swear an oath deliberately designed offend their conscience. Field executions were authorized so there were no lengthy trials. Locally covenanters were also reported to have met at Herd's Hill on Fannyside to worship without the king's restrictions. At least two local farmers had all their property confiscated at trials they did not attend. Until the New Town's development, the land that is now Abronhill was occupied by farms such as Whitelees, Glenhead, Low Abronhill and High Abronhill. These farms had developed from the Fleming estate; the Flemings were the ruling family in the area, living at Cumbernauld Castle. They acquired the estate after Robert the Bruce murdered the previous laird, Red Comyn. The four original Abronhill cottages were from before the new town arrived. They were built for the workers of the nearby farms, and are situated on the old Slamannan Road which ran from Wardpark through the Glen and all the way to Slamannan. The site can still be found close to Cumbernauld Glen on what's now known as Broom Road. Nearby is the Dovecote (Doocot in Scots), a 16th-century historical site of interest, which was part of the original Flemming's estate. This received a grant to be renovated from North Lanarkshire's Environmental Key Fund via the Scottish Wildlife Trust. Other local industry which pre-dates the new town includes weaving and mining. Entrances to old mines can be seen at the Glen and other places around the area. To the west of Abronhill and separating it from Kildrum is a deep geographical divide called the Vault Glen. Through the Vault Glen runs a river, a pipeline which carries sewage and the railway line. The river, initially called the Glencryan Burn, starts from Fannyside Lochs and runs through Glencryan Reservoir and down to Forest Road, the main road to Abronhill. The river then runs under the road and its name changes to The Red Burn on the other side, behind Cumbernauld Academy. (On older maps the river was sometimes still called Glencryan Burn for part of its way through the Vault Glen). There are four footbridges connecting Abronhill with the rest of the town: one on either side of Cumbernauld Academy, one close to Abronhill Primary School and one at Broom Road. This Red Burn is the one from which Cumbernauld's Gaelic name is derived. There is a gruesome story about how the Red Burn (or Redburn) itself was named.