map 3: Joan Blaeu, Coila Provincia, [or], The province of Kyle / auct. Timoth. Pont.| Poulshell B.

Map 4: Ordnance Survey Maps – Six-inch 1st edition, Scotland, 1843-1882 (1857) | Pathhead and Mansfield

Map 5: Ordnance Survey, One-inch to the mile maps of Scotland, 2nd Edition – 1885-1900 | New Cumnock

Map 6: Ordnance Survey Maps – 25 inch 2nd and later editions, Scotland, 1892-1949 I Paterson’s Well

Map 7: Ordnance Survey Maps – 25 inch 2nd and later editions, Scotland, 1892-1949 | Garepool Burn (man-holes)

Map 8: Ordnance Survey Maps – 25 inch 2nd and later editions, Scotland, 1892-1949 |Fountainhead (man-hole)

Map 9: Ordnance Survey National Grid maps, 1944-1975 | Water Tank

Ordnance Survey Name Books

By Permission of Scotland’s Places

scotlandsplaces.gov.uk

Ayrshire OS Name Books (1855-57) Vol. 49| Garepool

Ayrshire OS Name Books (1855-57) Vol. 49| Garepool Burn