fbpx
Wikipedia

Airdrie, North Lanarkshire

Airdrie (/ˈɛərdri/; Scots: Airdrie; Scottish Gaelic: An t-Àrd Ruigh)[2] is a town in North Lanarkshire, Scotland. It lies on a plateau roughly 400 ft (130 m) above sea level, and is approximately 12 miles (19 km) east of Glasgow city centre. As of 2012, the town had a population of around 37,130.[3][4][5] Historically part of Lanarkshire, Airdrie forms part of a conurbation with its neighbour Coatbridge, in what is commonly known as the Monklands, formerly a district. (population approximately 90,000 including outlying settlements).[6]

Airdrie
Airdrie town centre
Airdrie
Location within North Lanarkshire
Population36,390 (mid-2020 est.)[1]
OS grid referenceNS761654
Council area
Lieutenancy area
CountryScotland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townAirdrie
Postcode districtML6
Dialling code01236
PoliceScotland
FireScottish
AmbulanceScottish
UK Parliament
Scottish Parliament
List of places
UK
Scotland
55°52′N 3°59′W / 55.86°N 3.98°W / 55.86; -3.98Coordinates: 55°52′N 3°59′W / 55.86°N 3.98°W / 55.86; -3.98

Name

Airdrie's name first appeared in the Register of the Great Seal of Scotland (Registrum Magni Sigilii Regum Scotorum) in 1373 as Ardre. By 1546 it had become Ardry and by 1587 it was known as Ardrie. In 1630 it finally appeared in the Register as Airdrie. Given the topography of the area, the most likely interpretation is that the name derives from the Gaelic An Àrd Ruigh meaning a level height or high pasture land. Another possibility is that it is from the Gaelic An Àrd Àirighe meaning a sheiling, a summer pasture/shepherd's hut. A third possibility is the Gaelic Ard Reidh meaning a high plain.[7] A further, non-Gaelic alternative is the Brythonic, i.e. Cumbric or North Welsh, ard tref (becoming ardre by process of assimilation), meaning a high steading or farmstead, which would date back to the times of the Kingdom of Strathclyde, before the expansion of Gaelic or English speech into the region. Airthrey Castle in Stirlingshire may have a similar derivation.[8]

Geography

Satellite villages

Chapelhall, Calderbank, Caldercruix, Gartness, Glenmavis, Greengairs, Longriggend, Plains, Stand, Upperton, Newhouse and Wattston are generally considered satellite villages of Airdrie.

Wards

Since the most recent major reorganisation in 2006, North Lanarkshire Council divides Airdrie into the following wards, each electing four councillors since the 2017 election:

  • Ward 7 – Airdrie North (2019 population 20,137): Glenmavis, Caldercruix, Plains, Burnfoot, Thrashbush, Rochsoles, Holehills, Clarkston, Greengairs, Longriggend[9]
  • Ward 8 – Airdrie Central (2019 population 16,354): Airdrie Town Centre, Whinhall, Coatdyke, Gartlea, North Cairnhill, Central Park Area, Rawyards[10]
  • Ward 11 – Airdrie South (2019 population 19,934): Craignuek, Petersburn, Moffat Mills, Chapelhall, Calderbank, Brownsburn, South Cairnhill, Gartness[11]

History

Early history

 
Blaeu's map[12] based on Pont's original[13] "Glasgow and the county of Lanark" map c.1596 depicting Ardry (Airdrie), Burnsyd (Burnfoot), Carnhil (Cairnhill), Gartly (Gartlea), and Ruchsols (Rochsoles) amongst others.
 
Arms of Airdrie - The town's motto is the Latin word Vigilantibus (Being Watchful). It comes from Aitcheson of Rochsolloch[14]
 
"Be Airdrie what she will, She's oor ain toon still." anonymous quotation on Graham Street

There is no evidence to support the claim (George Chalmers, Caledonia[15]) that Airdrie is the site of the ancient battle of Arderyth.[16] Under the patronage of King Malcolm IV of Scotland Cistercian monks established an abbey at Melrose in 1136. Five years later a daughter house was founded at Newbattle Abbey in Lothian. In 1160, Malcolm granted lands in central Scotland to the monks of Newbattle. These became known as the "Munklands" (Register of the Great Seal 1323).[17]

Malcolm's Charter constitutes the oldest documentary record of place-names in the Monklands. The area of land granted by the Charter is clearly defined by direct reference to geographical and topographical features thus: Dunpeldre by its right boundaries, namely with Metheraugh and Mayeuth and Clarnephin as far as Dunduffes in the east. The name Dunpeldre is found in the modern name Drumpellier, Metheraugh is Medrox; Mayeuth is Myvot and Clarnephin refers to the North Calder Water in the east of the parish (from old Brittonic name claur n afon meaning plain of the river). Dunduffes has become directly translated into the modern Black Hill which, as the Charter states, lies at the eastern extremity of the parish. The Charter does not mention anything resembling Airdrie, although this is where Airdrie is located.[17]

Airdrie owes its existence to its location on the 'Hogs Back' – a ridge of land running from east to west.[18] One very important aspect of the town's history was the Cistercian monks of Newbattle Abbey, which is why the area is called the Monklands. The monks were farmers and some of their place names survive, e.g., Ryefield and Whifflet (the wheat flats). Much of the land they used is known today as 'The Four Isles' (a housing estate named after four Scottish islands): Mull, Islay, Iona and Luing in the Petersburn area of modern Airdrie. The monks of Newbattle had numerous establishments throughout the area including a farm grange at Drumpellier, Coatbridge, a court house at Kipps, a chapel in the area of Chapelhall and a number of corn mills. The Monks were also expert in the construction of roads. In the 12th century, they established the original Glasgow to Edinburgh road via Airdrie and Bathgate, to link up with their lands in Newbattle in East Lothian.[17]

