Micro-history Fail Monastery
the monk s road mauchline near redrae farm the fail spring of fine water located on roadside. the name of nearby spitalside farm suggests connection monastic hospital monks obliged take , sick , weary. melrose abbey had lands @ mauchline , monk s road ran there via redwrae, long wood, mossbog, ladyyard , skeoch. the old hamlet of failford takes name lands around monastery, near head of fail , old ford stood around 80 yards downstream of old failford bridge in line redrae road. ladeside near crosshands may have been place of great age workmen discovered old coal pit shaft stone built walls. depth when pit laid open 12 fathoms, , pit bing made slope in roadway. monks of fail monastery reputed have mined coal more or less on outskirts of lands , have been 1 of ancient workings. recorded in 1497 monks worked coal near adamhill farm.