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Larkhall
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Larkhall (Scots: Larkhauch,[2] Scottish Gaelic: Taigh na h-Uiseig)[3] is a town in South Lanarkshire, Scotland, around 14 miles (23 km) southeast of Glasgow. It is twinned with Seclin in northern France.
Key Information
Larkhall sits on high ground between the River Clyde to the East and the Avon Water to the West. Larkhall sits on the edge of the scenic Clyde valley and is a commuter town for Glasgow. Larkhall had a population of 14,951 in the 2011 UK Census, and is a typical Scottish former industrial town. Traditionally a mining, weaving and textile area, most of Larkhall's traditional industries have now closed down, including the Lanarkshire ironworks.
Toponym
[edit]The name Larkhall or Laverock Ha first appears in journals around 1620. The origins of the name are unknown, although Laverock is the Scots word for skylark. However, there is no evidence that the town is named after the bird. It is more likely that Laverock was a surname.[4] The name for Larkhall was originally a Scots word Laverockhaugh (Laverockha), which meant laverock - skylark and haugh - boggy/wet area.
History
[edit]One of the town's most notable historical landmarks is the Morgan Glen viaduct standing over the Avon Water. The viaduct was built between 1898 and 1904 for the Caledonian Railway company by Sir William Arrol & Co.[5] It spans some 285 yards (261 m), and at a height of 175 feet (53 m),[6] it is the tallest viaduct in Scotland. The viaduct is in a state of disrepair since the closure of the railway line in 1965 and is closed to public access for safety reasons. In the 1990s, the viaduct was under the threat of dismantling but was protected by a local heritage group.[7] The viaduct is Category B listed.[5] It is currently on the Buildings at Risk Register for Scotland.[8]
Glenview memorial fountain is a local fountain and artwork in the town, originally produced by the Saracen Foundry.[9]
On 22 December 1999 a large gas explosion took place in the town which resulted in the death of four people.[10] In Transco plc v HM Advocate Transco were subsequently found guilty of culpable homicide and fined £15 million in 2004.[11][12][13]
Education
[edit]The primary schools in Larkhall are Machanhill Primary School, Dalserf Primary School, Glengowan Primary School, Hareleeshill Primary School, Craigbank Primary School, Netherburn Primary School and Robert Smillie Memorial Primary School. There is also a Catholic primary school, St Mary's. The town's sole secondary school is Larkhall Academy.
Religion
[edit]The Church of Scotland has most adherents at 7,416 persons (49.6% of the population). The 2011 census notes there are 1,247 Roman Catholics living in the town (8.3% of the population).[14]
Larkhall contains eight churches: Chalmers Parish Church, The Church At The Cross, Larkhall Baptist Church, Larkhall Congregational Church, St. Machan's Parish Church, St. Mary's R.C. Church, Strutherhill Gospel Hall and Trinity Parish Church. There is also a Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses.[15]
Transport
[edit]Trains returned to the town in December 2005, with the opening of the new Larkhall railway station, which is a terminus on the Argyle Line. The station provides regular services to Glasgow and beyond. Merryton railway station serves the northern end of town and is also on the Argyle Line.
Larkhall also has good bus links with frequent services to Hamilton, Lanark, Motherwell, Stonehouse, Strathaven and Wishaw.
Scotland's main motorway, the M74 skirts the eastern edges of the town. Larkhall has 2 motorway intersections: Junction 7 with the A72, which is for southbound traffic only, and Junction 8 with the A71, which is for both northbound and southbound traffic. Junction 8 is known locally as Canderside Toll or The Toll. The centre of Glasgow can be reached in 20 minutes; Edinburgh is around 50 minutes away.
Location grid
[edit]Sport
[edit]Because of the Protestant majority, residents mainly support Rangers F.C., to the point where it was noted in 2008 that the colour green—which is associated with that team's rivals Celtic F.C.—is avoided by retailers.[16] However, community leaders attributed any trouble to a small number of vandals.[17] A local authority study in 2017 found that sectarianism was not a major issue in the town.[18]
The town has two Junior Football teams: Larkhall Thistle F.C. and Royal Albert F.C. although Royal Albert now play in Stonehouse, a neighbouring village while Larkhall Thistle play at Gasworks Park on Raploch Street. Royal Albert were once a full member of the Scottish Football League but now ply their trade, as do Larkhall Thistle, in the Third Division (fourth tier) of the West of Scotland Football League. Also present in the town is Larkhall United Junior Football Club.