 
The Robert Hamilton Memorial

Definitive evidence of the existence of Airdrie as a tenantry was only made clear in 1503. The old monks' road was via Cliftonhill (an area now in neighbouring Coatbridge), Airdrie House (now the site of Monklands Hospital), Aitchison Street, High Street, Hallcraig Street, Flowerhill Street and Colliertree Road. The first houses in Airdrie were built along this road. Development was slow and it was only around 1650 that evidence of the number of inhabitants was known at around 500 for the Airdrie area. A large contingent of Airdrieonians fought at the Battle of Bothwell Brig during the Covenanter Rebellion of 1679; their banner can still be viewed at the local library.[19]

A significant event in Airdrie's history was the 1695 passing of a special Act of Parliament in the Scottish Parliament allowing Robert Hamilton of Airdrie to hold four fairs yearly and a weekly market in the town of 'Airdry'. This helped develop Airdrie from a 'farm town' into a thriving 'market town'.[20]

However, Airdrie really came to prominence through its weaving industry. Airdrie Weavers Society was founded in 1781 and flax was being grown in sixteen farms in and around the burgh. In the last decade of the eighteenth century, coal mining was in progress and around thirty colliers were employed. Weaving continued to flourish making up a substantial part of the population of over 2,500 around the turn of the 19th century.[21]

Given its large number of weavers, its geographic location and a large number of unemployed soldiers following the end of the Napoleonic Wars, Airdrie became a major centre of support for the Radical War of 1820. The rapid pace of population growth continued and by 1821 there were 4,862 inhabitants. At this time, the number of houses being built increased dramatically and in 1821, by a private Act of Parliament, Airdrie became a free and independent Burgh of Barony.[22]

Voting in the early part of the nineteenth century was rather hit or miss as not only locals but residents outside the burgh were allowed to vote. In 1821, the first election of a town council took place and by August it had appointed an assessor, procurator fiscal, master of police and a town crier. Anyone who had paid their 3 guineas was allowed to vote; there is even a record of a John Mackay voting despite being under 10 years old.[23]

In 1824, it was decided to build the Airdrie Town House, originally designed by Alexander Baird and now a local landmark known as the 'town clock'.[24] In 1832, the Town House was used as a hospital due to the cholera outbreak of this year.[24]

1850 to 1920

The enormous growth in population was not due to high birthrate, but instead due to an influx of residents from the Highlands and predominantly Ireland. This followed the Highland potato famine of the mid-1840s and also reflected the change from cottage industry to heavy industry in the area. Most of the Irish immigrant population were involved with mining and labouring. This led to an increase in ironwork foundries around the area. Because of this explosion in industry, railway links were established starting in 1826.[25] By 1862, the Airdrie and Bathgate Junction Railway provided a direct link to Edinburgh with Airdrie South Station providing the starting point for trains to Glasgow.[26]

In August the Public Libraries Act (Scotland) 1853 was passed, and in November Airdrie Public Library became the first in Scotland.[27][28]

 
Rear of Airdrie library with Observatory Dome

The dramatic rise in population and industry prompted the need for more accessible water supplies. Until the mid-1800s, various wells were put in place feeding from surrounding streams in the area. These served to provide many houses with private wells. By 1846 Airdrie and Coatbridge Water Company was founded to construct (along with Forth and Clyde Canal Company) the reservoir at Roughrigg.[29]

Journalism in Airdrie began with "The Airdrie Literary Album" in 1828. Several local newspapers began appearing around this time notably the Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser in 1855, which is still the most popular local paper today.[30] The prison was legalised in 1859 and had 51 cells.[31]

Airdrie Working Men's Club was established in 1869.[32] Also around this time, football and cricket began to emerge as popular sports. Following the codification of association football rules a local team called Excelsior was formed in 1878 which would later be renamed Airdrieonians. Horse race meetings were also held in the town (1851–1870) but this land became the golf course for the newly formed Airdrie Golf Club in 1877.[33]

Education posed a major problem with severe overcrowding in the few schools available, therefore three new school boards were established. In the early 1830s there were about 800 pupils while the town had about 7000 residents.[34] Fees were routinely charged within the schools with the belief they should be self-supporting until a parliamentary act of 1889 relieved some of the infant classes in schools of this burden. Airdrie Academy was built in 1849 and by 1919 all school boards were dissolved and Lanarkshire Education Authority took over responsibility for education throughout Lanarkshire.[35]

Airdrie Public Observatory, one of only four public observatories in the UK (Second Oldest and Smallest)- all in Scotland, was founded in the first library building in 1896, and is still operated in the present building by the Airdrie Astronomical Association a Scottish astronautic and astronomy society and registered charity.[36]

By the turn of the century variety shows were becoming popular in the area and by 1911 the Pavilion in Graham Street was built which after initially being used as a music hall started showing cinematographic pictures. Unfortunately it was destroyed by fire in 1917 but was rebuilt in 1919 and finally closed in 1970. The New Cinema was opened in 1920 in Broomknoll Street but it too has since closed. The town had no suitable venue for larger functions so in 1912 the Sir John Wilson Town Hall was opened (following an offer of £10,000 from Sir John Wilson).[37]

On 9 July 1918 nineteen miners died in the Stanrigg Pit Disaster. The pit was situated in boggy land and collapsed after being saturated by heavy rainfall.[38]

1920 onwards

 
Airdrie War Memorial

At the end of the First World War, Airdrie was hard hit with many casualties from the war. Unemployment reached 30% in the local area.[39] After years of moving from one site to another, the first purpose built library in Airdrie was opened in Anderson Street in 1895. However, this only lasted 30 years until the current Airdrie Library building was erected in 1925.[40]

 
The first Airdrie Public Library building, a Carnegie library opened 1894.

