Carnwath

Carnwath (Gaelic: "A' Chathair Nuadh") is a moorland village on the southern edge of the Pentland Hills of Lanarkshire, Scotland. The village lies about thirty miles south of both Edinburgh and Glasgow. It is bounded by the North Medwin and South Medwin watercourses.

Its current population is about 1,400. The area is agricultural, but the locality also serves as a commuter dormitory for the large cities nearby. The combination of agricultural machinery, a through-traffic of heavy lorries, and peak-time commuter traffic, all means the local roads are seriously congested.

There are proposals for a large windfarm nearby at Harrows Law.

Very nearby at Dunsyre is the famous Little Sparta.

Local landmarks

The Wee Bush Inn

The Wee Bush Inn dates from the 1750s, built in connection with the turnpike road from Ayr to Edinburgh.This is the reason for its very prominent position, especially when seen when approaching on Main Street from the west, at right angles to the main road.For many years the thatched roof was covered by corrugated iron sheeting. In the mid-1980s the then landlady Mrs Helen Wilson carried out a total renovation and upgrading including restoration of the thatched roof. Mrs Wilson installed a completely new thatched roof once again in the spring of 1999.Regrettably, the Wee Bush was seriously damaged by fire on 28 September 2002.Rebuilding started in May 2003 although, for insurance reasons, the roof was replaced with slate rather than thatch.

Carnwath Cross

In the centre of the village is a cross built by Hugh, 5th Lord in July, 1516, in terms of the Charter granted by King James 2nd in 1514, which ordered a Market Cross to be erected. It is thought that it may have been erected in front of the old Dower House or could have been erected where it stands today, in the Market Square.

The Cross was blown down in a gale on the night of 16th February, 1962. It was redressed and re-erected with a small metal cross on top, but it never had the same appearance. However, in 1970 a Mr Aitken, a Carnwathian, who had died in America, left $100 to enable a new Urn to be placed on top, and this was duly done by the 3rd District Council. The Cross stands on four ascending steps, with a base and cornice, a shaft square and large in comparison with others

t Mary's Aisle

At the west entrance to Carnwath, adjacent to Carnwath Parish Church (1867), is St Mary's Aisle, the only remaining part of the Collegiate Church built in 1386. It is recognised as a Category A Listed Building on the Secretary of State for Scotland's Statutory list. St Mary's Aisle is the mausoleum of the Lockhart family, and previously of the Earls of Carnwath and the Lords Somerville.

History

The Clan Lamont were driven from their homeland to settle in Carnwath. They later became Covenanters. "The Ordnance Gazetteer of Scotland" (1882-1885) said of the village: "Long a dingy and disagreeable place, it has been greatly improved".

There is a gothic church that dates from 1798, directly abutting the former tiny church of 1424.

Famous people from Carnwath include Robert Anderson, and the "Ordnance Gazetteer" remarks that: "the minor poet, James Graeme (1749-72)" was a resident of the locality.

Education

[http://schools-online.co.uk/carnwathprimary Carnwath Primary] Carnwath Primary School, Couthally Terrace, Carnwath, Lanark. South Lanarkshire, ML11 8HY is a non-denominational and co-educational school for girls and boys between the ages of three and twelve. It is one of 124 primary schools in South Lanarkshire which is the fifth largest authority in Scotland, and has one nursery class and eight primary classes. The working capacity in the primary is 239 and currently has 208 children. The working capacity in the nursery class is 40 (20 morning and 20 afternoon) and currently has 25 children. It has a computer suite which all the children have access to with 15 PCs and an interactive whiteboard. In addition each class, including the nursery, has a PC connected to the school network. The school has a range of extra-curricular clubs which meet during each session. These take place at lunchtime and after school. Recent activities have included soccer, badminton, netball, chess, and fitness. Children at Primary 6 and 7 have the opportunity to learn to play a musical instrument. They are taught by a specialist music tutor from Biggar High School.

External links

* [http://www.carnwath.org.uk/ www.carnwath.org.uk] - a local man's page of maps and photos.
* [http://www.dunsyre.com Dunsyre.com and Dunsyre.net] Information about Dunsyre and links to local pages.
* [http://www.dunsyrecamp.org.uk/ Dunysre Holiday Camp]
* [http://www.schools-online.co.uk/carnwathprimary Carnwath Primary School]