The town also has its own 9 hole municipal Golf Course which was founded in 1909.[citation needed]
Athletics
[edit]Larkhall also has a Running & Athletics club, Larkhall YMCA Harriers. Established in 1930 they are one of Scotland's longest established Running & Athletics Club. Based in Larkhall, South Lanarkshire, over the years their members have performed with distinction at District, Inter-Districts, Scottish, British and International level, including the Olympic Games. The most famous and successful member being David Gracie who represented Team GB at the Helsinki Olympic Games in the 400 Hurdles. The Harriers train from their base, the Larkhall YMCA Hall on Caledonian St, Larkhall and other surrounding sports facilities. Their members are drawn from Larkhall and the surrounding towns and villiages of Stonehouse, Ashgill, Netherburn, Blackwood, Kirkmuirhill, Lesmahagow, Strathaven, Ferniegair, Glassford, Lanark and beyond. The club colours are Red and White and they compete in Red vests with two White horizontal hoops. Larkhall YMCA Harriers cater for athletes from Age 5 with no upper age limit and compete in Road Racing, Track & Field and Cross Country.[19]
Notable people
[edit]Larkhall is home to snooker player and 2006 World Snooker Championship winner Graeme Dott and 2001 and 2025 Scottish Snooker Champion Gary Thomson and his wife professional snooker referee Agnieszka Thomson.[citation needed] Previous residents include footballers Paul McStay[citation needed]; Jim McLean[citation needed] and his brother Tommy McLean[citation needed] come from a village called Ashgill next to Larkhall. Other high-profile former residents include actress Una McLean[citation needed].
David Keir Gracie
[edit]David Keir Gracie, (26 January 1927 – 26 October 2020) Olympian and member of Larkhall YMCA Harriers. Gracie moved to Larkhall as a young child in the mid 1930's and after leaving the Royal Marines in 1947 he Joined the Larkhall YMCA Harriers where he discovered his love for athletics. He competed in the men's 400 metres hurdles at the 1952 Summer Olympics. Amongst his other achievements, In 1953 he won the World University Games 400m Hurdles title in Dortmund, Germany. He was also part of the Team GB Quartet who won the silver medals in the 4x400m relay at the same event. Gracie died in October 2020 at the age of 93.[19]
Black Lady
[edit]The black lady of Larkhall is a local ghost story.[20] She was said to be the Indian servant of Captain Henry McNeil Hamilton, the last owner of Broomhill House (55°43′59.03″N 3°59′4.78″W / 55.7330639°N 3.9846611°W) who was brought to Larkhall by Captain McNeil after one of his many seafaring voyages. She was happy with her new life but her ignorance of Scottish customs made her a social outcast. The Captain forbade her to leave Broomhill House during the day.[21][unreliable source?] Soon she was not seen at night either and the Captain claimed she had disappeared, but locals were suspicious. She is said to have returned, as her ghostly form appeared in the windows of Broomhill House and then later in Morgan Glen. The Captain is said to have died prematurely.[21][unreliable source?]
When Broomhill House fell into disrepair the 500 long hundredweight (25,000 kg) door lintel was moved down to the Applebank public house on Millheugh road by a large group of men. The next day it was said to be found lying across the road from the public house. In the 1960s a team from the Tonight programme visited Larkhall as they tried to perform the first televised exorcism. The cameras were frozen over in fine weather and after filming finished the director was killed in a road crash on his way to another location. He was found with a fence post impaled in his heart.[22][unreliable source?]
References
[edit]- ^ "Population estimates for settlements and localities in Scotland: mid-2020". National Records of Scotland. 31 March 2022. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
- ^ "Scottish names for Scottish places", NewsNet Scotland
- ^ "Ainmean-Àite na h-Alba - Gaelic Place-Names of Scotland - Database".
- ^ A. D. MILLS. "Larkhall." A Dictionary of British Place-Names. Oxford University Press. 2003.
- ^ a b Historic Environment Scotland. "LARKHALL, LARKHALL VIADUCT (Category B Listed Building LB5168)". Retrieved 16 January 2022.
- ^ "Larkhall Viaduct".
- ^ "Morgan Glen viaduct under threat". The Independent. 6 January 1994. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
- ^ "Larkhall Railway Viaduct, Over Avon Water". Buildings at Risk. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
- ^ "Glenview Memorial Fountain". ArtUK. Retrieved 1 January 2022.
