Carnwath

Carnwath stands about a mile north of the old Roman road connecting forts in Tweeddale with those on the Clyde.{{cite journal|last=Maxwell|first=G.S.|year=1976|title=The Roman Road East of Castledykes, Lanarkshire|journal=Glasgow Archaeological Journal|volume=5|issue=1|pages=93–98|url=https://www.euppublishing.com/doi/epdf/10.3366/gas.1976.4.4.93|access-date=6 March 2023}}, pp.93, 94.

The former castle of Carnwath is believed to date to the mid 12th-century built under the orders of William de Sommerville (who died 1160).{{cite book |last=Stevenson |first=J.B. |date=1985 |title=Exploring Scotland's Heritage: The Clyde Estuary and Central Region |publisher= Her Majesty's Stationery Office |location=Edinburgh |page=83 |isbn=011-4924546}} However, the only remains are the motte which is visible beside the Carnwath Golf Club (founded 1907), at the west end of the village. However, the motte is described as "the most impressive Norman earthwork to survive in Lanarkshire." The motte today is a scheduled ancient monument.{{Historic Environment Scotland|num=SM1145|desc=Carnwath Golf Course, motte|access-date=20 February 2022}}

At the centre of Carnwath is Carnwath Cross, the mercat cross, set back a little where the Main Street widens to form the Market Square.{{Historic Environment Scotland |num=LB694 |desc=CARNWATH CROSS |access-date=19 February 2022}} This was erected by the 5th Lord Somerville in 1516 to celebrate the granting of burgh status to the village in 1514.

Carnwath collegiate church was established in 1386.{{Historic Environment Scotland |num=LB692 |desc=ST MARY'S AISLE, INCLUDING GRAVEYARD, BOUNDARY WALLS AND RAILINGS, MAIN STREET, CARNWATH |access-date=19 June 2025}} The only surviving part of the original collegiate church is St Mary's Aisle, built in 1424 and funded by Thomas Somerville, 1st Lord Somerville (later used as a mausoleum for the Lord Somervilles). St Mary's Aisle is Category A listed. In 1869, a new parish church was built beside the earlier buildings to a design by the Scottish architect David Bryce.{{Historic Environment Scotland |num=LB700 |desc=CARNWATH PARISH CHURCH, MAIN STREET, CARNWATH |access-date=19 June 2025}} The church is Scottish baronial in style and is Category B listed. The church no longer functions as a place of worship.{{cite web|url=https://www.churchofscotland.org.uk/about-us/property-and-church-buildings/properties-for-sale/properties/churches-and-halls/carnwathoct21| title=Carnwath Parish Church, Main Street, Carnwath |publisher=Church of Scotland |access-date=19 February 2022}}

In 1630, the Carnwath estate, then owned by the Earl of Mar was purchased by Sir Robert Dalzell, later to become Lord Dalzell. In 1639, his son, Robert the 2nd Lord Dalzell, was further elevated to become the Earl of Carnwath. The title was forfeit in 1716 when the 5th Earl of Carnwath, Robert Dalzell was attainted due to his support of the Jacobite cause during the Fifteen, however the titles were restored to the family in 1826. Writer, spy and politician, George Lockhart, inherited the Carnwath estates from his father, Sir George Lockhart, of the Lockharts of Lee, who had purchased them in 1681 from the Earls of Carnwath.

The Ordnance Gazetteer of Scotland (1882–1885) said the village was: "Long a dingy and disagreeable place, it has been greatly improved".[http://www.electricscotland.com/history/gazetteer/vol1page241.htm The Ordnance Gazetteer of Scotland] In 1845 the area became a civil parish.

Other buildings of note in the village include the old primary school on Main Street, dated 1876 and abandoned since 2006.

In January 1979 the temperature in Carnwath sank to {{convert|-24.6|°C}}, which was the lowest temperature recorded anywhere in the British Isles in the 1970s.{{Cite web |url=http://www.trevorharley.com/trevorharley/weather_web_pages/1979_weather.htm |title=trevorharley.com |access-date=12 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151214134723/http://www.trevorharley.com/trevorharley/weather_web_pages/1979_weather.htm |archive-date=14 December 2015 |url-status=dead}}

