Ordnance Survey large scale Scottish town plans, 1847-1895
The
royal burgh town of Lanark is located at the point where the River Clyde merges
with the Mouse Water, and is about 30 miles south-east of Glasgow. The name of
Lanark is probably derived from the Brythonic word, Llanerc, which means 'forest glade'. However, the name Lannarc is recorded as far back as 1188,
while Lanerch appears in 1430. Rumour
has it that the town may have started off as a Roman outpost, which linked
Carlisle with the Antonine Wall. Certainly, Lanark boasts a rich historical
pedigree, since a parliament was held here in 978, plus legend has it that
William Wallace lived in Castlegate (in the town centre) and was even married
in Lanark's Church of St. Kentigern. The town was proclaimed a royal burgh by
David I of Scotland in 1140. During the 1640s Lanark became a centre for the
Covenanters, with the famous Declaration of Lanark (1682) confirming the
Declaration of Sanquhar (1680). Traditionally a post and market town, Lanark's
population in the census of 1851 was 5,008.
As
with so many Scottish towns, Lanark is dominated by the main street that runs
through its town centre. In his Imperial
Gazetteer of Scotland of 1857, the Rev. John Wilson recorded that, up until
1824, the architecture of Lanark was of a 'rude, antique appearance'. From 1824
onwards, however, Wilson states that 'many of the houses have been rebuilt in a
somewhat handsome fashion', mainly using materials such as sandstone and
ragstone. The town's municipal buildings (Lanark was formerly a regional
centre), built in a Grecian style, were built between 1834 and 1836. Lanark's
gasworks, built on the western edge of the town in 1832, provided the area with
lighting.
Trade and Industry
Wilson's (1857)
states that Lanark's 'principal industrial occupation is handloom weaving' -
although he observes that this occupation provided them with a 'very inadequate
subsistence'. That weaving was then Lanark's main industry should come as no
surprise, given the water-power that was available via the River Clyde.
Shoemaking, handicrafts and farming also provided many of the townspeople with
employment. The town also boasted three breweries, three four mills and
workshops where women were employed in flowering or embroidering lace products.
Weekly markets were held on Tuesday and Saturday, while agricultural fairs
(especially for livestock) were held at various times throughout the year. The
existence of a large number of banks and insurance companies completes this
overview of Lanark's main manufacturing industries and services during the
nineteenth century.
'New
Lanark' is located to the south of Lanark, in the river valley near the Falls
of the Clyde. This 'model' cotton mill town was established between 1800 and
1825 by Robert Owen (1771-1858) and David Dale. Owen's visionary plan was to
set up a co-operative community where workers would be well-treated and
provided with a good level of housing, and their children would receive a
decent full-time education. Unfortunately, the project suffered financial
difficulties, and Owen ended his connection with New Lanark in the mid-1820s.
New Lanark's population in 1851 was 1,642, and the village comprised 337
houses.
Religious Life
One
local effect of the 'Great Disruption' that so fragmented the Established
Church in 1843, was that some beautiful Church of Scotland buildings were
constructed in Lanark. The Parish Church of St. Nicholas, which dates back to
medieval times, became the main parish church from 1688 onwards, due to the poor
state of the ancient St. Kentigerns Church. Located at the top of the town is
St. Mary's Church, which was built in 1859 for the Roman Catholics who lived in
Lanark.
Culture and Society
In
addition to setting up a subscription library, Lanark also possessed a
Mechanics' Institute, a horticultural society and several benevolent
institutions. The region also boasted a newspaper, the Lanarkshire Advertiser, which was published once a month. The
traditional Lanimers' Fair, a week-long festival held in early June, dates as
far back as 1488, and concludes with the crowning of the Lanimer Queen.
Groome,
Francis H. (ed.), 1894-5. The Ordnance
Gazetteer of Scotland; a survey of Scottish topography, statistical,
biographical, and historical, 2nd ed., (London: William Mackenzie)
Mackay,
George, 2000. Scottish Place Names
(New Lanark: Lomond)
Smith,
Robert, 2001. The Making of Scotland: a
comprehensive guide to the growth of its cities, towns and villages (Edinburgh:
Canongate)
Wilson,
Rev. John Marius (ed.), 1857. The
Imperial Gazetteer of Scotland or Dictionary of Scottish Topography (Edinburgh:
A. Fullarton & Co.)
Edina
Website – Online Statistical Accounts of Scotland - http://edina.ac.uk/statacc/