Craigholm stands on high ground on the eastern shore of Mugdock Reservoir, within a wider landscape shaped by the development of Glasgow’s nineteenth-century water supply. The house is now a Category C listed building, recognised as part of the former Glasgow Corporation Water Works landscape, alongside nearby buildings and woodland including Barrachan.
Documentary evidence shows that Craigholm was built in the early 1870s. Building accounts and contemporary notices indicate that the house was newly constructed during 1871–72, and it was advertised “to let” in 1872, shortly after completion. At the time of the 1871 census, the Gray family were still living elsewhere in Mugdock, suggesting that Craigholm had not yet been completed or occupied.
It appears likely that Craigholm was built with the Gray family in mind, but that the house was initially offered for letting before the family moved in, probably later in 1871 or shortly afterwards, following the birth of Agnes Gray.
From 1881 onwards, census records place the Gray family firmly at Craigholm. In 1881, Andrew Gray is recorded living at Craigholm Villa while working at the local Water Works, with his wife Jean and their children. The 1891 and 1901 censuses show continued occupation, with the house functioning as a settled and later multi-generational family home. Andrew Gray remained resident at Craigholm until his death there in 1902.
After Andrew’s death, his widow Jean Weir or Gray later moved to live with her daughter Agnes, and it was there that Jean died in 1906. The subsequent history of Craigholm after this point remains to be explored.
Craigachan Flatcoats 