Leadhills

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Map sources for Leadhills at grid reference NS885150

Leadhills is a village in South Lanarkshire, Scotland, 5¾ miles WSW of Elvanfoot. Population (1901) 835. It is the second highest village in Scotland after Wanlockhead, lying 395m (1295ft) above sea-level, near the source of Glengonnar Water, an affluent of the River Clyde.

Elvanfoot railway station was on the Caledonian Railway main line from Glasgow to the south. A branch from there ran through Leadhills to Wanlockhead and operated until 1939. Part of the route has been re-used by the Leadhills & Wanlockhead Railway.

Lead and silver have been mined here and at Wanlockhead, 1½ miles south west, for many centuries, according to some authorities even in Roman days. Gold was discovered in the reign of James IV, but though it is said then to have provided employment for 300 persons, its mining has long ceased to be profitable. The village is neat and well built, and contains a masonic hall and library, the latter founded by the miners about the middle of the 18th century.

Allan Ramsay, the poet, and William Symington (1763-1831), one of the earliest adaptors of the steam engine to the purposes of navigation, were born at Leadhills.

The cemetery at the northeast of the village features an unusual tablestone inscription (next to the southern wall) detailing almost as an afterthought the age of one hundred and fifty four years as being the age at death of the lair owners father.