Conditions in the town did not really improve until well after the Second World War but in 1949 the Boots pharmaceutical company and Banner Textiles Ltd were attracted to the town (between them employing 1200). With this impetus, new companies began to consider Airdrie as a viable option for business and in 1958 Pye opened employing over 1000 people. The emergence of industrial estates was also prevalent around this time (Newhouse, Chapelhall, and Brownsburn). The Airdrie Arts Centre opened in 1967 in the former Airdrie Library building, and was a popular venue for concerts and plays, but was closed in 2012 by North Lanarkshire Council.[41]

Between 1964 and 1991, the town was the location of a Royal Observer Corps monitoring bunker, to be used in the event of a nuclear attack. No trace remains today.[42]

 
The Holehills Flats

The 1970s saw the opening of Monklands Hospital, which replaced an older hospital on the Airdrie House estate.[43] Airdrie hosted the National Mòd in 1993.[44]

Sport

Angling

Airdrie is a popular destination for anglers from across the Central Belt, due to its lochs and reservoirs. These include: Airdrie & District Angling Club based at Hillend Loch.[45]

Athletics

Airdrie Harriers, one of North Lanarkshire's athletics clubs.[46]

 
Airdrie Bowling Club

Football

 
The Excelsior Stadium
 
Penalty kick in Central Park

The town's major football club is Airdrieonians F.C., who play in the Scottish League One, and are based at the Excelsior Stadium. They were formed as a replacement for the original Airdrieonians, who folded in May 2002.[47][48]

Golf

Airdrie Golf Club was established in 1877. It is a wooded parkland par 69 course with tight fairways and well-protected greens.[49]

Motor sport

The Monklands Sporting Car Club runs its events at the Forrestburn Hillclimb situated about 5 miles east of Airdrie.[50]

Rugby union

Airdrie was home to its own rugby union team called Waysiders RFC. This team was amalgamated to form Waysiders Drumpellier RFC which currently play out of Drumpellier RFC's traditional home ground in Langloan, Coatbridge.[51]

Sailing

The Monklands Sailing Club is based at Hillend Loch by Caldercruix.[52]

Tennis

  • Springwells Lawn Tennis Club. A member of the West of Scotland District and LTA County, divisions of Tennis Scotland.[53]

Culture

Places of interest

Organisations

Governance

Airdrie is represented by several tiers of elected government. North Lanarkshire Council, the unitary local authority for Airdrie, is based at Motherwell, and is the executive, deliberative and legislative body responsible for local governance. The Scottish Parliament is responsible for devolved matters such as education, health and justice, while reserved matters are dealt with by the Parliament of the United Kingdom.[62]

Westminster

The town forms part of the burgh constituency of Airdrie and Shotts, electing one Member of Parliament (MP) to the House of Commons. In 2005, changes to the constituency boundaries saw part of its area transferred to Motherwell and Wishaw, offset by the addition of part of Hamilton North and Bellshill.[63]

The location has been represented by several prominent Labour MPs in recent years:

The current MP for the constituency is the Scottish National Party's Anum Qaisar.[67]

Scottish Parliament

For the purposes of the Scottish Parliament, Airdrie forms part of the Airdrie and Shotts constituency. This has slightly different boundaries from those of the UK Parliament constituency of the same name. The current Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for Airdrie and Shotts is Neil Grey MSP (Scottish National Party), who won this seat in 2021.[68]

In addition to this, Airdrie is represented by seven regional MSPs from the Central Scotland electoral region.[69]

European Parliament

Before Brexit, it was part of the Scotland European Parliament constituency.

Local government

Up until 1975, Airdrie had its own Burgh Council. Between 1975 and 1996, Airdrie came under Monklands District Council operating in conjunction with Strathclyde Regional Council. Monklands District Council was headquartered in the Coatbridge Municipal Building. Many Airdrieonians felt short-changed by MDC's actions and a significant political scandal known as Monklandsgate greatly tarnished the council's reputation. After 1996, it came under the authority of the unitary North Lanarkshire Council. North Lanarkshire has many councillors; currently, the council is in control of the Labour group and the leader of the council is Jim Logue, councillor for Airdrie Central.[70]

Law

Police

 
Burgh of Airdrie Police helmet badge (Victorian Crown) pre 1902

Policing in Airdrie is undertaken by Police Scotland. Airdrie is part of Coatbridge Area Command[71] with Chief Inspector Kenny MacLeod as the Area Commander. Airdrie also forms part of NA (or Monklands) sub division which includes Coatbridge and the surrounding area. There is one police office in Airdrie and this is open 24 hours.[72]

Sheriff Court

Airdrie Sheriff Court provides a comprehensive local court service for the area including civil actions and criminal cases. It is administered by the Scottish Court Service and part of the South Strathclyde, Dumfries and Galloway Sheriffdom headed by a Sheriff Principal.

Other

Economy

Overview

As outlined in the history section, Airdrie's traditional economic activities of weaving, coal mining, and heavy industry have ceased to exist. Although the Glenflagler Distillery is now closed, the town still retains a strong involvement in the whisky industry. Airdrie was also home to a Crimpy Crisps factory. Given its location near to Glasgow and other commercial or industrial areas, Airdrie might now be considered something of a commuter town. In fact, housing construction in Airdrie has been very prominent in recent years, with builders developing a number of brownfield sites following the closure of various factories such as Boots (who closed their factory in 2004). Nonetheless, it does retain significant economic activity.

