Salsburgh
| Salsburgh | |
  Salsburgh Salsburgh shown within North Lanarkshire | |
| OS grid reference | NS825625 |
|---|---|
| Council area | North Lanarkshire |
| Lieutenancy area | Lanarkshire |
| Country | Scotland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | SHOTTS |
| Postcode district | ML7 |
| Dialling code | 01698 870/1 |
| Police | Scottish |
| Fire | Scottish |
| Ambulance | Scottish |
| EU Parliament | Scotland |
| UK Parliament | Airdrie and Shotts |
| Scottish Parliament | Airdrie and Shotts |
Salsburgh is a semi rural former coal mining village in greenbelt farmland within the district of North Lanarkshire, Scotland, the closest major town to the village is Shotts 3 miles to the South East and Airdrie, North Lanarkshire 6 miles to the North West. Salsburgh is perhaps best known for the Kirk O' Shott's Church (affectionately known as "The M8 Church") which sits on a hillock and is fairly visible as visitors enter the village from the east on the B7066 Whitburn to Newhouse road.
There has been a community in the area for over 600 years, although the present village dates back to 1729. At that time only a row of four houses existed, named "Muirhall, Girdhimstrait, Merchanthall and Craighead". Craighead was home to a Mr. Young and his wife Sally, and when Mr. Young sold some of his land to construct more houses it was decided that it would be named "Sallysburgh". Through time the name was shortened to Salsburgh: Sal being the shortened version of Sally.
Kirk O' Shott's (Shottskirk) Public / Primary School
Kirk O' Shott's is the name of the local school which opened initially in 1700 in a rented building in the southern edge of the old Shottskirk churchyard however it was decided that a new school would be built opposite the Church on what is now Newmill Canthill Road and officially opened in 1799. Due to an increase in school roll the original school was deemed no longer viable and as such a new school was built to the east end of the village and was opened in August 1912 as "Shottskirk Public School" which later reverted to its original roots as Kirk O' Shott's in 1958 as a Junior / Secondary School. Kirk O' Shott's Public School still thrives today as a busy public Primary School serving the local community of Salsburgh and surrounding hamlets and proudly celebrated its centenary year on 12 August 2012. Kirk O' Shott's remains a public school open to all denominations.
Kirk O' Shott's (Shottskirk) Parish Church
Kirk O' Shott's Parish Church is the name of the local Church which serves the parish of Salsburgh, Shotts and surrounding area. The Church was formerly a Catholic place of worship under the name St. Catherines taken from Catherine of Sienna. Close on five hundred and fifty years ago Bothwell and Shotts formed one Parish which stretched from the Clyde to Linlithgowshire, and from the North to the South Calder. In this large area there were four places of worship, one of which was situated in the middle Bothwellmuir at “a desert place called Bertram-Shotts”. Bertram was reputed to be a Giant who lived in the area and terrorised travellers on the Glasgow/Edinburgh road. A reward was offered for his capture - dead or alive - and was claimed by William Muirhead who lay in wait for Bertram when the latter came to his favourite drinking place - a spring of water on the hillside above Shottsburn. He hamstrung him and, as the giant lay laughing up at him, he cut off his head with the words, “Will ye laugh-up yet?” It was on Bertram's plot of land that St. Catherine’s Chapel was built in 1450. It was dedicated to “the blessed Virgin and Catherine of Sienna”. After the Reformation of 1560, Kirk o’Shotts became a Protestant place of worship. The old church of St Catherine’s must have suffered many changes and required frequent changes since its foundation, but of these there is no account before 1640. In that year the Presbytery met at Shotts and ordered that the church be repaired and partly rebuilt, but it was more than eight years before the work was completed. The site of the old church is marked by the headstone erected to Samuel Meuros, who was session clerk and school master from 1794 to 1837. He was also Precentor, and it was his wish to be buried where his old desk had stood; thus he lies - still at his post! On the back of the stone is the following inscription: “Here stood the Precentor’s desk in the Kirk of Bertram Shotts which was rebuilt and extended in 1642” . This stone and the burial ground of the Inglis’s of Murdoston, which was inside the old church, give us a clear idea of the site.
