When our new family centre was being designed, the architects did a little bit of research about the local area. They were particularly interested to find out all about Tea Well Brae, this was used as inspiration for some of the features in our family centre.
THE STORY OF THE TEAPOT
In the 19th century the residents collected their water from two sources in Newton Mearns. One was at the end of the main street: “The Tea Well”. The Tea Well ran down from Robshill; known as the Tea Well Brae. The Tea Well Brae water made a better pot of tea than the pump on the main street. The building at the end of the main street was known as Teapot Close. It had this name as the houses in the close were near the Tea Well and the children would be sent to get teapots full of water.
Below is an extract out of Mary’s Story, from The Mearns History Group:
“In Main Street we had a Marble Arch; there really was no arch but you went through an opening called a pen then through a close to houses at the back. It was like a rabbit warren of houses. At the foot of the Main Street there was the Tea Pot Close: when I was young, I never questioned why it was called that, but since then I have heard it was because the women took their pots and teapots to be filled by the spring water from the Tea Well at the foot of the Tea Well Brae.”
You may spot some teapots around our Family Centre!
For more information on the History of Newton Mearns and surrounding area, please visit the Mearns History Group Website. Home – Mearns History Group
The full of Mary’s Story can be found on the Mearns history Group Website Mary’s Story – Mearns History Group
