Irene Anderson’s history of the village records how the Papana Water burst its banks in 1777. A severe cloudburst hit the hills in the catchment area of the Papana Water and the water swept down through the village destroying the cottages which backed onto the burn.
Although many of the simple stone and turf buildings were apparently sweep away, they were rebuilt and Garvald emerged as a thriving village with many fine buildings. The new cottages were built of red sandstone from the quarries to the west of the village, providing work for masons, wrights and smiths.