Notable employers

  • Albert Bartlett & Sons, a supplier of root vegetables in the UK. The Bartlett brothers, Alan, 52, and Ronnie, 44 are jointly ranked in The Sunday Times Rich List 2008 as the 63rd richest persons in Scotland and the 969th richest persons in the UK with a worth valued at £80 million.[73]
  • Inver House Distillers Limited, headquarters and warehousing in Airdrie. Products include Old Pulteney, Balblair, Heather Cream and Coldstream Gin.

Former notable employers

There are two trading estates in the town, Brownsburn Industrial Estate and Osprey Trade Park.

Demography

Historical records of Airdrie's population are available from the 18th,[75] the early decades of the 19th century,[34] and into the early 20th century.[76]

According to the 2001 Census,[77] Airdrie's population of 36,326 was:

  • 47.31 male, 52.69% female.
  • 20.7% were under 16, 16.67% were pensioners.
  • 46.61% were married (first marriage), 29.81% were single.
  • 95.74% were born in Scotland or described their nationality as Scottish.
  • 0.42% spoke Gaelic.

Religion

Christian Church of Scotland – Airdrie's Church of Scotland churches are part of the Presbytery of Hamilton.

 
Cairnlea Church
  • Cairnlea Church - formed by the amalgamation of Broomknoll Church and Flowerhill Church in 2016 and housed in the former Flowerhill building (1875)
  • Clarkston Church (1837)
  • High Church
  • Jackson Church
  • New Monkland Parish Church (bef. 1698) – In nearby Glenmavis.
  • New Wellwynd (1834)
  • St Columba's Church
 
Saint Andrews Chapel

Roman Catholic Church – Airdrie's Roman Catholic churches are immediately governed by the Diocese of Motherwell, currently led by Bishop Joseph Toal. The Bishops' Conference of Scotland (effectively the Church's headquarters in Scotland) is situated in Airdrie.

  • St Andrew's Church (Whinhall)
  • St Edward's Church (Gartlea)
  • St Margaret's Church (Airdrie centre)
  • St Serf's Church (Rawyards)
 
Pilgrim Congregational Church

Congregational Church – Airdrie's Congregational churches are associated with the Congregational Federation.

  • Coatdyke Church
  • Ebenezer Church (Broomknoll Street) (1882)
  • Pilgrim Church

Other

 
Airdrie Reformed Presbyterian Church (1838)

Transport

Airdrie railway station is on the electrified North Clyde Line. This railway provides a frequent train service to Glasgow via Coatbridge Sunnyside and Easterhouse. In 2010, the Airdrie–Bathgate rail link re-opened providing Airdrie with a direct commuter train service to Bathgate, Livingston North and Edinburgh Waverley. Drumgelloch railway station serves the eastern end of the town. Including the satellite village of Caldercruix, Airdrie is served by four stations; Caldercruix, Drumgelloch, Airdrie, and Coatdyke, on the border of Airdrie and Coatbridge.

Airdrie has road links to Glasgow, Edinburgh, Livingston, Motherwell, and Cumbernauld and is situated close to the M8 motorway. Bus services are largely undertaken by local operators, and links to Glasgow are provided by First Glasgow and McGills. McGill's took over most of the local companies in 2016 to form its 'Monklands' network in Go Zone 8. The services link all the local neighbourhoods with longer distance services e.g. the 212 from Coatbridge - Caldercruix via Airdrie and Plains, or the 247 from Monklands Hospital - Kirkintilloch via Airdrie, Glenmavis, Cumbernauld and Blackwood.

Airdrie is connected to the UK National Cycle Network by National Cycle Route 75. This route provides a path between Glasgow and Edinburgh. According to the Sustrans website: "there is currently a gap in the National Cycle Network route at Devol Glen, Port Glasgow."[78] Other than the Sustrans path, there are no cycle lanes in Airdrie.

Historical transport links include:-

Healthcare

 
Monklands District General Hospital with the medical tower, the surgical tower and the A&E entrance
 
Weaver's Cottage

Airdrie is home to Monklands District General Hospital with a 24-hour Accident & Emergency department.[79]

Adjacent to Monklands Hospital is Maggie's Lanarkshire, part of the Maggie's Centres cancer support charity.[80]

Education

The following are the secondary schools, all of which are run by North Lanarkshire Council:[81]

 
Airdrie Academy

International relations

Twin towns - sister cities

Notable people

Footballers

Climate

Climate data for Airdrie, United Kingdom
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 15
(56)
17
(55)
19
(59)
23
(75)
27
(81)
29
(85)
30
(86)
31
(88)
25
(78)
21
(70)
15
(59)
13
(57)
31
(88)
Average high °C (°F) 6
(43)
6
(44)
8
(47)
11
(52)
15
(59)
17
(63)
18
(66)
18
(65)
15
(60)
12
(54)
8
(48)
6
(44)
12
(54)
Average low °C (°F) 1
(34)
1
(34)
2
(36)
3
(38)
6
(43)
8
(48)
11
(52)
10
(51)
8
(47)
5
(42)
2
(37)
1
(35)
5
(41)
Record low °C (°F) −17
(1)
−12
(9)
−8
(16)
−4
(24)
−3
(25)
0
(33)
3
(38)
1
(35)
−2
(27)
−7
(19)
−10
(14)
−17
(1)
−17
(1)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 86.9
(3.42)
79
(3.11)
74.4
(2.93)
46.5
(1.83)
33.5
(1.32)
38.6
(1.52)
49.5
(1.95)
52.6
(2.07)
56.6
(2.23)
84.8
(3.34)
84.8
(2.62)
74.9
(2.95)
762.1
(30)
Source: Weatherbase[83]

