Visit Airdrie, North Lanarkshire Places

Welcome to Visit Airdrie, North Lanarkshire Places
The Walkfo guide to things to do & explore in Airdrie, North Lanarkshire

  

Airdrie, North Lanarkshire Places Overview: History, Culture & Facts about Airdrie, North Lanarkshire

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Airdrie, North Lanarkshire history

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Early history

There is no evidence to support the claim (George Chalmers, Caledonia) that Airdrie is the site of the ancient battle of Arderyth. Under the patronage of King Malcolm IV of Scotland Cistercian monks established an abbey at Melrose in 1136. Five years later a daughter house was founded at Newbattle Abbey in Lothian. In 1160, Malcolm granted lands in central Scotland to the monks of Newbattle. These became known as the “Munklands” (Register of the Great Seal 1323). Malcolm’s Charter constitutes the oldest documentary record of place-names in the Monklands. The area of land granted by the Charter is clearly defined by direct reference to geographical and topographical features thus: Dunpeldre by its right boundaries, namely with Metheraugh and Mayeuth and Clarnephin as far as Dunduffes in the east. The name Dunpeldre is found in the modern name Drumpellier, Metheraugh is Medrox; Mayeuth is Myvot and Clarnephin refers to the North Calder Water in the east of the parish (from old Brittonic name claur n afon meaning plain of the river). Dunduffes has become directly translated into the modern Black Hill which, as the Charter states, lies at the eastern extremity of the parish. The Charter does not mention anything resembling Airdrie, although this is where Airdrie is located. Airdrie owes its existence to its location on the ‘Hogs Back’ – a ridge of land running from east to west. One very important aspect of the town’s history was the Cistercian monks of Newbattle Abbey, which is why the area is called the Monklands. The monks were farmers and some of their place names survive, e.g., Ryefield and Whifflet (the wheat flats). Much of the land they used is known today as ‘The Four Isles’ (a housing estate named after four Scottish islands): Mull, Islay, Iona and Luing in the Petersburn area of modern Airdrie. The monks of Newbattle had numerous establishments throughout the area including a farm grange at Drumpellier, Coatbridge, a court house at Kipps, a chapel in the area of Chapelhall and a number of corn mills. The Monks were also expert in the construction of roads. In the 12th century, they established the original Glasgow to Edinburgh road via Airdrie and Bathgate, to link up with their lands in Newbattle in East Lothian. In those days travelling was often dangerous. Horses were still uncommon and could only be afforded by the rich. Low-lying ground was usually extremely difficult to navigate because of the numerous bogs, forests and burns – not to mention the possibility of ambush by a footpad or robber. Hence, it became much more practical to travel on the high ground (the ‘High Way’) where one could avoid the mud and the robbers. These roads (or rather tracks) became known as the King’s Highway. Definitive evidence of the existence of Airdrie as a tenantry was only made clear in 1503. The old monks’ road was via Cliftonhill (an area now in neighbouring Coatbridge), Airdrie House (now the site of Monklands Hospital), Aitchison Street, High Street, Hallcraig Street, Flowerhill Street and Colliertree Road. The first houses in Airdrie were built along this road. Development was slow and it was only around 1650 that evidence of the number of inhabitants was known at around 500 for the Airdrie area. A large contingent of Airdrieonians fought at the Battle of Bothwell Brig during the Covenanter Rebellion of 1679; their banner can still be viewed at the local library. A significant event in Airdrie’s history was the 1695 passing of a special Act of Parliament in the Scottish Parliament allowing Robert Hamilton of Airdrie to hold four fairs yearly and a weekly market in the town of ‘Airdry’. This helped develop Airdrie from a ‘farm town’ into a thriving ‘market town’. However, Airdrie really came to prominence through its weaving industry. Airdrie Weavers Society was founded in 1781 and flax was being grown in sixteen farms in and around the burgh. In the last decade of the eighteenth century, coal mining was in progress and around thirty colliers were employed. Weaving continued to flourish making up a substantial part of the population of over 2,500 around the turn of the 19th century. Given its large number of weavers, its geographic location and a large number of unemployed soldiers following the end of the Napoleonic Wars, Airdrie became a major centre of support for the Radical War of 1820. The rapid pace of population growth continued and by 1821 there were 4,862 inhabitants. At this time, the number of houses being built increased dramatically and in 1821, by a private Act of Parliament, Airdrie became a free and independent Burgh of Barony. Due to the fact it was ‘independent’, it had all the powers of a Royal Burgh. Voting in the early part of the nineteenth century was rather hit or miss as not only locals but residents outside the burgh were allowed to vote. In 1821, the first election of a town council took place and by August it had appointed an assessor, procurator fiscal, master of police and a town crier. Anyone who had paid their 3 guineas was allowed to vote; there is even a record of a John Mackay voting despite being under 10 years old. In 1824, it was decided to build the Airdrie Town House, originally designed by Alexander Baird and now a local landmark known as the ‘town clock’. In 1832, the Town House was used as a hospital due to the cholera outbreak of this year. By 1850, the population had grown to 12,418.

1850 to 1920

In the early 1830s there were about 800 pupils while the town had about 7000 residents. An influx of Irish immigrants from the Highlands and predominantly Ireland led to an explosion in industry. The dramatic rise in population and industry prompted the need for more accessible water supplies. The town had no suitable venue for larger functions so in 1912 the Sir John Wilson Town Hall was opened.

