Community hub
Recent from talks
Knowledge base stats:
Talk channels stats:
Members stats:
Rutherglen
Rutherglen (/ˈrʌðərɡlɪn/; Scots: Ruglen, Scottish Gaelic: An Ruadh-Ghleann) is a town in South Lanarkshire, Scotland, immediately south-east of the city of Glasgow, three miles (five kilometres) from its centre and directly south of the River Clyde. Having previously existed as a separate Lanarkshire burgh, in 1975 Rutherglen lost its own local council and administratively became a component of the City of Glasgow District within the Strathclyde region (along with neighbouring Cambuslang). In 1996 the towns were reallocated to the South Lanarkshire council area.
The name of Rutherglen, as well as its Scots name Ruglen, is perhaps from Scottish Gaelic An Ruadh-Ghleann 'the red valley'; however, the derivation may also be Welsh or Cumbric, meaning "the valley of Rydderch" – Rydderch (pronounced 'rutherch' – 'ruther' as in 'brother' and 'ch' as in 'loch') being one of the most famous rulers associated with the Alt Clut kingdom of the early middle ages which centred on Dumbarton – but could be even older and refer to Reuther, one of the legendary kings of Scotland in the pre-Roman era.
Rutherglen received the status of Royal Burgh in 1126 by Royal Charter from King David I of Scotland, who reigned from 1124 to 1153. It gradually diminished in importance as neighbouring Glasgow grew in power and size. The masons who built Glasgow Cathedral are thought to have lodged in Rutherglen.
In the 14th century Walter Stewart, father of King Robert II, was granted Farme Castle. This was located close to Farme Cross in the north of Rutherglen, and stood until the 1960s.
Rutherglen Castle, located to the north of the town's Main Street today, was occupied by an English garrison during the struggle between John Balliol and Robert Bruce for the Scottish crown. It was besieged by Robert the Bruce in 1309 and eventually came into Scottish possession in 1313. It was destroyed by Regent Murray after the Battle of Langside with the stones used for other buildings, and no trace remaining.
Rutherglen was a centre of heavy industry, having a long coal mining tradition which died out by 1950. In the 18th century, barges carried coal from Rutherglen to Greenock almost every day. A small shipyard, T.B. Seath & Co., was in operation on the Clyde at the northern edge of the town for several decades. The Clydebridge Steelworks, situated between Rutherglen and Cambuslang, began operating in the 1880s and employed thousands by the mid-20th century, but the workforce dwindled to a few dozen by the 20th century and now only refines steel produced elsewhere. J & J White Chemicals (later ACC Chrome & Chemicals) in Shawfield, which was in existence from 1820 to 1967, produced more than 70 per cent of the UK's chromate products including chromic acid, chromic oxide pigment, sodium and potassium chromate and dichromate. Today there is a significant legacy of soluble chromium (VI) waste in the area.
The town seal's 19th-century Latin motto rendered by Professor George Gilbert Ramsay is "Ex fumo fama" ('fame from smoke'). A local saying derived from it is "Let Ruglen's lums reek briskly". There is also the deliberately difficult to pronounce alternative "Ru’glen’s wee roond red lums reek briskly". (These are an adaptation of a Scotticism that correlates a smoking chimney with a prosperous, healthy and long life). All refer to the importance of industry and industriousness to the area.
The traditional version of the seal itself contained depictions of the Virgin and Child supported by twin angels (earlier by priests with thistles) and a fishing boat and men in the background. Along with the addition of the motto, in the 1889 official version the boat had a water design added, became more prominent and was placed in a shield at front centre, flanked by the angels with a helmet and mantling above, and the Virgin Mary above that. Over a century later, a simplified version was produced in 1999 featuring only the boat, the motto and a crown to represent the historic Royal Burgh status (which by then no longer had any legal significance); in the early 21st century, this seal often appears on the local Christmas lights. The ship and crown appear on the similar South Lanarkshire coat of arms, with cinquefoil flowers representing Hamilton and a double-headed eagle for Lanark.