See also

Sources

  • Begg, E. and Rich, D. (1991) On the Trail of Merlin. ISBN 0-85030-939-5
  • Geddes, C.M. (1995) Airdrie 300:A Souvenir Brochure. Motherwell: Monklands Library Services. ISBN 0-946120-29-3
  • Hutton, G. (1997) Lanarkshire's Mining Legacy. Catrine: Stenlake Publishing. ISBN 1-84033-015-5
  • McCutcheon, C. (1994) Old Airdrie. Catrine: Stenlake Publishing. ISBN 1-872074-34-0
  • Moir, H. (2001) Airdrie. Stroud: Tempus Publishing Ltd. ISBN 0-7524-2368-1
  • Scobbie, J.K. (1985) Book of Airdrie'. Motherwell: Monklands Library Services. ISBN 0-946120-08-0
  • Wilson, R. (1997) Old Airdrie Villages. Catrine: Stenlake Publishing. ISBN 1-84033-004-X

References

  1. ^ "Mid-2020 Population Estimates for Settlements and Localities in Scotland". National Records of Scotland. 31 March 2022. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
  2. ^ . Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 25 October 2011.
  3. ^ . North Lanarkshire Council. Archived from the original on 4 January 2018. Retrieved 3 January 2018.
  4. ^ "Estimated population of localities by broad age groups, mid-2012" (PDF). Nrscotland.gov.uk. Retrieved 3 January 2018.
  5. ^ Not including outlying villages Calderbank, Caldercruix, Chapelhall, Glenmavis, Greengairs, Plains and Wattston which are recorded separately.
  6. ^ "Locality and settlement population 2016". North Lanarkshire Council. Retrieved 21 September 2019.
  7. ^ Drummond, Peter, John (2014). An analysis of toponyms and toponymic patterns in eight parishes of the upper Kelvin basin (PDF). Glasgow: Glasgow University. p. 322. Retrieved 3 July 2017.
  8. ^ Oxenham, William (2005). Welsh Origins of Scottish Place-Names. Llanrwst: Gwasg Carreg Gwalch. p. 97. ISBN 0-86381-957-5.
  9. ^ Electoral Ward: Airdrie North, Scottish Government Statistics
  10. ^ Electoral Ward: Airdrie Central, Scottish Government Statistics
  11. ^ Electoral Ward: Airdrie South, Scottish Government Statistics
  12. ^ Blaeu, Joan. "Glottiana Praefectura Inferior". National Library of Scotland. Retrieved 30 December 2017.
  13. ^ "Glasgow and the county of Lanark - Pont 34". Maps of Scotland. Timothy Pont (16th century). Retrieved 31 December 2017.
  14. ^ "Airdrie". Heraldry of the World. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  15. ^ Chalmers, George (1887). Caledonia : or, a historical and topographical account of North Britain, from the most ancient to the present times with a dictionary of places chorographical & philological (Vol 1 ed.). Paisley: Gardner. p. 246. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  16. ^ Skene, William Forbes (1868). Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland (Vol VI ed.). Edinburgh: Neill and Co. pp. 91–98. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  17. ^ a b c Knox, James, Sir (1921). Airdrie, a historical sketch. Airdrie: Baird & Hamilton. p. 3. Retrieved 4 January 2018.
  18. ^ . Monklands Memories. Archived from the original on 11 January 2015. Retrieved 4 January 2018.
  19. ^ "Banner headline for Covenanters". The Scotsman. 19 February 2002. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
  20. ^ "1986 AIRDRIE AN OPEN AIR MARKET". Domesday Reloaded. BBC. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  21. ^ Knox, James, Sir (1921). Airdrie, a historical sketch. Airdrie: Baird & Hamilton. pp. 73–85. Retrieved 4 January 2018.
  22. ^ "Airdrie Improvement Act 1821". Vlex. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
  23. ^ Knox, James, Sir (1921). Airdrie, a historical sketch. Airdrie: Baird & Hamilton. p. 63. Retrieved 4 January 2018.
  24. ^ a b Historic Environment Scotland. "Bank Street, The Townhouse (LB20926)". Retrieved 29 March 2021.
  25. ^ Knox, James, Sir (1921). Airdrie, a historical sketch. Airdrie: Baird & Hamilton. p. 72. Retrieved 4 January 2018.
  26. ^ "O.S. Map with zoom and Bing overlay". National Library of Scotland. Ordnance Survey. Retrieved 30 December 2017.
  27. ^ Mort, Frederick (1910). Lanarkshire. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. p. 151. Retrieved 4 January 2018.
  28. ^ Knox, James, Sir (1921). Airdrie, a historical sketch. Airdrie: Baird & Hamilton. pp. 117–119. Retrieved 4 January 2018.
  29. ^ Knox, James, Sir (1921). Airdrie, a historical sketch. Airdrie: Baird & Hamilton. pp. 110–112. Retrieved 4 January 2018.
  30. ^ Knox, James, Sir (1921). Airdrie, a historical sketch. Airdrie: Baird & Hamilton. pp. 125–129. Retrieved 4 January 2018.
  31. ^ Groome, Francis Hindes (1882). Ordnance gazetteer of Scotland : a survey of Scottish topography, statistical, biographical, and historical (Vol 1 ed.). Edinburgh: T.C. Jack. p. 36. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  32. ^ Knox, James, Sir (1921). Airdrie, a historical sketch. Airdrie: Baird & Hamilton. pp. 150–151. Retrieved 4 January 2018.
  33. ^ "About us". Airdrie Golf Club. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
  34. ^ a b Begg, James (1845). The new statistical account of Scotland (Vol 6 ed.). Edinburgh and London: William Blackwood and Sons. pp. 244–245. Retrieved 3 January 2018.
  35. ^ Knox, James, Sir (1921). Airdrie, a historical sketch. Airdrie: Baird & Hamilton. pp. 112–116. Retrieved 4 January 2018.