1920 onwards

At the end of the First World War, Airdrie was hard hit with many casualties from the war. Unemployment reached 30% in the local area. Conditions in the town did not really improve until well after the Second World War.

Airdrie, North Lanarkshire culture & places

Airdrie hosted the National M��òd in 1993. It was the first time Scotland hosted a major event in the event.

Organisations

Airdrie and District Round Table Army Cadet Force – Glasgow and Lanarkshire Battalion Boys’ Brigade. Girls’ Brigade, Girl Guides and Brownies (and Brownies) The Moira Anderson Foundation, a national charity providing support for those affected by childhood sexual abuse. The Royal Scottish Geographical Society maintains a regional centre.

Airdrie, North Lanarkshire economy & business

Overview

Airdrie’s traditional economic activities of weaving, coal mining, and heavy industry have ceased to exist. The town still retains a strong involvement in the whisky industry. Given its location near to Glasgow and other commercial or industrial areas it might now be considered something of a commuter town.

Notable employers

The Bartlett brothers, Alan, 52, and Ronnie, 44, are jointly ranked in The Sunday Times Rich List 2008 as the 63rd richest persons in Scotland and the 969th richest person in the UK with a worth of £80 million.

Airdrie, North Lanarkshire geography / climate

Satellite villages

Chapelhall, Calderbank, Caldercruix, Gartness, Glenmavis, Greengairs, Longriggend, Plains, Stand, Upperton, Newhouse and Wattston are generally considered satellite villages of Airdrie.

You can visit Airdrie, North Lanarkshire places with Walkfo Airdrie, North Lanarkshire to hear history at Airdrie, North Lanarkshire’s places whilst walking around using the free digital tour app. Walkfo Airdrie, North Lanarkshire has 27 places to visit in our interactive Airdrie, North Lanarkshire map, with amazing history, culture & travel facts you can explore the same way you would at a museum or art gallery with information audio headset. With Walkfo, you can travel by foot, bike or bus throughout Airdrie, North Lanarkshire, being in the moment, without digital distraction or limits to a specific walking route. Our historic audio walks, National Trust interactive audio experiences, digital tour guides for English Heritage locations are available at Airdrie, North Lanarkshire places, with a AI tour guide to help you get the best from a visit to Airdrie, North Lanarkshire & the surrounding areas.

“Curated content for millions of locations across the UK, with 27 audio facts unique to Airdrie, North Lanarkshire places in an interactive Airdrie, North Lanarkshire map you can explore.”

Walkfo: Visit Airdrie, North Lanarkshire Places Map
27 tourist, history, culture & geography spots

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Airdrie, North Lanarkshire historic spots	Airdrie, North Lanarkshire tourist destinations	Airdrie, North Lanarkshire plaques	Airdrie, North Lanarkshire geographic features
Walkfo Airdrie, North Lanarkshire tourism map key: places to see & visit like National Trust sites, Blue Plaques, English Heritage locations & top tourist destinations in Airdrie, North Lanarkshire

  

Best Airdrie, North Lanarkshire places to visit

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Airdrie, North Lanarkshire has places to explore by foot, bike or bus. Below are a selection of the varied Airdrie, North Lanarkshire’s destinations you can visit with additional content available at the Walkfo Airdrie, North Lanarkshire’s information audio spots:

Calderbank Calderbank lies west of the M73 on the west bank of the North Calder Water. It lies 13 miles (21 km) east of Glasgow city centre and 34 miles (55 km) west of Edinburgh. It has a population of about 1,610.

Eurocentral Eurocentral is one of the largest industrial estates in Scotland. It is situated on the edge of Holytown and Mossend, North Lanarkshire, just off the M8 motorway, about 12 miles east of Glasgow city centre and 34 mi west of Edinburgh. The Maxim Office Park is a recent addition opening in March 2010.

Coathill Hospital Coathill Hospital is a health facility in Coatbridge, North Lanarkshire, Scotland. It is managed by NHS Lanarkshire.

Coatdyke railway station Coatdyke railway station is situated on Quarry Street/Riddell Street in the Cliftonville area of Coatbridge. It is the closest railway station to Coatbridge College and Monklands Hospital.

Airdrie Public Observatory Airdrie Public Observatory (55° 51’ 56” N, 3° 58’ 58” W) is a fully operational, historic, historic astronomical observatory. There are only four public observatories operating in the United Kingdom, all of which are in Scotland.

Newhouse Research Site The Newhouse Research Site is located near the M8 motorway in North Lanarkshire. It employs 250 scientists across a range of disciplines including medicinal chemistry, molecular biology and drug metabolism. It is currently the largest private drug discovery centre in Scotland.

Wester Moffat Hospital Wester Moffat Hospital is a health facility in Airdrie, North Lanarkshire, Scotland. It is a Grade B listed building.

Gartcairn F. A. Juniors Gartcairn Football Academy Juniors are a Scottish semi-professional football club from the town of Airdrie, North Lanarkshire. They play in the West of Scotland League Conference Conference B.

Coatbridge Library Coatbridge Library is a public library in Coatbridge, North Lanarkshire, Scotland. The library is located in the area of Coatbridge.

Summerlee Iron Works Summerlee Iron Works (1836–1930) was an iron works established in Coatbridge, Scotland. The site has been incorporated into the Summerlee, Museum of Scottish Industrial Life.

Visit Airdrie, North Lanarkshire plaques