CRAIGMADDIE is in the parish of Baldernock and county of Stirling. It is a pleasantly situated and comfortable residence.
In former times it was part of the manor or Lordship of Cartenvenoch or Bardowie, and the ancient castle of Cragin or Craigmaddie formed the residence of the old family of the Galbraiths of Buthernock or Baldernock.
These lands afterwards came into the hands, in the beginning of the fifteenth century, of the Hamiltons, which family still possess part of them, and whose manor house is at Bardowie. Later, Craigmaddie formed part of the Dougalston estate.
About the end of last century, James Black, who was Lord Provost of Glasgow, bought this property. He built a small cottage upon it, and laid out the grounds with great taste. He afterwards built what forms a great part of the present house. Among other children, Mr. Black had a daughter Hannah, who married the late Rev. Dr. William Muir of St. George's, Glasgow, and afterwards of St. Stephen's, Edinburgh, who died some years ago esteemed and respected by all who knew him.
The next proprietor was Lieutenant-General Peter, who was the son of a Glasgow merchant, Thomas Peter of Crossbasket, Dean of Guild in 1708. He was succeeded by the Rev. Dr. M'Turk, Professor of Church History in the University of Glasgow, who was an unmarried man. He made an addition to the house.
Henry Gordon next acquired Craigmaddie, which became the manor house of the Dougalston estate, to which he succeeded on the death of his uncle, James Glassford, He took the name of Glassford at the same time. In 1842 he built an addition.
Upon the unentailed part of Dougalston being sold, James Spens Black, manufacturer, of the firm of John Black & Co., Glasgow, bought the property, and, shortly before his death, it was acquired from him by Major Graham Stirling of Craigbarnet.
Major Charles Campbell Graham Stirling served in the army, and during part of the Crimean war was in command of the 42nd regiment. He has now retired from the service. His property of Craigbarnet, which adjoins Craigmaddie, is an old holding of the Stirling family.
In 1872 Craigmaddie again changed hands, being then sold to Mr. Robert Ker of Dougalston, and it is now the residence of his daughter Agnes and her husband, Charles T. Higginbotham.
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