  36. ^ Knox, James, Sir (1921). Airdrie, a historical sketch. Airdrie: Baird & Hamilton. pp. 120–121. Retrieved 4 January 2018.
  37. ^ Historic Environment Scotland. "Stirling Street, Sir John Wilson Town Hall Including Gatepiers (LB20947)". Retrieved 29 March 2021.
  38. ^ "Stanrigg 9th July 1918". Scottish Mining Website. Retrieved 12 May 2017.
  39. ^ Gray, Alastair (1989). A History of Scotland in Modern Times. Oxford University Press. p. 66. ISBN 978-0-19-917063-0.
  40. ^ "Call to retain Airdrie Arts Centre for community use". Daily Record. 18 January 2012. Retrieved 15 April 2021.
  41. ^ "Airdrie Arts Centre | Theatres Trust". Database.theatrestrust.org.uk. Retrieved 4 June 2022.
  42. ^ "Airdrie ROC Post – Subterranea Britannica". subbrit.org.uk. Retrieved 10 October 2022.
  43. ^ "HoC 11th Dec 1970". Hansard. Retrieved 29 August 2009.
  44. ^ List of Mod's places for each year on Sabhal Mòr Ostaig website
  45. ^ "About us". Airdrie & District Angling Club. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
  46. ^ "About us". Airdrie Harriers. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
  47. ^ "New Airdrie 'will honour debts'". BBC. 14 June 2002. from the original on 15 March 2004. Retrieved 5 December 2010.
  48. ^ . STV News. 3 June 2013. Archived from the original on 10 November 2013. Retrieved 3 June 2013.
  49. ^ "Airdrie Golf Club website". Airdrie Golf Club.
  50. ^ "About us". Monklands Sporting Car Club. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
  51. ^ "About us". Waysiders Drumpellier RFC. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
  52. ^ "Monklands Sailing Club". Go Sail. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
  53. ^ "Springwells Lawn Tennis Club". Sports Pros Connect. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
  54. ^ Historic Environment Scotland. "Wellwynd, Airdrie Public Library (LB20950)". Retrieved 8 October 2022.
  55. ^ "Airdrie Observatory". Culture NL. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
  56. ^ "Black Hill transmitter to start switching off analogue". BBC News. 29 February 2012. Retrieved 4 April 2021.
  57. ^ "Airdrie". Imperial War Museum. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
  58. ^ Guthrie Hutton, Monkland: the Canal that Made Money, Richard Stenlake, Ochiltree, 1993, ISBN 1 872074 28 6
  59. ^ "About us". New Monkland and Greengairs Parish Church. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
  60. ^ Historic Environment Scotland. "Wallacestone, Wallace's Stone (47907)". Canmore. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
  61. ^ "Our staff". Moira Anderson Foundation. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
  62. ^ . Scotland Office. Archived from the original on 4 October 2006. Retrieved 14 November 2006.
  63. ^ "The Parliamentary Constituencies (Scotland) Order 2005". Legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 31 December 2011.
  64. ^ Stuart, Mark, John Smith: A Life (London: Politico's, 2005), p. 63.
  65. ^ "Helen Liddell Appointed to Transport Minister Post", Local Government Chronicle, 19 May 1999
  66. ^ "Former Airdrie MP John Reid takes seat in House of Lords". Daily Record. 4 August 2010. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
  67. ^ . members.parliament.uk. UK Parliament. Archived from the original on 21 November 2021. Retrieved 21 November 2021.
  68. ^ "Neil Grey". Scottish Parliament. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
  69. ^ Paterson, Colin (6 May 2011). . Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser. Archived from the original on 17 June 2013. Retrieved 10 August 2013.
  70. ^ "Member and Committee Information". North Lanarkshire Council. 24 August 2009. Retrieved 6 August 2016.
  71. ^ "Police Scotland - Coatbridge Area Command". Scotland.police.uk. Retrieved 4 June 2022.
  72. ^ "Airdrie Police Station". Scotland.police.uk. Retrieved 4 June 2022.
  73. ^ . The Times. London. 27 April 2008. Archived from the original on 12 June 2011. Retrieved 28 January 2009.
  74. ^ Tonner, Judith (25 March 2021). "Teleperformance to close Airdrie contact centre base". Daily Record. Retrieved 4 June 2022.
  75. ^ Mack, William (1791). The statistical account of Scotland. Drawn up from the communications of the ministers of the different parishes (Vol VII, number XXV ed.). Edinburgh: William Creech. pp. 276–277. Retrieved 4 January 2018.
  76. ^ Knox, James, Sir (1921). Airdrie, a historical sketch. Airdrie: Baird & Hamilton. p. 189. Retrieved 4 January 2018.
  77. ^ . scrol.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 25 March 2009. Retrieved 28 January 2009.
  78. ^ "Route 75". Sustrans. Retrieved 7 January 2018.
  79. ^ "Monklands Hospital". NHS Lanarkshire. Retrieved 29 August 2009.
  80. ^ "Architecture and design". Maggie's Lanarkshire. Retrieved 9 October 2022.
  81. ^ "Schools in Aidrie". Schools Search. Retrieved 9 October 2022.
  82. ^ "Ian Bannen". The Guardian. 5 November 1999. Retrieved 17 September 2022.
  83. ^ "Historical Weather for Airdrie, Scotland, United Kingdom". Weatherbase. Retrieved 23 March 2010.

