East Kilbride
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| East Kilbride | |
|---|---|
| Gaelic: | Cille Bhrìghde an Ear |
| Location | |
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| OS grid reference: | NS624553 |
| Statistics | |
| Population: | 73,796 (2001 Census) |
| Administration | |
| Council area: | South Lanarkshire |
| Constituent country: | Scotland |
| Sovereign state: | United Kingdom |
| Other | |
| Police force: | Strathclyde Police |
| Lieutenancy area: | Lanarkshire |
| Former county: | Lanark |
| Post office and telephone | |
| Post town: | GLASGOW |
| Postal district: | G74-75 |
| Dialling code: | 01355 |
| Politics | |
| Scottish Parliament: | East Kilbride |
| UK Parliament: | East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow CC |
| European Parliament: | Scotland |
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East Kilbride (Cille Bhrìghde an Ear in Scottish Gaelic) is a large town in South Lanarkshire, Scotland. It is Scotland's sixth largest town by population size, and the largest of the country's new towns.
East Kilbride is located on high ground, about 15km (9 miles) south of Glasgow, and 8km (5 miles) west of Hamilton. The Rotten Calder (River) flows north towards the Clyde on the east side of East Kilbride
The earliest evidence of habitation in the area dates back to ancient graves found near the Kype Water to the south of the district. Roman coins and footwear have also been found in the area.
East Kilbride takes its name from an Irish saint, St Bride (or Brigit) who founded a monastery for nuns and monks in Kildare, Ireland in the 6th century. Irish monks introduced her cult to Scotland. Kil means church or burial place.
East Kilbride emerged from a small village of around 900 inhabitants to become a large burgh in 1930, and then a busy new town (the first in Scotland, designated in 1947) with a population of over 81,000 (estimate in 2006).
Twinned with the city of Ballerup in Denmark, the town lost out to Stirling in 2002 to be granted city status for the Queen's Golden Jubilee, and prior to that it lost out to Inverness in 2000 as the Millennium city.
The town is occupied by a large shopping centre, comprising 6 separate shopping departments, but known by local residents as "The Town Centre". This holds the title of largest indoor shopping centre in Scotland and 10th largest in Europe. The six malls are The Plaza (development started in 1972), Princes Mall (1984), Olympia (1988), Southgate (1989), Princes Square (1997) and Centre West (2003). The shopping centre has come under recent criticism for losing major retail chains in light of rising rental prices. This coupled with the Centre West expansion and decreasing shopper numbers has allowed swathes of properties within the centre to remain closed for months at a time, notably on the first floor of Centre West and the Plaza.
A £400m redevelopment of East Kilbride town centre has been given the go-ahead by South Lanarkshire Council. The plan would demolish some existing buildings to create a new civic centre, a state-of-the-art health centre, a library and shopping facilities.
It would also see a "landmark" arts and culture complex with a 1,000-seat theatre, a 500-seat conference centre, a museum and a new town square.
Parking spaces in the town centre would increase from 3,000 to 8,700 spaces.The first stage of the plan could start in 2006, with completion of the major elements in 2012/2013. It is hoped the project - the various phases of which will require full planning permission - will create up to 3,000 temporary jobs over the 10-year construction programme and 2,000 permanent jobs.
The new civic and health facilities would be created at the site currently occupied by Plaza Tower, which would be demolished, with the theatre and arts facilities being created at the adjoining Olympia Centre.
The current civic centre and the adjoining Hunter Health Centre would be demolished to make way for the first phase of development, which would include a major food retail store.
It also has its own rugby team, based at Calderglen Country Park.
Former/current residents include musicians Roddy Frame (Aztec Camera), the Reid brothers (The Jesus and Mary Chain), footballer Ally McCoist, television presenter Lorraine Kelly, actor John Hannah and actress Blythe Duff (Taggart).
East Kilbride is often jokingly referred to by Glaswegians as "Polo Mint City", due to the high concentration of roundabouts in its road system.
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[edit] Local Government District
| East Kilbride District 1975-96 | |
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From 1975 East Kilbride lent its name to a local government district in the Strathclyde region of Scotland. In 1996 administrative functions were taken over by the South Lanarkshire unitary council. (See: Subdivisions of Scotland)
[edit] East Kilbride Constituencies
There is an East Kilbride constituency of the Scottish Parliament. Since the opening of the Scottish Parliament, the constituency has been represented by Andy Kerr MSP (Labour).