{{Weather box

|location = Carnwath: {{convert|208|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1960–2006

|collapsed =

|metric first = Yes

|single line = Yes

|Jan record high C = 12.0

|Feb record high C = 13.5

|Mar record high C = 18.9

|Apr record high C = 25.8

|May record high C = 26.6

|Jun record high C = 30.1

|Jul record high C = 29.4

|Aug record high C = 29.8

|Sep record high C = 27.0

|Oct record high C = 21.7

|Nov record high C = 17.2

|Dec record high C = 13.0

|year record high C =

|Jan high C = 5.6

|Feb high C = 6.3

|Mar high C = 8.6

|Apr high C = 11.3

|May high C = 14.8

|Jun high C = 16.9

|Jul high C = 18.8

|Aug high C = 18.7

|Sep high C = 16.1

|Oct high C = 11.8

|Nov high C = 8.3

|Dec high C = 5.5

|year high C =

|Jan mean C = 2.4

|Feb mean C = 2.8

|Mar mean C = 4.7

|Apr mean C = 6.8

|May mean C = 9.6

|Jun mean C = 12.1

|Jul mean C = 13.9

|Aug mean C = 13.8

|Sep mean C = 11.5

|Oct mean C = 8.0

|Nov mean C = 4.8

|Dec mean C = 2.2

|year mean C =

|Jan low C = -0.8

|Feb low C = -0.7

|Mar low C = 0.7

|Apr low C = 2.2

|May low C = 4.4

|Jun low C = 7.4

|Jul low C = 9.0

|Aug low C = 8.8

|Sep low C = 6.9

|Oct low C = 4.1

|Nov low C = 1.3

|Dec low C = -1.2

|year low C =

|Jan record low C = -24.8

|Feb record low C = -21.2

|Mar record low C = -19.7

|Apr record low C = -9.0

|May record low C = -7.6

|Jun record low C = -3.8

|Jul record low C = -1.2

|Aug record low C = -2.2

|Sep record low C = -5.5

|Oct record low C = -9.9

|Nov record low C = -14.6

|Dec record low C = -20.0

|year record low C =

|precipitation colour = green

|Jan precipitation mm = 86.7

|Feb precipitation mm = 73.3

|Mar precipitation mm = 64.0

|Apr precipitation mm = 57.9

|May precipitation mm = 54.0

|Jun precipitation mm = 61.7

|Jul precipitation mm = 71.1

|Aug precipitation mm = 77.8

|Sep precipitation mm = 71.1

|Oct precipitation mm = 100.3

|Nov precipitation mm = 89.4

|Dec precipitation mm = 89.0

|year precipitation mm =

|Jan precipitation days = 15.1

|Feb precipitation days = 13.4

|Mar precipitation days = 12.6

|Apr precipitation days = 12.4

|May precipitation days = 11.1

|Jun precipitation days = 11.7

|Jul precipitation days = 12.1

|Aug precipitation days = 12.3

|Sep precipitation days = 12.1

|Oct precipitation days = 14.6

|Nov precipitation days = 15.9

|Dec precipitation days = 14.1

|year precipitation days =

|source 1 = Météo Climat{{cite web

|url= http://climate-datas-weather.dynalias.org/listenormale-1991-2020-2-p183.php

|title= United Kingdom climate normals 1991-2020

|publisher=Météo Climat

|access-date=8 April 2024}}

|source 2 = KNMI (extremes){{cite web

|url = https://climexp.knmi.nl/ecatmin.cgi?id=someone@somewhere&WMO=1877&STATION=CARNWATH&extraargs= | title = KNMI - Carnwath minimum temperature time series | access-date = 8 April 2024 | publisher = KNMI}}

}}

There is a large production facility to the NE of the village belonging to BHC Building Merchants.{{cite web|url=https://bhc-merchants.co.uk/contact/| title=Contact |publisher=BHC Building Merchants |access-date=20 February 2022}} In 2007, the company applied to extend the facility and an archaeological survey was completed beforehand.{{Historic Environment Scotland|cat=PLA |num=298238 |num2=NS94NE 72 |desc=Carnwath, Medwyn Park |access-date=19 June 2025}}

The historic New/Wee Bush Inn was a former 18th century coaching inn that has been converted to housing. The inn buildings are category B listed.{{Historic Environment Scotland|num=LB698|desc=NEW BUSH INN|cat=B|access-date=20 February 2022}} The Inn was damaged by fire in 2002 and was the last pub in Scotland to have a thatched roof.{{cite web|url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/11914219.thatched-roof-pub-destroyed-by-fire/| title=Thatched roof pub destroyed by fire |publisher=Herald Scotland |access-date=20 February 2022}} For insurance purposes it has had to be rebuilt with a slate roof. The Inn's former claim to fame was that actor Oliver Reed was a regular customer.