External links

  • Airdrie web page The Airdrie page (no longer maintained)
  • A collection of historic maps of Airdrie from the 1830s onward at National Library of Scotland

airdrie, north, lanarkshire, airdrie, ɛər, scots, airdrie, scottish, gaelic, Àrd, ruigh, town, north, lanarkshire, scotland, lies, plateau, roughly, above, level, approximately, miles, east, glasgow, city, centre, 2012, update, town, population, around, histor. Airdrie ˈ ɛer d r i Scots Airdrie Scottish Gaelic An t Ard Ruigh 2 is a town in North Lanarkshire Scotland It lies on a plateau roughly 400 ft 130 m above sea level and is approximately 12 miles 19 km east of Glasgow city centre As of 2012 update the town had a population of around 37 130 3 4 5 Historically part of Lanarkshire Airdrie forms part of a conurbation with its neighbour Coatbridge in what is commonly known as the Monklands formerly a district population approximately 90 000 including outlying settlements 6 AirdrieScottish Gaelic An t Ard RuighScots AirdrieAirdrie town centreAirdrieLocation within North LanarkshirePopulation36 390 mid 2020 est 1 OS grid referenceNS761654Council areaNorth LanarkshireLieutenancy areaLanarkshireCountryScotlandSovereign stateUnited KingdomPost townAirdriePostcode districtML6Dialling code01236PoliceScotlandFireScottishAmbulanceScottishUK ParliamentAirdrie and ShottsScottish ParliamentAirdrie and ShottsList of places UK Scotland 55 52 N 3 59 W 55 86 N 3 98 W 55 86 3 98 Coordinates 55 52 N 3 59 W 55 86 N 3 98 W 55 86 3 98 Contents 1 Name 2 Geography 2 1 Satellite villages 2 2 Wards 3 History 3 1 Early history 3 2 1850 to 1920 3 3 1920 onwards 4 Sport 4 1 Angling 4 2 Athletics 4 3 Football 4 4 Golf 4 5 Motor sport 4 6 Rugby union 4 7 Sailing 4 8 Tennis 5 Culture 5 1 Places of interest 5 2 Organisations 6 Governance 6 1 Westminster 6 2 Scottish Parliament 6 3 European Parliament 6 4 Local government 7 Law 7 1 Police 7 2 Sheriff Court 7 3 Other 8 Economy 8 1 Overview 8 2 Notable employers 8 3 Former notable employers 9 Demography 10 Religion 11 Transport 12 Healthcare 13 Education 14 International relations 14 1 Twin towns sister cities 15 Notable people 15 1 Footballers 16 Climate 17 See also 18 Sources 19 References 20 External linksName EditAirdrie s name first appeared in the Register of the Great Seal of Scotland Registrum Magni Sigilii Regum Scotorum in 1373 as Ardre By 1546 it had become Ardry and by 1587 it was known as Ardrie In 1630 it finally appeared in the Register as Airdrie Given the topography of the area the most likely interpretation is that the name derives from the Gaelic An Ard Ruigh meaning a level height or high pasture land Another possibility is that it is from the Gaelic An Ard Airighe meaning a sheiling a summer pasture shepherd s hut A third possibility is the Gaelic Ard Reidh meaning a high plain 7 A further non Gaelic alternative is the Brythonic i e Cumbric or North Welsh ard tref becoming ardre by process of assimilation meaning a high steading or farmstead which would date back to the times of the Kingdom of Strathclyde before the expansion of Gaelic or English speech into the region Airthrey Castle in Stirlingshire may have a similar derivation 8 Geography EditSatellite villages Edit Chapelhall Calderbank Caldercruix Gartness Glenmavis Greengairs Longriggend Plains Stand Upperton Newhouse and Wattston are generally considered satellite villages of Airdrie Wards Edit Since the most recent major reorganisation in 2006 North Lanarkshire Council divides Airdrie into the following wards each electing four councillors since the 2017 election Ward 7 Airdrie North 2019 population 20 137 Glenmavis Caldercruix Plains Burnfoot Thrashbush Rochsoles Holehills Clarkston Greengairs Longriggend 9 Ward 8 Airdrie Central 2019 population 16 354 Airdrie Town Centre Whinhall Coatdyke Gartlea North Cairnhill Central Park Area Rawyards 10 Ward 11 Airdrie South 2019 population 19 934 Craignuek Petersburn Moffat Mills Chapelhall Calderbank Brownsburn South Cairnhill Gartness 11 History EditEarly history Edit Blaeu s map 12 based on Pont s original 13 Glasgow and the county of Lanark map c 1596 depicting Ardry Airdrie Burnsyd Burnfoot Carnhil Cairnhill Gartly Gartlea and Ruchsols Rochsoles amongst others Arms of Airdrie The town s motto is the Latin word Vigilantibus Being Watchful It comes from Aitcheson of Rochsolloch 14 Be Airdrie what she will She s oor ain toon still anonymous quotation on Graham Street Airdrie Town House There is no evidence to support the claim George Chalmers Caledonia 15 that Airdrie is the site of the ancient battle of Arderyth 16 Under the patronage of King Malcolm IV of Scotland Cistercian monks established an abbey at Melrose in 1136 Five years later a daughter house was founded at Newbattle Abbey in Lothian In 1160 Malcolm granted lands in central Scotland to the monks of Newbattle These became known as the Munklands Register of the Great Seal 1323 17 Malcolm s Charter constitutes the oldest documentary record of place names in the Monklands The area of land granted by the Charter is clearly defined by direct reference to geographical and topographical features thus Dunpeldre by its right boundaries namely with Metheraugh and Mayeuth and Clarnephin as far as Dunduffes in the east The name Dunpeldre is found in the modern name Drumpellier Metheraugh is Medrox Mayeuth is Myvot and Clarnephin refers to the North Calder Water in the east of the parish from old Brittonic name claur n afon meaning plain of the river Dunduffes has become directly translated into the modern Black Hill which as the Charter states lies at the eastern extremity of the parish The Charter does not mention anything resembling Airdrie although this is where Airdrie is located 17 Airdrie owes its existence to its location on the Hogs Back a ridge of land running from east to west 18 One very important aspect of the town s history was the Cistercian monks of Newbattle Abbey which is why the area is called the Monklands The monks were farmers and some of their place names survive e g Ryefield and Whifflet the wheat flats Much of the land they used is known today as The Four Isles a housing estate named after four Scottish islands Mull Islay Iona and Luing in the Petersburn area of modern Airdrie The monks of Newbattle had numerous establishments throughout