Wishaw: Difference between revisions
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==History== |
==History== |
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It is not sure where the name of the town comes from |
It is not sure where the name of the town comes from. One theory is that it derives from the Latin for "Wicket gate in the wood", and that it used to be called Wygateshaw. An alternative theory is that it was originally Viashaw, meaning way or road through the wood. Some locals pronounce it "Wishie". |
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The town of Wishaw itself is not very old, but settlement in the area dates back to the [[12th century]] with the establishment of a church dedicated to [[St. Nethan]] by a bend ( [[Scottish Gaelic language|Gaelic]] ''camus'') in the Clyde. This became known as Cambusnethan, and was in use as a chuch until the [[Reformation]]. The site remains as a ruined burial ground, including an impressive [[mausoleum]] to [[Lord Belhaven]], although the church is long gone. |
The town of Wishaw itself is not very old, but settlement in the area dates back to the [[12th century]] with the establishment of a church dedicated to [[St. Nethan]] by a bend ( [[Scottish Gaelic language|Gaelic]] ''camus'') in the Clyde. This became known as Cambusnethan, and was in use as a chuch until the [[Reformation]]. The site remains as a ruined burial ground, including an impressive [[mausoleum]] to [[Lord Belhaven]], although the church is long gone. |
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Revision as of 11:36, 2 December 2005
Wishaw is a town in North Lanarkshire, Scotland. It is located in the Clyde Valley, 15 miles south-east of Glasgow. It had a population of 28,565 in the 2001 census.
The main areas of Wishaw are: Cambusnethan, Coltness (East & West), Craigneuk, Gowkthrapple, Greenhead, Netherton, Pather and Waterloo. There are two adjoining villages: Overtown and Newmains.
Wishaw has long lived in the shadow if its bigger and better known neighbour, Motherwell, with which it formed the joint "Burgh of Motherwell and Wishaw" until its dissolution when Scottish local authorities were restructured in 1975. The Motherwell and Wishaw constituency is represented in the UK Parliament by Frank Roy MP. In the Scottish Parliament the constituency is represented by current First Minister Jack McConnell.
In November 1996, the world's worst recorded outbreak of E.coli 0157 occurred in the town, in which 20 people died and around 200 were infected.[1]
History
It is not sure where the name of the town comes from. One theory is that it derives from the Latin for "Wicket gate in the wood", and that it used to be called Wygateshaw. An alternative theory is that it was originally Viashaw, meaning way or road through the wood. Some locals pronounce it "Wishie".
The town of Wishaw itself is not very old, but settlement in the area dates back to the 12th century with the establishment of a church dedicated to St. Nethan by a bend ( Gaelic camus) in the Clyde. This became known as Cambusnethan, and was in use as a chuch until the Reformation. The site remains as a ruined burial ground, including an impressive mausoleum to Lord Belhaven, although the church is long gone.
The village itself was laid out in 1794, named Cambusnethan, and later renamed Wishawtown. On 4th September 1855, the town was incorporated with the villages of Coltness and Stewarton to form the Burgh of Wishaw, with a population of around 5,000.
People
Among Wishaw’s contributors to Scottish culture (popular or otherwise) are former world snooker champion John Higgins, underground film-maker Enrico Cocozza, popular recording combo The Jolt (September 1976 - June 1979), musical directors/big-band leaders Freddy and Harry Bence, and internationally renowned Scottish musicians and entertainers The Alexander Brothers.