Hub AI
Rutherglen AI simulator
(@Rutherglen_simulator)
Rutherglen
Rutherglen (/ˈrʌðərɡlɪn/; Scots: Ruglen, Scottish Gaelic: An Ruadh-Ghleann) is a town in South Lanarkshire, Scotland, immediately south-east of the city of Glasgow, three miles (five kilometres) from its centre and directly south of the River Clyde. Having previously existed as a separate Lanarkshire burgh, in 1975 Rutherglen lost its own local council and administratively became a component of the City of Glasgow District within the Strathclyde region (along with neighbouring Cambuslang). In 1996 the towns were reallocated to the South Lanarkshire council area.
The name of Rutherglen, as well as its Scots name Ruglen, is perhaps from Scottish Gaelic An Ruadh-Ghleann 'the red valley'; however, the derivation may also be Welsh or Cumbric, meaning "the valley of Rydderch" – Rydderch (pronounced 'rutherch' – 'ruther' as in 'brother' and 'ch' as in 'loch') being one of the most famous rulers associated with the Alt Clut kingdom of the early middle ages which centred on Dumbarton – but could be even older and refer to Reuther, one of the legendary kings of Scotland in the pre-Roman era.
Rutherglen received the status of Royal Burgh in 1126 by Royal Charter from King David I of Scotland, who reigned from 1124 to 1153. It gradually diminished in importance as neighbouring Glasgow grew in power and size. The masons who built Glasgow Cathedral are thought to have lodged in Rutherglen.
In the 14th century Walter Stewart, father of King Robert II, was granted Farme Castle. This was located close to Farme Cross in the north of Rutherglen, and stood until the 1960s.
Rutherglen Castle, located to the north of the town's Main Street today, was occupied by an English garrison during the struggle between John Balliol and Robert Bruce for the Scottish crown. It was besieged by Robert the Bruce in 1309 and eventually came into Scottish possession in 1313. It was destroyed by Regent Murray after the Battle of Langside with the stones used for other buildings, and no trace remaining.
Rutherglen was a centre of heavy industry, having a long coal mining tradition which died out by 1950. In the 18th century, barges carried coal from Rutherglen to Greenock almost every day. A small shipyard, T.B. Seath & Co., was in operation on the Clyde at the northern edge of the town for several decades. The Clydebridge Steelworks, situated between Rutherglen and Cambuslang, began operating in the 1880s and employed thousands by the mid-20th century, but the workforce dwindled to a few dozen by the 20th century and now only refines steel produced elsewhere. J & J White Chemicals (later ACC Chrome & Chemicals) in Shawfield, which was in existence from 1820 to 1967, produced more than 70 per cent of the UK's chromate products including chromic acid, chromic oxide pigment, sodium and potassium chromate and dichromate. Today there is a significant legacy of soluble chromium (VI) waste in the area.
The town seal's 19th-century Latin motto rendered by Professor George Gilbert Ramsay is "Ex fumo fama" ('fame from smoke'). A local saying derived from it is "Let Ruglen's lums reek briskly". There is also the deliberately difficult to pronounce alternative "Ru’glen’s wee roond red lums reek briskly". (These are an adaptation of a Scotticism that correlates a smoking chimney with a prosperous, healthy and long life). All refer to the importance of industry and industriousness to the area.
The traditional version of the seal itself contained depictions of the Virgin and Child supported by twin angels (earlier by priests with thistles) and a fishing boat and men in the background. Along with the addition of the motto, in the 1889 official version the boat had a water design added, became more prominent and was placed in a shield at front centre, flanked by the angels with a helmet and mantling above, and the Virgin Mary above that. Over a century later, a simplified version was produced in 1999 featuring only the boat, the motto and a crown to represent the historic Royal Burgh status (which by then no longer had any legal significance); in the early 21st century, this seal often appears on the local Christmas lights. The ship and crown appear on the similar South Lanarkshire coat of arms, with cinquefoil flowers representing Hamilton and a double-headed eagle for Lanark.