East Kilbride was formerly a constituency of the UK Parliament. In 2005 it was replaced by the constituency of East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow. The seat has been held since 1987 by Adam Ingram.
[edit] Natural History and History of East Kilbride
The area of East Kilbride is home to a river valley which along with the Avon gorge are unique in the way they were formed. A river usually starts off narrow, fast-flowing, with steep cliffs, and in the hills. This is the youth of the river. Later once the river reaches flat land it begins to widen and meander and flow slower. This is the river's middle age. Calderglen is interesting in that it flows fast, has steep cliffs and is fairly narrow (youth stage) but also meanders. The Rotten Calder therefore has its river youth after its middle age, as the river source is on flatter land and is meandering and slow flowing.
Calderglen was in the past celebrated as a picturesque wooded valley. It was the home of a noble family known as the Maxwells of Calderwood who resided in Calderwood Castle. The remnants of Calderwood Castle were demolished in 1955.
"About a mile south of Crossbasket, and on the banks of Calder, stands the house of Calderwood, the seat of Sir William Maxwell of Calderwood, Bart. The estate came into the family of Maxwell by a marriage of eumerus, or Homerus de Carlaveroc, a cadet of the family of Nithsdale, with Mary, daughter and heiress of Roland de Mernis, in the reign of ALexander III. Sir Robert Maxwell, second son of Eumerus, was, in his fathers lifetime, designed by the title of Calderwood; and from him the present Sir William Maxwell is lineally descended.
"Close to the mansion-house stood the castle of Calderwood, Calderwood, the date of which is not known. It was 87 1/2 feet in height; 69 in length; and 40 in breadth. The rock upon which it stood was 60 feet perpendicular. A great part of the tower fell, of its own accord, on the 23rd of January, 1773. The downfall of that ancient edifice, did not induce the family to abandon the spot, which nature had been pleased to decorate with a great variety of her undisguised beauties. The ruins were, without loss of time, converted into a modern building.
'"Although the situation of Calderwood is low, in comparison of the ground adjacent, and although the prospect from the house is greatly confined, yet the place is not unhealthy or unpleasant. It is surrounded with banks through which the Calder, in a variety of beautiful meanders, takes its course. A delightful cascade, formed by nature, fronts the house, at a distance of about 200 yards. The fall, which is interrupted by small breaks, renders the landscape exceedingly agreeable. The scene is general, being a mixture of the GRAND, the ROMANTIC, and BEAUTIFUL, would, in ancient poetry, have been celebrated as the inchanted abodes of the rural Deities. That a spot like this, surronded with so many natural beauties, should have been fixed upon, at a very early period, for the seat of a rich and honourable family, is a proof of the good taste of the first builder of Calderwood Castle." - "The History of Rutherglen and East Kilbride" by David Ure 1793.[citation needed]
[edit] Industry and Commerce
East Kilbride was the home of the now-privatised National Engineering Laboratory, a civilian research establishment that focused on mechanical engineering.
[edit] Transport
East Kilbride is well connected to Glasgow by bus and rail. East Kilbride Bus Station, at the town centre, was recently rebuilt and provides modern facilities.
East Kilbride's primary bus operator is First Glasgow which provides regular services to Glasgow, Motherwell and Airdrie, and the surrounding area. Stagecoach West Scotland provide a half-hourly to hourly service to Ayr, McKindless provide an hourly service to Wishaw, Carluke and Lanark, and smaller bus operators provide links to other destinations such as Strathaven and Newarthill.
East Kilbride is served by two train stations: East Kilbride and Hairmyres. East Kilbride lies in the centre of the town in West Mains, while Hairmyres is situated out to the west, adjacent to Hairmyres Hospital. East Kilbride is the terminus for a half hourly train service to Glasgow, which also calls at Hairmyres. The train stations are currently undergoing improvements which include new information displays at East Kilbride, and a new shelter building at Hairmyres.
[edit] Districts of East Kilbride
| Areas of East Kilbride |
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Birniehill | Calderwood | College Milton | East Mains | Gardenhall | Greenhills | Hairmyres | Kelvin | Kingsgate | Lindsayfield | Mossneuk | Murrayhill | Nerston | Newlandsmuir | Peel Park | Philipshill | St Leonards | Stewartfield | The Murray | The Village | West Mains | Westwood | Westwoodhill | Whitehills |
[edit] Twin towns
[edit] External links
- http://www.eastkilbrideshopping.co.uk/ - East Kilbride's Shopping Centre
- http://www.eastkilbride.org.uk - Business and Community Information site
