THE property of John Gordon, Esq. of Aikenhead, is situated in the parish of Cathcart and county of Renfrew.
This small estate originally formed part of the lands of Hagtonhill, a property belonging to the Maxwells of Pollok.
About fifty years ago Colin Campbell, a member of a well known Glasgow family, (1) purchased a portion of Hagtonhill, and named it "The Lynn."
He immediately built a house upon it, and during the summer months which he was in the habit of spending there he occupied himself from year to year in improving it. He made several small additions to the house, laid out the grounds with great taste, and planted much of the wood which now embellishes the estate.
The house stands on an eminence on the right bank of the Cart, which flows through the property between steep and richly-wooded banks, and at one point forms the romantic cascade which gives its name to the place. The avenue is about a mile long, and crosses the river by a beautiful iron bridge, from which there is an interesting view of the glen on either side.
It was standing on this bridge one afternoon, and gazing upon the stream below, that Motherwell composed one of his most striking poems, "The Madman's Love," and since then
"No change is here, all things remain
As they were years ago;
With self-same voice the old woods playne,
When shrilly winds do blow -
Still murmuring to itself, the stream
Rolls o'er its rocky bed -
Still smiling in its quiet dream,
The small flower nods its head." (2)
About thirty years ago The Lynn was purchased by John Gordon of Aikenhead, whose estates adjoin this property.
In 1852 he added largely to the house, from plans furnished by the late Charles Wilson, architect, Glasgow. The Lynn is now a handsome mansion; and the estate, as a whole, is one of the most picturesque and sequestrated in the immediate neighbourhood of Glasgow. (3)
(1) Mr. Campbell, who resided principally in London or Amsterdam, where he was engaged in business, was the uncle of a well known Glasgow merchant, the late Mungo Campbell, jun., perhaps better known as "White Mungo.'' This deeply lamented gentleman, under rather a rough exterior, possessed a very warm heart. Although his charities and good deeds were large and numerous, few but his most intimate friends knew the extent of them, and he well fulfilled the Scripture admonition "When thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth."
(2) "The Madman's Love." Motherwell's Poetical Works, page 47.
(3) Since "The Lynn" was purchased by Mr. Gordon it has been occupied by various families. Here Dr. Wardlaw spent one of the late years of his active life in quiet repose, and the late Earl of Cathcart, then Lord Greenock, resided for several years, Cathcart House, his father's residence, being in the immediate neighbourhood. A late tenant was Mr. Thomas Henderson, senior partner of the well known "Anchor" Line of Steamships.
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