Cambuslang
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Cambuslang | |
|---|---|
| Gaelic: | Camas Long |
| Scots: | Cambuslang |
| Location | |
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| OS grid reference: | NS590615 |
| Statistics | |
| Population: | 24,500 |
| Administration | |
| Council area: | South Lanarkshire |
| Constituent country: | Scotland |
| Sovereign state: | United Kingdom |
| Other | |
| Police force: | Strathclyde Police |
| Lieutenancy area: | Lanarkshire |
| Former county: | Lanarkshire |
| Post office and telephone | |
| Post town: | Glasgow |
| Postal district: | G72 |
| Dialling code: | 0141 500->900 |
| Politics | |
| Scottish Parliament: | Janis Hughes MSP (Glasgow Cambuslang Area) Glasgow |
| UK Parliament: | Tommy McAvoy MP (Rutherglen and Hamilton West) |
| European Parliament: | Scotland |
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Cambuslang (Scottish Gaelic: Camas Long) is a suburban town on the south-eastern outskirts of Glasgow, Scotland located within the local authority area of South Lanarkshire. It is known as "the largest village in Scotland", with a population of around 24,500. The town is located just south of the River Clyde - about 6 miles south-east of the centre of Glasgow. It has a long history of coal mining, iron and steel making and ancillary engineering works, most recently Hoover. Small manufacturing businesses continue but most employment comes from the distribution or service industries.
Contents |
[edit] Education
There are a range of Primary Schools in Cambuslang, as well as three Secondary Schools. There is also a Further Education College. (Main article: Education in Cambuslang.)
[edit] History
Cambuslang is an ancient part of Scotland where Iron Age remains loom over 21st century housing developments. The History of Cambuslang mirrors and gives life to the general History of Scotland. The Geography of Cambuslang explains a great deal of its history. It has been very prosperous over time, depending first upon its agricultural land, (suppying food, then wool, then linen ) then the mineral resources under its soil (limestone and coal, and, to some extent, iron. These were jealously guarded by, first of all, the Medieval Church, then the local aristocracy, particularly the Dukes of Hamilton. Because of its relative prosperity, Cambuslang has been intimately concerned in the politics of the country (through the Hamilton connection) and of the Church - including the Medieval Church, - (Cardinal Beaton and Bishop John Cameron , the Scottish King's first minister were both Rectors of Cambuslang) - the Reformation, the Glorious Revolution, the extraordinary religious movements of the 18th century, including the Cambuslang Wark, the Scottish Enlightenment, and the split in the church during the 19th century. The manufacturing industries that grew up from them attracted imigrants from all over Scotland and from the rest of the United Kingdom, which included at that time Ireland. It benefited at all times from its closeness to the burgeoning city of Glasgow, brought closer first of all, in the 18th century, by a Turnpike Road then, in the 19th century, by a railway, which opened up wider markets in Britain and beyond to the British Empire, Europe and the rest of the world. In the 21st century, it continues to derive benefit from its closeness to Glasgow and to wider communication networks, particularly through access via the M-74 to the motorway system. Its increasing (and increasingly diverse) population posed problems, over the centuries, of employment and housing as well as of schooling and health, not all of which have been solved. In this regard, it is fairly typical of most British towns.
[edit] Buildings
Cambuslang has an interesting range of Churches, Public Buildings, Schools, Industrial and Commercial buildings (see Buildings of Cambuslang). Its domestic buildings range from 19th century mansions, villas and tenements to modern flats and detached houses, along with sheltered and nursing homes.
[edit] Cambuslang Railway Station
Cambuslang Station was established in 1849 by the Caledonian Railway Company, on its line between Glasgow and Carlisle; which today is part of the West Coast Main Line.
It is now a busy, well-equipped station with connections to bus services from the Main Street. The trains run at a frequency of around every ten minutes, one of the best rates in Greater Glasgow. Services are split into Westbound and Eastbound services:
Westbound services travel towards Glasgow Central and may terminate at any one of the following:
- Glasgow Central High Level
- Anderston/Partick
- Milngavie
- Dalmuir via Yoker/Singer
- NB: On Sundays Dalmuir services continue to Balloch via Yoker/Singer and Dumbarton.
