Braxfield Row and the Hanging Judge

How did Braxfield Row get its name?

Long Row is the longest row and Wee Row the shortest. Double Row provided back to back housing and Nursery Buildings housed orphans. Caithness Row got its name from the highlanders who were persuaded to work in the New Lanark Mills instead of emigrating. New Buildings was new [in 1791].

Braxfield Row is the odd one out because it bears the name of a very nasty psychopathic alcoholic.



In 1784 Richard Arkwright and David Dale inspected the New Lanark site and were impressed by the flow of water provided by the Falls of Clyde. Water power was essential to power mill machinery.

Part of the site was obtained from the Incorporation of Shoemakers of Lanark but most was feued from Robert McQueen [for £32  10 shillings].

McQueen became a judge in 1786 and took the title of Lord Braxfield. In 1788 he became Lord Justice Clerk, the leading judge in Scotland. He was an ideal choice for the Scottish establishment.

He took the view that "Government in this country is made up of the landed interest, which alone has a right to be represented". 

He invented the concept of thought crime. He called 'unconscious sedition'. He was a legal innovator in other ways, as shown by his comment "Let them bring me prisoners, and I will find them law." His fondness for having people hung led to him being known as the hanging judge. Once telling a defendant that "Ye're a vera clever chiel, man, but ye wad be nane the waur o' a hanging".

In a survey of Scottish historians, Braxfield was identified as one of the "vilest villains" in Scotland's history. Quite an achievement to place so well in such a competitive field.

A contemporary described him as 'strong built and dark, with rough eyebrows, powerful eyes, threatening lips, and a low growling voice, he was like a formidable blacksmith. His accent and his dialect were exaggerated Scotch."

He was an alcoholic and was often drunk in court. His favourite tipple was claret. His drunkenness was so well known that he has an Edinburgh pub named after him. The Jolly Judge in Lawnmarket.

McQueen lived at Braxfield House, just up the road from New Lanark. The entrance to the estate is by the hairpin bend. His house was later bought by Robert Owen. It is now derelict.

Site of Braxfield House

When Dale and his partners built Braxfield Row in 1790 they probably found it expedient to name it after their powerful neighbour.

Braxfield died in 1799, aged 77, and was buried in the family vault at Lanark.