Lesmahagow
{{lead too short|date=May 2015}}
{{Use British English|date=December 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2019}}
{{infobox UK place
| country = Scotland
| official_name = Lesmahagow
| gaelic_name = Lios MoChuda
| scots_name = Lismahagie or The Gow
| static_image_name =
| static_image_caption = Lesmahagow Old Parish Church, August 2011
| population = {{Scottish locality populations|name|POP=Lesmahagow}}
| population_ref = ({{United Kingdom statistics year|ScotSettlement}}){{Scotland settlement population citation}}
| os_grid_reference = NS8139
| coordinates = {{coord|55.638|-3.887|display=inline,title}}
| unitary_scotland = South Lanarkshire
| lieutenancy_scotland = Lanarkshire
| constituency_westminster = Hamilton and Clyde Valley
| constituency_scottish_parliament = Clydesdale
|historic_county=
|post_town = LANARK
| postcode_district = ML11
| postcode_area = ML
| dial_code = 01555
| edinburgh_distance = {{convert|35.8|mi|km}}
| london_distance = {{convert|324|mi|km}}
}}
Lesmahagow ({{IPAc-en|l|ɛ|z|m|ə|ˈ|h|eɪ|ɡ|oʊ}} {{Audio|Lesmahagow.ogg|listen}}; {{langx|sco|Lismahagie}}{{cite web|url=http://www.scotslanguage.com/books/view/1/823/Names%20in%20Scots%20-%20Places%20in%20Scotland|title=Names in Scots - Places in Scotland}} or Lesmahagae,{{cite web|url=https://www.scots-online.org/error/error_403.php|title=Error 403|website=www.scots-online.org}} {{langx|gd|Lios MoChuda}}) is a small town in the historic county of Lanarkshire on the edge of moorland, near Lanark in the central belt of Scotland. Lesmahagow was also a civil parish.The Imperial gazetteer of Scotland. 1854. Vol.II (GORDON-ZETLAND) by Rev. John Marius Wilson. pp.324–325 https://archive.org/stream/imperialgazettee02wilsuoft#page/324/mode/2up It lies west of the M74, and southeast of Kirkmuirhill. It is also known as Abbey Green or the Gow.
Etymology
The name means "Enclosure (meaning a walled area, like a monastery or fort) of St Machutus". The saint was born in Wales and may originally have been known as "Mahagw" prior to emigrating to Brittany where he became known by the Latinised form of the name and also as "St Malo". It is also possible that the first syllable may mean "garden" rather than "monastery", although Mac an Tailleir (2003) believes the former was altered from the latter in Gaelic.[http://www.lesmahagow.com/history/annals/CH01/01001.htm "Chapter 1 – Derivation of Name.."] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080307063845/http://www.lesmahagow.com/history/annals/CH01/01001.htm |date=7 March 2008 }} lesmahagow.com. Retrieved 14 February 2008.{{cite web|url=http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/vli/language/gaelic/pdfs/placenamesK-O.pdf |title=Placenames |author=Iain Mac an Tailleir |publisher=Pàrlamaid na h-Alba|access-date=23 July 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110926234316/http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/vli/language/gaelic/pdfs/placenamesK-O.pdf |archive-date=26 September 2011 }}
File:Lesmahagow Old Parish Church.jpg
File:20200505 EOS5DMkIV IMG 3277 3278 3279 Detail(Resize).jpg
Religion
The town has three Christian congregations, namely Lesmahagow Old Parish Church of the Church of Scotland and Abbeygreen Church of the Free Church of Scotland and an Evangelical congregation, (the Hope Hall) on the main street. Roman Catholic residents are served by Our Lady and St John's in the neighbouring village of Blackwood, {{convert|3|mi|km|0}} away.
Lesmahagow Priory, founded by Benedictine monks in 1144, no longer stands but its foundations were excavated in 1978 and are located next to the Old Parish Church off Church Square.{{Citation needed|date=July 2021}}
Highland Games
The Highland Games are held annually in June with Pipe Bands competing in Grades 1 through 4. There are also events for Highland dancing, weight over the bar, tossing the caber and archery. The first Highland Games was held in 1960 as a result of a collaboration between Lesmahagow F.C. and the now defunct Vale of Nethan Pipe Band. Originally held in Craighead Park, it is now held in the Glebe Park and entry is free, mainly due to community fundraising events and a strong committee.{{Citation needed|date=July 2021}}
Landmarks
Notable residents
- John Greenshields (1795–1835) a short-lived but talented Scottish sculptor responsible for works such as Sir Walter Scott in Parliament House, Edinburgh{{cite web|title=CPHS Website|url=http://www.carlukehistory.co.uk/stories/story.php?page=156|website=www.carlukehistory.co.uk|access-date=2020-05-04}}
- Jim Holton (1951–1993), Scottish football centre-half, was born there. He died, aged 42, after suffering a heart attack at the wheel of his car.[http://www.scottishfa.co.uk/football_player_profile.cfm?page=823&playerID=113793&squadID=1 Jim Holton] at Scottish Football Association website
- Alexander Muir, composer of Canadian patriotic song "The Maple Leaf Forever", was born in Lesmahagow in 1830 before emigrating to Canada as a child.[http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=U1ARTU0002484 Alexander Muir] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101220105644/http://thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=U1ARTU0002484 |date=20 December 2010 }} at The Canadian Encyclopedia
References
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{{Reflist}}
{{South Lanarkshire Settlements}}
{{Lesmahagow}}
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