- Garscadden
Eastbound services travel away from Glasgow and may terminate at any of the following:
- Larkhall
- Motherwell via Hamilton/Bellshill
- 1 of every 2 Motherwell services continue to Lanark; Motherwell via Hamilton services continue to Lanark via Holytown and Motherwell via Bellshill services continue to Lanark via Shieldmuir.
- Edinburgh Waverley via Shotts
- North Berwick/Newcraighall via Carstairs and Edinburgh Waverley via Kirknewton line.
- Carstairs via Bellshill, Motherwell and Shieldmuir. NB: This service travels exactly the same line as Lanark via Bellshill & Shieldmuir, except after Carluke bears left and terminates at Carstairs rather than right to Lanark.
Cambuslang is completely covered by state-of-the-art CCTV provided by SPT and is completely accessible by Wheelchair from the Main Street entrance. Timetables are posted on the footbridge and staff are on hand to assist passengers; service information will soon be given via brand new Passenger Information Systems (screens with service information) that will be installed by the end of this year. [1]
[edit] Politics
[edit] Westminster
Cambuslang is in the Rutherglen and Hamilton West Constituency for elections to the House of Commons at Westminster.
Tommy McAvoy retained the seat for the Labour Party. He has been a Government Whip since 1997.
[edit] Holyrood
Cambuslang is in the Glasgow Rutherglen Constituency for the Scottish Parliament at Holyrood. In June 2003, 49,512 electors were eligible to vote. The turnout was 23,560 (47.6%).
Janis Hughes retained the seat for Labour with 10794 votes, a majority of 6303 (26.8%).
The councilors elected for Cambuslang Wards in the 2003 local elections were
Ward 63 Cambuslang Central Bob Rooney (Labour)
Ward 64 Cathkin/Springhall Russell Clearie (Labour)
Ward 65 Fernhill Patricia Osbourne (Labour)
Ward 66 Kirkhill/Whitlawburn David Baillie (Liberal Democrat)
Ward 67 Eastfield JohnMcGuinness (Labour)
[edit] Famous residents or connections
As well as attracting attention and immigrants - including the famous Glasgow merchant David Dale - Cambuslang sent out its children to make a mark on the world - including the man who set up the Anglican hierarchy in India, a famous garden designer, a miners' leader, a physicist, a top RAF officer, a politician and a pop singer. (See Cambuslang - famous connections). There are also less well substantiated connections to a wandering saint, a mythical king and a hapless queen.
[edit] Bibliography
- Glen, Duncan A nation in a parish: A new historical prospect of Scotland from the parish of Cambuslang AKROS Publications Kirkcaldy (1995) ISBN 0-86142-120-5
- Glen, Duncan Munro New History of Cambuslang AKROS Publications Kirkcaldy (1998) ISBN 0-86142-098-4
- Groome, Francis H. (1903). Ordnance Gazetteer of Scotland: A Survey of Scottish Topography, Statistical, Biographical and Historical, ISBN 1-85506-572-X.
- Magnusson, Magnus (1990). Chambers Biographical Dictionary W & R Chambers Ltd ISBN 0-550-16040-X
- Williamson, Elizabeth; Riches, Anne; Higgs, Malcolm (1990). The Buildings of Scotland - Glasgow. Penguin Books. ISBN 0-300-09674-7.
- Wilson, James Alexander OBE, MD A History of Cambuslang: a clydesdale parish. Jackson Wylie & Co Glasgow (1929)
[edit] External links
- [1] Views of Old Cambuslang
- [2] Historical perspective for Cambuslang, from the Gazetteer for Scotland
- [3] History of Clydebridge Steelworks and Clyde Iron Works
- [4] The Statistical Accounts of Scotland
- [5] for an extract on Cambuslang from Rambles Round Glasgow by Hugh MacLelland
- [6] for an account of Claudius Buchanan
- [7] for pictures and histories of Wellshott House, Rosebank House and other country houses round Glasgow.
- [8] for Jane Austen's letter mentioning Buchanan
- [9] Ronhill Cambuslang Harriers are Scotland's top road running and cross country club.