- ^ "Transco fined £15m for killer gas blast". The Scotsman. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
- ^ Chalmers, J. (2004) 'Corporate Culpable Homicide: Transco plc v H M Advocate', The Edinburgh law review, 8(2)
- ^ Bowcott, Owen (25 August 2005). "Transco fined £15m for gas pipe error that killed family". The Guardian. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
- ^ "Transco fined £15m for gas blast". BBC News. 25 August 2005. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
- ^ "Welcome to Scotland's Census - Scotland Census 2011".
- ^ "The Churches of Britain and Ireland - Larkall".
- ^ Hughes, Mark (1 November 2008). "Scottish town where green is beyond the pale". The Independent. Retrieved 10 May 2013.
- ^ "Nothing about Larkhall is black and white". The Scotsman. 29 August 2007. Retrieved 30 August 2017.
- ^ Williams, Martin (9 February 2017). "Sectarianism no longer an issue for Larkhall residents, says new research". Evening Times. Glasgow. Retrieved 30 August 2017.
- ^ a b "Larkahall YMCA Harriers Running and Athletics Club. Established 1930". larkhallymcaharriers.org. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
- ^ "Spectre of the Black Lady hovers over scheme for houses". The Herald. 4 January 1994. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
- ^ a b "THE BLACK LADY OF BROOMHILL HOUSE". www.spookyisles.com. 29 July 2012. Retrieved 2 February 2020.
- ^ Black Lady Archived 2011-10-06 at the Wayback Machine. Larkhall Academy.
Larkhall
View on GrokipediaLarkhall is a town in South Lanarkshire, Scotland, located approximately 20 miles southeast of Glasgow and adjacent to the Avon Water, with a population of 15,308 recorded in the 2022 census.[1] Traditionally an industrial center focused on coal mining, weaving, and textile production, the settlement has evolved into a primarily residential commuter area serving nearby urban hubs like Hamilton and Glasgow.[2][3] Key features include local archaeological sites revealing Mesolithic camps, Bronze Age roundhouses, and Iron Age activity, alongside community institutions such as the Larkhall YMCA Harriers athletics club, which has sustained notable achievements in regional competitions.[4][5] The town retains a historical association with social tensions, including sectarian divisions common in Scottish working-class communities, though contemporary assessments question the persistence of such characterizations.[2][6]
Etymology
Origins of the Name
The name Larkhall first appears in historical journals as Laverock Ha or Laverockha around 1620, predating the town's significant development as a settlement.[3] This early form suggests roots in Lowland Scots, where laverock denotes the skylark (Alauda arvensis), a common bird in Scotland's open landscapes.[7] A prevailing etymological interpretation combines laverock with haugh, a Scots term for a low-lying, often boggy riverside meadow or enclosure, potentially referencing local terrain near the Avon Water.[7] However, the precise derivation remains unconfirmed, with no direct archaeological or documentary evidence tying the name to specific lark populations or enclosures; alternative Gaelic influences, such as "lark on the hill," lack substantiation given haugh's lowland connotation over elevated features.[3] Later 18th-century Ordnance Survey mappings and parish records standardize the anglicized Larkhall, distinguishing it from unrelated English toponyms like those in Wiltshire, which derive from distinct Old English læwerce (lark) + halh (nook or remote valley) without shared Scots phonetic evolution.[8] Local folklore proposing bird-inspired naming persists anecdotally but finds no empirical support in habitat surveys or contemporary accounts, underscoring the name's likely descriptive rather than ornithological origin.[8]Geography
Location and Topography
Larkhall is situated in South Lanarkshire, Scotland, at geographic coordinates approximately 55°44′N 3°58′W.[9] The town lies about 15 miles (24 km) southeast of Glasgow city centre.[10] Its Ordnance Survey grid reference is NS 7651.[11] The topography consists of elevated terrain rising to around 110 metres (360 ft) above sea level, positioned on high ground between the River Clyde to the east and the Avon Water to the west.[9][12] The area features rolling hills extending from the Clyde Valley.[13] Geologically, the region underlies the central coalfield of Scotland, characterized by Carboniferous strata rich in coal measures.[14] The Avon Water, a 24-mile-long tributary of the River Clyde, borders the western side of Larkhall, with features such as gorges and waterfalls in proximity.[15]Climate and Environment
