Banton, North Lanarkshire
{{Short description|Village in North Lanarkshire, Scotland}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2019}}
{{Infobox UK place
| country = Scotland
| official_name = Banton
| gaelic_name =
| population =
| population_ref =
| map_type = Scotland
| coordinates = {{coord|55.990|-4.006|display=inline,title}}
| unitary_scotland = North Lanarkshire
| lieutenancy_scotland = Dunbartonshire
| constituency_westminster = Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East
| constituency_scottish_parliament = Cumbernauld and Kilsyth
| post_town = GLASGOW
| postcode_district = G65
| postcode_area = G
| dial_code = 01236
| static_image = Above the Gorse - geograph.org.uk - 1754241.jpg
| static_image_width = 240px
| static_image_caption = Banton with Dullatur in the background.
}}
Banton is a small village situated near Kilsyth in North Lanarkshire, Scotland.
History
The Covenanter army under General William Baillie formed near Banton{{cite web|title=O.S. Map with zoom and Bing overlay|url=http://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=18&lat=55.9834&lon=-4.0222&layers=168&b=3|website=National Library of Scotland|publisher=Ordnance Survey|accessdate=30 December 2017}} for their engagement with the Royalist forces under the command of Montrose at the Battle of Kilsyth on August 15, 1645; a major battle of the Wars of the Three Kingdoms.
In 1767, William Cadell, the original managing partner of the Carron Company, bought the Banton estate and its ironstone field.{{cite book|last1=Dron|first1=Robert W.|title=The Coal-fields of Scotland|date=1902|publisher=Blackie and Son|location=Glasgow|pages=347–350|url=https://archive.org/stream/coalfieldsscotl00drongoog#page/n394/mode/2up/search/banton|accessdate=21 April 2018}} A church was built in Banton when Dr. Burns of Kilsyth encouraged Archibald Edmonstone, William Cadell, Daniel Lusk (of the paper mill) and William Campbell each to contribute 50 guineas to the scheme. The school and schoolmaster's house were built around the same time.{{cite book|last1=Anton|first1=Peter|title=Kilsyth: A Parish History|date=1893|publisher=John Smith and Son|location=Glasgow|page=264|url=https://archive.org/stream/kilsythaparishh00antogoog#page/n288/mode/2up/search/banton|accessdate=13 February 2018}} The first preacher at the church was Mr. J. Lyon who became part of the Secession Church.{{cite book|last1=McCosh|first1=James|title=The wheat and the chaff gathered into bundles : a statistical contribution towards the history of the recent disruption of the Scottish ecclesiastical establishment|date=1843|publisher=J. Dewar|location=Perth|page=52|url=https://archive.org/stream/wheatchaffgather00mcco#page/52/mode/2up/search/banton|accessdate=21 April 2018}}
Banton originally centred on at area known today as High Banton.{{cite web|title=O.S. Map with zoom and Bing overlay|url=http://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=16&lat=55.9969&lon=-4.0139&layers=168&b=3|website=National Library of Scotland|publisher=Ordnance Survey|accessdate=30 December 2017}} Farming and mining were the main historic industries.{{cite web|title=Banton|url=https://sites.google.com/site/bantonandkelvinheadcc/banton|website=Banton and Kelvinhead|accessdate=21 April 2018}} Banton, formerly called Low Banton had a "lappet & muslin manufactory".{{cite web|title=O.S. Map with zoom and Bing overlay|url=http://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=17&lat=55.9886&lon=-4.0107&layers=168&b=3|website=National Library of Scotland|publisher=Ordnance Survey|accessdate=30 December 2017}} J & P Wilson's weaving mill was opened in 1839 and lasted over 100 years.{{cite web|title=Banton|url=https://sites.google.com/site/bantonandkelvinheadcc/banton-mill|website=Banton and Kelvinhead|accessdate=21 April 2018}} It is now the headquarters of J. B. Bennett Ltd. of Glasgow who also had a 19th-century business.{{cite web|title=Textile Workers c 1890|url=https://www.theglasgowstory.com/image/?inum=TGSE00934&add=99&t=2|website=The Glasgow Story|accessdate=21 April 2018}} The coal field stretched from Croy to about {{convert|3|mi|0}} north-east of Low Banton.{{cite book|title=Explanation of sheet 31. Stirling (southern part). Lanarkshire (northern part). Linlithgowshire (western borders)|date=1879|publisher=Printed for H. M. Stationery Office|location=Edinburgh|page=9|url=https://archive.org/stream/cu31924004071712#page/n16/mode/1up/search/banton|accessdate=21 April 2018}} Robert Rennie reported about 50 or 60 people working the mines in the 18th century.