Robert Dinwiddie, born at Germiston House, 1692
(Became known as Grandfather of the Americas)

The part of Garngad known as Germiston lies east of the railway bridge beyond Blochairn Rd. Most of the present houses would be built in the early 1930’s, and the high flats around 1962. Originally Forge St was an old tenement street built in the 1860’s. There is also a pleasant new private house estate there (Lismore Park). Forge St was named after the forge of the Brabby works which were at Darnick St (beyond the ‘Blind Tunnel’).

Germiston House, demolished in 1913, was owned by the Dinwiddie family whose name is commemorated by the present Dinwiddie St. Lockhart St is named after Robert Dinwiddie’s son in law. Robert Dinwiddie’s brother Lawrence had owned the famous Delftfield Pottery, their eldest brother Matthew had inherited their father’s lands at Germiston and Balornock but lost them in 1725 due to bankruptcy. However in 1748 Lawrence regained this estate. In 1751 Robert Dinwiddie became Governor of Virginia: he was known as the ‘Grandfather of the United States’ and he died in London in 1770. Germiston House was demolished in 1913. Germiston gets a mention in that fine book ‘The Scottish Insurrection of 1820’ by Peter Beresford Ellis and Seamus Maga’Ghobhainn. This is the story of the Radical Uprising at the Battle of Bonnymuir in 1820 that resulted in the executions of Andrew Hardie, John Baird and James (‘Purli’) Wilson. A contingent led by Hardie and William Flanagan, a weaver from Dobbie’s Loan, spent the night before the Battle at Germiston. Flanagan was a delegate for the Castle St Radical Union.

Read about Provanmill and Blackhill
Read about Garngad and Royston
Read about Garngad characters (Mick McLaughlan by Michael Keenan)
Read about politics in the area
Read about entertainment in the area
Read about sports in the area
Read about schools in the area
Read about churches and religion in the area
Read the 'Farewell to Garngad'
Read about a poet from 'Little Ireland'
Read the conclusion by writer James Friel

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