Drive along the Clyde Valley tourist route towards Lanark (A72) and you will pass a small sign to Dalserf Church. Slow down and you will see a further sign “Dalserf 1655” and you may catch a glimpse of the street lamps.
This might be a long way to travel for most of you reading here so let me take you for a walk through this tiny but surprising village which once had a population of over a thousand prior to the Industrial Revolution.
Most of the buildings are listed in Dalserf. From the website British Listed Buildings, the description reads:
“B-group with old manse and church. According to the Statistical Account written in 1951, the cottages at this stage were still thatched and ‘brightly painted’. The roofs were slated as part of the 1959 restoration.”
The row of cottages No’s 1, 3 and 5 described as:
“Probably mid 17th century with later alterations. Row of 3 single storey, 4-and 3-bay cottages forming approach to Dalserf Parish Church. Harled with painted ashlar margins to openings. Blocked cills”.
The most startling thing that compliments the buildings is the flowers and planters – they are gorgeous!
Not long after we moved to the Clyde Valley, I sat outside and sketched part of Kirk Road and the kind soul who lives here invited me to look around the church. It was such a part of the village that I have also drawn it although separate to this street drawing. You can see this over on Drawing the Street website.
No 5 marks the end of the cottages – it’s a short road, so I have included the opposite side on this drawing.
From the British Listed Buildings website:
“Early 18th century with later alterations and additions. 2-storey, 3-bay symmetrical rectangular-plan house incorporating high rubble wall to left and lean-to rubble shed to right. Cream sandstone rubble with painted ashlar margins. Eaves course.”
Here is part of the high rubble wall with a doorway between No 4 and the single story cottage at the entrance to the road. I couldn’t find a name or a number for this but it is standing opposite no 1.
If you are interested in a little more of the history of Dalserf, it had strong links with the Covenanters.
To see the drawing in full, please visit my website Drawing the Street. I will sign off with my sketch from that hot summer of 2018.
Thanks for reading,
Ronnie 🙂
Drawing the Detail 
Leave a Reply