The Transmitters
Salsburgh is also the locale for the twin [[BlackHill Transmitters]] due to its high position towering above the M8 motorway opposite the church and can be seen as far as Bathgate, West Lothian to the east and Glasgow to the west. The transmitters are quite a prominent feature after dark for miles around, due to the coloured red lights which prevent aircraft from striking the 2 towers.
The Kirk o'Shotts transmitting station is also nearby, which formerly carried a TV service and today carries DAB radio.
Pre-Fab's (Pre-Fabricated Buildings)
Not many know that Salsburgh was one of the first ever places in Scotland to have a "pre-fab", a pre fabricated building with corrugated steel walls built, the first every pre-fab was built in the village in 1945.
Low Crime Rates
The village is known to have one of the lowest crime rates in North Lanarkshire due to its rural location. Salsburgh has various scenic walks, picturesque views for miles and areas which have remained untampered with by man such as the Riven Loch where much wildlife can be discovered, the many that have settled in the village have discovered its quaint and charming friendly community.
Geography
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Airdrie, North Lanarkshire | Plains, North Lanarkshire | Blackridge, West Lothian | |
| Newhouse |  |
Harthill, Scotland | ||
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 | ||||
| Carfin | Hareshaw | Shotts |
Homes
Throughout the years there have been a variety of mixed styles of properties in the village, beginning with Pre-Fabs (prefabricated structures with tin roofs) which were then replaced with more substantial council authority brick-built homes. The village today consists of detached, semi detached, terraced, bungalows, cottages, miners row cottages (most of which are council authority and/or privately owned former local authority properties) and also fully renovated former derelict properties and new builds such as Salsburgh Meadows and the new builds situated in sections of Main Street. The mix of old (miners rows) and new (Salsburgh Meadows) makes the village quaint and gives it a certain charm retaining the old buildings from years gone by.
Salsburgh is one of the only places in North Lanarkshire that doesn't have a gas main, the reason cited as it wasn't cost effective when the pipies were being laid. Services are provided independently by oil/LPG and surprisingly coal suppliers.
Most if not all street names within the village have some significance to the villages history and/or former residents from its past.
Population
The 2001 census recorded a population of 1,230, it is now estimated that the village currently is populated by 2,500 residents.
Nearby Villages/Towns
Hamlets Associated with Salsburgh
- Forrestfield
- Shottsburn
- Dewshill
- Newhouse.
Schools & Nurseries Within Salsburgh
- Kirk O' Shott's Primary School (public non denomination)
- Rowantree Nursery / Kirk O' Shott's Nursery
Places Of Worship Within Salsburgh
- Kirk O' Shott's Parish Church (Protestant)
- Sacred Heart R.C Chapel (Catholic)
- Salsburgh Gospel Hall (Christian)
Government and Local groups
Salsburgh Councillors
The local Fortissat ward councillors are :-
- Cllr. Jim Robertson
- Cllr. Charlie Kefferty
- Cllr. Thomas Cochrane
Local Provost
- Cllr. Jim Robertson
MP
- Pamela Nash (Labour)
MSP
- Alex Neill (SNP)
Local Groups
There are several local groups in the village which have been set-up to provide a service to the community.
- Community Council provide information pertaining to planning, local interest surrounding the village and further awareness of events in the village.
- Tenants & Residents Association deal with issues to do with housing and elements of issues with your home.
Media Controversy
On Saturday 20th July 2013 Salsburgh hit the headlines after local bus firm "Bruce Coaches" was targeted in a deliberate arson attack. It is not known at this stage wether this attack was brought on due to the controversial £500,000 Bruce's "Rangers FC Bus" being stored in the garage, the bus which is rented out to the Ibrox football club was completely destroyed along with several other buses including National Express coaches and the older Rangers FC coach. Police Scotland have confirmed the arson attack was deliberately set, and that the culprits cut a hole in the fence before breaking into the garage to set it ablaze.
Links
- Salsburgh Facebook Group
- Salsburgh Heritage Group
- Salsburgh Community Council
- Friends of Kirk O'Shotts School
- Kirk O' Shott's Parish Church Official Site
- Kirk O' Shott's Parish Church Wiki
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