Larkhall possesses a temperate maritime climate typical of inland central Scotland, featuring mild temperatures and consistent precipitation. Average annual rainfall totals approximately 1,041 mm, occurring over about 159 days, with even distribution throughout the year.[16] July marks the warmest month, with average highs of 18°C and lows of 11°C, yielding a mean temperature near 15°C.[17] Winters remain mild, with January averages around 5°C highs and 1°C lows, resulting in a mean of about 3°C and occasional frost.[18] The local environment bears legacies of industrial coal mining prevalent in South Lanarkshire, including risks of subsidence from unstable underground workings. Historical mine collapses pose threats to surface stability, potentially causing ground settlement or sudden voids in areas with shallow seams.[19] Diffuse pollution from past mining and agriculture persists in water bodies, though air quality aligns with Scotland's generally low pollutant levels, with nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter rarely exceeding objectives.[20][21] Archaeological excavations in 2023-2024 for housing developments uncovered evidence of continuous human-environment interaction in Larkhall from the late Paleolithic through the Iron Age, indicating the area's long-term suitability for settlement amid its topography and resources.[22] No designated protected areas exist within Larkhall proper, but proximity to the Avon Water supports local biodiversity, with monitoring focused on mitigating legacy contamination rather than acute ecological threats.[20]Demographics
Population Trends
According to the 2011 Census conducted by National Records of Scotland, Larkhall recorded a population of 14,951 residents.[23] Mid-year estimates for subsequent years indicate relative stagnation, with the population reaching approximately 15,540 by the early 2020s, reflecting minimal net growth amid broader regional patterns in South Lanarkshire.[23] This stability follows a slight post-2011 dip, attributable in part to out-migration from legacy mining communities, as deindustrialization in west-central Scotland prompted younger residents to seek opportunities elsewhere, contributing to localized depopulation pressures observed in former industrial locales.[24] Age demographics in Larkhall exhibit a skew toward older cohorts, with census data from 2022 showing roughly 43% of the population aged 50 and over: 15.6% in the 50-59 group, 12.2% aged 60-69, 10.7% aged 70-79, and 4.7% over 80.[23] This distribution stems from retirements in prior industrial sectors and lower retention of working-age individuals, contrasting with Scotland's national profile where urban areas pull younger demographics. Birth rates in the locality lag below the Scottish average, aligning with the national total fertility rate of 1.25 children per woman recorded in 2024—the lowest on record—exacerbated by socioeconomic factors in post-industrial towns.[25] Migration patterns include modest inflows from proximate areas such as Hamilton, approximately 10 km east, as documented in National Records of Scotland tracking of internal movements within South Lanarkshire.[26] However, net migration remains subdued, with out-migration to larger conurbations offsetting gains and sustaining overall population inertia, a trend consistent with data on settlement-level shifts in the region.[23]| Year | Population Estimate | Annual Change Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 14,951 | - |
| 2016 | 14,740 | -0.3% (approx.) |
| Early 2020s | 15,540 | +0.1% (approx.) |
Ethnic and Religious Composition
In the 2011 Census, Larkhall's population exhibited high ethnic homogeneity, with over 95% identifying as White Scottish or other White British groups, substantially higher than in urban centers like Glasgow and reflecting limited net migration from non-European countries in the preceding decade.[28][23] Non-White ethnic groups, including Asian, African, and mixed categories, accounted for under 2% combined, consistent with South Lanarkshire's overall profile of 98% White residents in that census.[29] Religious affiliation in Larkhall underscored a Protestant majority, with the Church of Scotland as the predominant denomination. The 2011 Census recorded 5,123 adherents to the Church of Scotland (approximately 34% of the locality's population of around 15,000), compared to 1,228 Roman Catholics (8%). Other Christian denominations totaled about 4%, while non-Christian faiths were negligible at under 1%. No religion was reported by 35.6%, below the Scottish national figure of 36.7%.[1][30] By the 2022 Census, irreligiosity increased to 50.2% in Larkhall—nearly matching Scotland's 51.1% average—amid broader secularization, yet Christian identification persisted at over 45%, led by the Church of Scotland at 5,123 persons (33%). Roman Catholics remained at 1,228 (8%), with other Christians at 601 (4%) and Muslims at 96 (0.6%). This composition highlights the enduring empirical predominance of Protestant-affiliated groups, including Presbyterian traditions, against low Catholic and non-Christian shares that diverge from more diverse west-central Scottish locales.[1][30]| Religious Group (2022 Census, Larkhall Locality) | Number | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Church of Scotland | 5,123 | 33% |
| Roman Catholic | 1,228 | 8% |
| Other Christian | 601 | 4% |
| Muslim | 96 | 0.6% |
| Other religion | 125 | 0.8% |
| No religion | ~7,700 | 50.2% |