{{cite book|last1=Rennie|first1=Robert|title=The statistical account of Scotland. Drawn up from the communications of the ministers of the different parishes.|date=1791|publisher=William Creech|location=Edinburgh|page=231|url=https://archive.org/stream/b21365799_018#page/231/mode/1up/search/banton|accessdate=1 January 2018}} Other historical employers were a sickle work, a paper mill, and a brick and tile work.{{cite book|last1=Burns|first1=William|title=The new statistical account of Scotland|date=1845|publisher=W. Blackwood and Sons|location=Edinburgh and London|page=160|edition=Vol 8|url=https://archive.org/stream/newstatisticalac08edin#page/160/mode/2up/search/banton|accessdate=31 December 2017}} There was also a straw and mill board maker.{{cite book|title=Slater's Royal National Commercial Directory of Scotland ... (Royal National Directory of Scotland.) With ... map, etc|date=1882|page=1236|url=https://archive.org/stream/slatersroyallana1882dire#page/1236/mode/1up/search/banton|accessdate=21 April 2018}}
File:Source of the Kelvin - geograph.org.uk - 1716279.jpg
The Townhead Reservoir, also known as Banton Loch, is about {{convert|1|mi|km|0}} west of the village. This was built in 1773 as a feeder loch for the Forth and Clyde canal. A fishing club uses the loch; previously a boating club used it too. Historically Banton had two curling clubs but the loch is only safe in the severest winters.{{cite book|last1=Anton|first1=Peter|title=Kilsyth: A Parish History|date=1893|publisher=John Smith and Son|location=Glasgow|page=305|url=https://archive.org/stream/kilsythaparishh00antogoog#page/n329/mode/1up/search/banton|accessdate=13 February 2018}} There has been some discussion about the source of the River Kelvin. Some mention Dullatur Bog as a source. A source close to the old Lammerknowes Farm has been photographed. It is south-east corner of the village. Nearby Kelvinhead takes its name as the source of Glasgow's river which joins the Clyde at Yorkhill Basin.
Banton today
File:The Swan Inn, Banton - geograph.org.uk - 1706999.jpg
File:Banton Bowling Club - geograph.org.uk - 1714973.jpg
The village is small, with few local amenities. It had a shop until 2011, but no post office since this closed in 2010.{{cite news|title=Cheers! Banton residents to buy pub thanks to Scottish funds|url=https://www.cumbernauld-news.co.uk/news/business/cheers-banton-residents-to-buy-pub-thanks-to-scottish-funds-1-4626218|accessdate=21 April 2018|agency=Cumbernauld News|date=30 November 2017}} There remains a pub-restaurant: The Swan Inn. This was bought by People United for Banton (PUB) in 2017; they also secured £740,000 National Lottery funding in 2018 to turn it into a community hub.{{cite news|title=Banton pub renovation gets £740,000 lottery funding|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-43741688|accessdate=21 April 2018|agency=BBC|date=13 April 2018}}{{cite news|title=Village pub in Banton toasts lottery cash boost|url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/scotland/article/community-pub-wins-lottery-cash-scgml7bsv|access-date=21 April 2018|agency=The Times|date=14 April 2018}} The village also has a local primary school, a church and a bowling green. There are several businesses in the village.
The A803 runs south of the village. This allows travel to Kilsyth and Glasgow to the west and runs past Linlithgow to the east although it provided access the M80 at Haggs long before then. The village is about {{convert|1/2|mi|m|sigfig=1}} due north-west of the Kelvinhead junction. An hourly 35 bus service connecting Falkirk, Camelon, Larbert, Bonnybridge, Banknock with Kilsyth to Condorrate is operated from Monday to Saturday by McGills Midland Bluebird.[https://www.mcgillsscotlandeast.co.uk/services/MBLB/35?date=2023-03-14&direction=outbound
file:Banton gardens - geograph.org.uk - 1715055.jpg|Banton Gardens
file:Banton Parish Church - geograph.org.uk - 1714974.jpg|Parish Church
file:Swan Lake at Banton - geograph.org.uk - 164694.jpg|Banton Loch
file:Public Park, Banton. - geograph.org.uk - 1707010.jpg|Public Park
Aerial photographs.
file:Kilsyth from the air (geograph 4998790).jpg|Banton above Banton Loch left of the Forth and Clyde Canal
file:Banton Loch from the air (geograph 5221170).jpg|Banton Loch also known as Townhead Reservoir
file:The Forth & Clyde Canal from the air (geograph 5229580).jpg|Banton in relation to the Forth & Clyde Canal
References
{{North Lanarkshire Settlements}}
{{authority control}}