Strathaven

Strathaven
Scottish Gaelic: Strath Aibhne
Strathaven  Strathaven shown within South Lanarkshire
Population	7,700 (2001)
Civil parish	Avondale
Council area	South Lanarkshire
Lieutenancy area	Lanarkshire
Country	Scotland
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	STRATHAVEN
Postcode district	ML10
Dialling code	01357
Police	Strathclyde
Fire	Strathclyde
Ambulance	Scottish
EU Parliament	Scotland
Scottish Parliament	Clydesdale
List of places: UK • Scotland •

Strathaven ⁱ/ˈstreɪvən/ (Gaelic: Strath Aibhne [stra ˈəjnə], meaning: valley of the Avon)^{[citation needed]} is a historic market town in South Lanarkshire, Scotland. The town was granted a Royal Charter in 1450, making the Town of Strathaven a burgh of barony. The town's principal industry was primarily weaving in the 19th and early 20th centuries, however this declined when faced by competition from Glasgow. The industrial revolution bypassed the town as it had little to offer in the way of natural resources, and thus has grown into more a commuter settlement, however it retains its function as a service centre for the surrounding area of Avondale. The current population is 7,700.

Location

The town is located on the edge of the valley of the Avon Water, around 6 miles from Hamilton, and 23 miles from Glasgow. The A71, which connects Edinburgh and Kilmarnock passes through the town. In the 2001 census the town had a population of 7,700. Strathaven has one secondary school and three primary schools - Kirklandpark Primary, Wester Overton Primary, and St Patrick's Primary. It also has a grass airfield about two miles to the north west, on Lethame Road.

History

Detail of the advertisement on the town mill

The Town Mill and Miller's house

Strathaven has a long history as a market town.^{[citation needed]} A Roman road passes close by, on the south side of the Avon Water, which led to the Roman fort at Loudoun Hill near Darvel. The origins of Strathaven Castle are obscure, but it is believed to have been built around 1350 by the Bairds, on a bend of the Powmillon Burn.^{[citation needed]} Today it is a ruin, with a single tower and sections of wall remaining beside the A71.

The Barony of Strathaven was acquired in 1362 by Archibald the Grim, Lord of Galloway, by his marriage to Joanna, daughter to Maurice de Moravia, 1st Earl of Strathearn, great Moray heiress.^{[citation needed]} The settlement within the lands of Strathaven became a Burgh of barony in 1450.^{[citation needed]} It still retains its traditional character despite the growth of more modern housing.^{[citation needed]} The centre of the town is occupied by the market square, formerly a grassed common, and still known as Common Green, or just 'The Green'. Linking the town and the castle is the old 'Boo Backit Brig' ('bow-backed bridge'), a small arched bridge. The Old Parish Church, with its landmark spire, was built in 1772, and was the place of worship of the Dukes of Hamilton who maintained a shooting lodge at nearby Dungavel House.^{[citation needed]}

The town prospered in the 18th and 19th centuries as a weaving town, although there were many merchants living here too.^{[citation needed]} The town played a significant part in the Radical War of 1820, when James Wilson led a band of radicals on a march to Glasgow, to join a rumoured general uprising, which never actually happened. Wilson was hanged for treason, and in 1846 a memorial was built in his honour in the town cemetery.^{[citation needed]} The history of Strathaven is now documented in the town's John Hastie Museum.

Its most famous 'modern' resident was Sir Harry Lauder (1870–1950) whose mansion, Lauder Ha', or Hall, was just above the town on the road to Kilmarnock. Sir Harry spent the Second World War years there, and died in February 1950. The family retained the property until Death Duties of 65% forced a sale in the late 1960s.^{[citation needed]} It remains a private residence.

Town centre

Despite competition from the nearby large towns of East Kilbride and Hamilton, Strathaven still has a number of craft and gift shops, alongside well known town centre names. There are three banks, Halifax Bank of Scotland, Royal Bank of Scotland and a Nationwide office in the Common Green. There are a number of businesses providing extra attraction to the town. Brian Young's Garden Centre and Lawn Mower centre on Newton Road, The new Auction mart half a mile from Strathaven on the Hamilton Road. This includes a number of smaller businesses reflecting Strathaven's equestrian following (horses) and a small cafe. The town has long been Sunday Run territory with several town centre eating establishments as well as four public houses. The fifth pub until recently, The Castle Tavern, is no longer open due to a collapse during renovations in early 2011. The town is also home to a small recycling centre off the Hamilton Road. There are a number of businesses here mainly vehicle oriented but including a builders' yard. There is car sales and van and car servicing and repair and being a country town there is also a tractor business here.

Strathaven Academy

See Strathaven Academy

Strathaven railway stations

Strathaven North station in 1906

Strathaven had, at various times, three railway stations.

• Strathaven (Old), the first station, was the terminus of the Hamilton and Strathaven Railway. The railway was taken over by the Caledonian Railway; and the station was replaced by Strathaven North.
• Strathaven North, a terminal station on the Hamilton and Strathaven Branch of the Caledonian Railway, opened in October 1904, closed temporarily during World War I; and closed on 30 September 1945.
• Strathaven Central, on the Darvel and Strathaven Railway closed in June 1964 to services from the east, although the line to Darvel closed in 1939.

Sport

Strathaven is home to several sports clubs, which include:

• Strathaven Army Cadet Force
• Strathaven Dynamo AFC
• Strathaven Rugby Club
• Strathaven Striders
• Strathaven Golf Club
• Strathaven Bowling Club
• Avondale Bowling Club
• Strathaven Tennis Club
• Strathaven Badminton Club
• Avon Angling Club
• Upper Avon Angling Association

Strathaven's Sport Centre underwent refurbishment in 2009 as a result of the demolition and reconstruction of Strathaven Academy.

Sports facilities in Strathaven include an indoor swimming pool and gym, three grass football pitches, two ash football pitches, four tennis courts, two rugby pitches and several badminton courts in church and primary school halls.

Famous residents (past and present)

• Bertie Auld Footballer and one of the Lisbon Lions who played with Celtic
• William Craig Brownlee Clergyman, author and Professor of Languages at Rutgers University
• Eric Caldow Scottish internationalist footballer who played with Rangers
• James Mackinnon Fowler Australian politician and founding member of the Victorian Socialist Party
• Sir Robert Giffen Financial editor of The Times newspaper and President of the Royal Statistical Society
• Andy Kerr Labour Politician and former Scottish Executive Health Minister
• Sir Harry Lauder Singer, comedian and music hall entertainer
• Thomas Leiper Tobacco merchant
• Una McLean Actress and comedian
• Ricky Warwick Singer and guitarist with rock bands The Almighty and Circus Diablo
• James Wilson Revolutionary leader who participated in the Scottish Insurrection of 1820

External links

• Strathaven castle Website
• Town of Strathaven
• Strathaven Academy Blog
• Strathaven in Old Postcards
• Annual Strathaven Hot Air Balloon Festival (non-profit organisation)
• Strathaven Airfield web site
• Scottish Gazetteer : Strathaven
• Strathaven Rugby Club
• Strathaven Dynamos
• Strathaven Tennis Club
• Strathaven and District Pipe Band
• Hangarfest Music Festival
• http://www.upperavonangling.co.uk/