Strathaven

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The Common Green, the centre of Strathaven

Strathaven (Gaelic: Srath Aibhne /stra 'əjnə/) (pronounced: Stra'ven [ˈstɹeɪvn̩], meaning: valley of the Avon)^{[citation needed]} is a small town in South Lanarkshire, Scotland. The town has was granted a Royal Charter in 1450, making the Town of Strathaven a Burgh of Barony.

1 Location
2 History
3 Strathaven Academy
4 Further Development
5 Strathaven railway stations
6 References
7 External links

[edit] Location

The town is located on the edge of the valley of the Avon Water, around 6 miles from Hamilton, and 23 miles from Glasgow. The A71, which connects Edinburgh and Kilmarnock passes through the town. In the 2001 census the town had a population of 7,875^{[citation needed]}. Strathaven has one secondary school and three primary schools - Kirklandpark Primary, Wester Overton Primary, and St Patrick's Primary. It also has a grass airfield about two miles to the north west, on Lethame Road.

[edit] History

Strathaven has a long history as a market town.^{[citation needed]} A Roman road passes close by, on the south side of the Avon Water, which led to the Roman fort at Loudoun Hill near Darvel. The origins of Strathaven Castle are obscure, but it is believed to have been built around 1350 by the Bairds, on a bend of the Powmillon Burn.^{[citation needed]} Today it is a ruin, with a single tower and sections of wall remaining beside the A71.

The Barony of Strathaven was acquired in 1362 by Archibald the Grim, Lord of Galloway, by his marriage to Joanna, daughter to Maurice de Moravia, 1st Earl of Strathearn, great Moray heiress.^{[citation needed]} The settlement within the lands of Strathaven became a Burgh of barony in 1450.^{[citation needed]} It still retains its traditional character despite the growth of more modern housing satisfying the needs of commuters to Glasgow.^{[citation needed]} The centre of the town is occupied by the market square, formerly a grassed common, and still known as Common Green, or just 'The Green'. Linking the town and the castle is the old 'Boo Backit Brig' ('bow-backed bridge'), a small arched bridge. The Old Parish Church, with its landmark spire, was built in 1772, and was the place of worship of the Dukes of Hamilton who maintained a shooting lodge at nearby Dungavel House.^{[citation needed]}

The town prospered in the 18th and 19th centuries as a weaving town, although there were many merchants living here too.^{[citation needed]} The town played a significant part in the Radical War of 1820, when James Wilson led a band of radicals on a march to Glasgow, to join a rumoured general uprising, which never actually happened. Wilson was hanged for treason, and in 1846 a memorial was built in his honour in the town cemetery.^{[citation needed]} The history of Strathaven is now documented in the town's John Hastie Museum.

Its most famous 'modern' resident was Sir Harry Lauder (1870-1950) whose mansion, Lauder Ha', or Hall, was just above the town on the road to Kilmarnock. Sir Harry spent the Second World War years there, and died in February 1950. The family retained the property until Death Duties of 65% forced a sale in the late 1960s.^{[citation needed]} It remains a private residence.

[edit] Strathaven Academy

In 1902, Avondale School Board decided to merge two local primary schools; Crosshill and Ballgreen and create a new "Academy". The merge went ahead and the new Academy building was opened in January 1905 by Thomas Mckay, Chairman of the school board. ^[1]

The building was a handsome red sandstone building with ornamental features such as vases on the roof, cupolas, school logo carved in the wall and the splendid Central Hall. The hall had a solid oak roof, similar to a hammerbeam, a balcony running right the way around the perimeter, allowing access to the classrooms on the upper floor, staircases on either side of the hall and beautiful ornamental features to compete with any other school.

The original building was demolished in July 2007 to make way for a new school on the same land, with construction starting immediately. This has resulted in Strathaven Academy's roll of around 1,000 being decanted to Ballerup High in East Kilbride while the new school is built. ^[2] The new building is expected to be finished by the start of the academic year in 2009. The project was very hard hit by a public outcry, the fact that the Academy building was of historic importance, but was not listed, together with the bad condition of Ballerup High, which has high levels of asbestos.

[edit] Further Development

There is a certain amount of hearsay about the development of new shopping centres in or around Strathaven. Leaflets posted throughout Strathaven during 2007 claimed there were plans to build a new Sainsbury's store and petrol station. Sainsbury's have now submitted their planning appliction to South Lanarkshire Council, and if granted, building work could begin in winter 2008, which would include demolition of the current Smilie's complex, which is possibly relocating to Whiteshawgate, which is in the north of the town. The Smilie's Group submitted their planning application in January 2008 and now have planning permission (April 2008) to build their new facilities.

Reactions to this have been split: some welcome the idea of a large retailer, claiming it will lead to more competitive pricing in the current market, and that it may convince residents that they do not have to travel to nearby towns for shopping, thereby supporting the local shops indirectly. Others claim that opposition from the local Community Council has largely been overlooked and a current inquiry has been placed to the South Lanarkshire Local Plan.

[edit] Strathaven railway stations

Strathaven had, at various times, three railway stations.

Strathaven station, the first station, was the terminus of the Hamilton and Strathaven Railway. The railway was taken over by the Caledonian Railway; and the station was replaced by Strathaven North railway station.
Strathaven North railway station, a terminal station on the Hamilton and Strathaven Branch of the Caledonian Railway, opened in October 1904, closed temporarily during World War I; and closed on 30 September 1945.
Strathaven Central railway station, on the line from Stonehouse to Drumclog, closed in June 1964.