There are several other pubs in the village, as well as a COOP, corner store and DIY shop.

File:Carnwath Parish Church.jpg

The A70 road and A721 roads meet in the town.

Carnwath has no current rail access. Carnwath railway station was originally part of the Caledonian Railway, later the London, Midland and Scottish Railway and finally the Scottish Region of British Railways, was closed in the Beeching Axe of the 1960s. The nearest railway station is Carstairs railway station to the west of Carnwath.

There is a nursery school in the village which is part of the Biggar Learning Community, that includes the Biggar High School. A new primary school was built and opened in 2015.[http://www.icg-lanarkshire2011.com/portal/page/portal/EXTERNAL_WEBSITE_DEVELOPMENT/SLC_ONLINE_HOME/EDUCATION_LIBRARIES/ED_FACILITIES?CONTENT_ID=465&school=Carnwath%20Primary%20School&ward=03%20-%20Clydesdale%20East%20&dept=schools Carnwath Primary School]{{dead link|date=November 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

Carnwath also hosts the oldest foot race in Scotland, possibly Europe, the Red Hose Race, dating back to 13 March 1508. It has seen many changes over almost 500 years, but the running of The Red Hose is still a strong tradition in Carnwath. Hose being the Scots word for stockings or long socks. Each year a foot race is run at Carnwath and the local Laird must provide a pair of red stockings as the prize.{{Citation needed|date=February 2022}}

The "Sir John Mann" park is a public park and open space in the village (formerly Medwyn Park).{{cite web|url=https://www.southlanarkshire.gov.uk/directory_record/584847/sir_john_mann_park| title=Sir John Mann Park |publisher=South Lanarkshire Council |access-date=20 February 2022}}

There is a playing field (King George's Field) with a sports pavilion in the village. The site was built in 1935 and is Category B listed.{{Historic Environment Scotland|num=LB51593|desc=BIGGAR ROAD, KING GEORGE'S PARK, CARNWATH SPORTS PAVILION|cat=B|access-date=20 February 2022}} The site was formerly used by Carnwath Bowls Club.

Carnwath is mentioned twice in the traditional song We're No' Awa' Tae Bide Awa', also known as Carnwath Mill.{{cite web|url=http://www.rampantscotland.com/songs/blsongs_bide.htm|access-date=7 July 2020|title=We're No' Awa' Tae Bide Awa' |website=Traditional Scottish Songs}}

So we had a hauf an' anither hauf,

And then we had anither,

When he got fou' he shouted

"Hoo!

It's Carnwath Mill for ever."

For we're no' awa' tae bide awa' , etc.

And:-

So whenever friendly friens may meet,

Wherever Scots foregather,

We'll raise our gless, we'll shout

Hurroo,

It's Carnwath Mill for ever''.

The allusion is obscure. Carnwath Mill is now a farm (and ruined mill) about {{convert|1|mi|km|round=0.5|abbr=off}} from Carnwath; alternatively, there was a lint mill at Carnwath erected in 1762;{{cite journal|last=McClain|first=N.E.|title=Scottish Lintmills, 1729–70|journal=Textile History|year=1970|volume=1|issue=3|pages=293–308|doi= 10.1179/004049670793692545}} The song also alludes to Wilsontown, which was about {{convert|6|mi|km|0|abbr=off}} away.

Notable people from Carnwath include the first woman provost of Kirkintilloch, Jenny Coutts, the author and critic, Robert Anderson and the footballer, Tom Brownlee. The Ordnance Gazetteer remarks that: "the minor poet, James Graeme (1749–1772)" was a resident of the locality.

• Caledonian Amateur Football League, Balmore who form part of the league play at Carnwath Village Park
• Lanark Blue, a locally made sheep's milk cheese
• Clydesdale East (ward), local government electoral ward containing the village
• Cobbinshaw Reservoir, a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI)

{{reflist}}

{{Commons category|Carnwath}}

• [http://www.carnwath.org.uk/ A local man's page of maps and photos]
• [http://www.dunsyre.com Dunsyre.com and Dunsyre.net] Information about Dunsyre and links to local pages.
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20050414015155/http://www.dunsyrecamp.org.uk/ Dunysre Holiday Camp]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20110726144000/http://www.schools-online.co.uk/carnwathprimary/ Carnwath Primary School]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i45VagKqd64 St Mary's Aisle and Somerville Mausoleum, Carnwath]

{{South Lanarkshire Settlements}}

{{authority control}}

Category:Villages in South Lanarkshire

Category:Parishes in Lanarkshire