the area including a farm grange at Drumpellier Coatbridge a court house at Kipps a chapel in the area of Chapelhall and a number of corn mills The Monks were also expert in the construction of roads In the 12th century they established the original Glasgow to Edinburgh road via Airdrie and Bathgate to link up with their lands in Newbattle in East Lothian 17 The Robert Hamilton Memorial Definitive evidence of the existence of Airdrie as a tenantry was only made clear in 1503 The old monks road was via Cliftonhill an area now in neighbouring Coatbridge Airdrie House now the site of Monklands Hospital Aitchison Street High Street Hallcraig Street Flowerhill Street and Colliertree Road The first houses in Airdrie were built along this road Development was slow and it was only around 1650 that evidence of the number of inhabitants was known at around 500 for the Airdrie area A large contingent of Airdrieonians fought at the Battle of Bothwell Brig during the Covenanter Rebellion of 1679 their banner can still be viewed at the local library 19 A significant event in Airdrie s history was the 1695 passing of a special Act of Parliament in the Scottish Parliament allowing Robert Hamilton of Airdrie to hold four fairs yearly and a weekly market in the town of Airdry This helped develop Airdrie from a farm town into a thriving market town 20 However Airdrie really came to prominence through its weaving industry Airdrie Weavers Society was founded in 1781 and flax was being grown in sixteen farms in and around the burgh In the last decade of the eighteenth century coal mining was in progress and around thirty colliers were employed Weaving continued to flourish making up a substantial part of the population of over 2 500 around the turn of the 19th century 21 Given its large number of weavers its geographic location and a large number of unemployed soldiers following the end of the Napoleonic Wars Airdrie became a major centre of support for the Radical War of 1820 The rapid pace of population growth continued and by 1821 there were 4 862 inhabitants At this time the number of houses being built increased dramatically and in 1821 by a private Act of Parliament Airdrie became a free and independent Burgh of Barony 22 Voting in the early part of the nineteenth century was rather hit or miss as not only locals but residents outside the burgh were allowed to vote In 1821 the first election of a town council took place and by August it had appointed an assessor procurator fiscal master of police and a town crier Anyone who had paid their 3 guineas was allowed to vote there is even a record of a John Mackay voting despite being under 10 years old 23 In 1824 it was decided to build the Airdrie Town House originally designed by Alexander Baird and now a local landmark known as the town clock 24 In 1832 the Town House was used as a hospital due to the cholera outbreak of this year 24 1850 to 1920 Edit Sir John Wilson Town Hall The enormous growth in population was not due to high birthrate but instead due to an influx of residents from the Highlands and predominantly Ireland This followed the Highland potato famine of the mid 1840s and also reflected the change from cottage industry to heavy industry in the area Most of the Irish immigrant population were involved with mining and labouring This led to an increase in ironwork foundries around the area Because of this explosion in industry railway links were established starting in 1826 25 By 1862 the Airdrie and Bathgate Junction Railway provided a direct link to Edinburgh with Airdrie South Station providing the starting point for trains to Glasgow 26 In August the Public Libraries Act Scotland 1853 was passed and in November Airdrie Public Library became the first in Scotland 27 28 Rear of Airdrie library with Observatory Dome The dramatic rise in population and industry prompted the need for more accessible water supplies Until the mid 1800s various wells were put in place feeding from surrounding streams in the area These served to provide many houses with private wells By 1846 Airdrie and Coatbridge Water Company was founded to construct along with Forth and Clyde Canal Company the reservoir at Roughrigg 29 Journalism in Airdrie began with The Airdrie Literary Album in 1828 Several local newspapers began appearing around this time notably the Airdrie amp Coatbridge Advertiser in 1855 which is still the most popular local paper today 30 The prison was legalised in 1859 and had 51 cells 31 Airdrie Working Men s Club was established in 1869 32 Also around this time football and cricket began to emerge as popular sports Following the codification of association football rules a local team called Excelsior was formed in 1878 which would later be renamed Airdrieonians Horse race meetings were also held in the town 1851 1870 but this land became the golf course for the newly formed Airdrie Golf Club in 1877 33 Education posed a major problem with severe overcrowding in the few schools available therefore three new school boards were established In the early 1830s there were about 800 pupils while the town had about 7000 residents 34 Fees were routinely charged within the schools with the belief they should be self supporting until a parliamentary act of 1889 relieved some of the infant classes in schools of this burden Airdrie Academy was built in 1849 and by 1919 all school boards were dissolved and Lanarkshire Education Authority took over responsibility for education throughout Lanarkshire 35 Airdrie Public Observatory one of only four public observatories in the UK Second Oldest and Smallest all in Scotland was founded in the first library building in 1896 and is still operated in the present building by the Airdrie Astronomical Association a Scottish astronautic and astronomy society and registered charity 36 By the turn of the century variety shows were becoming popular in the area and by 1911 the Pavilion in Graham Street was built which after initially being used as a music hall started showing cinematographic pictures Unfortunately it was destroyed by fire in 1917 but was rebuilt in 1919 and finally closed in 1970 The New Cinema was opened in 1920 in Broomknoll Street but it too has since closed The town had no suitable venue for larger functions so in 1912 the Sir John Wilson Town Hall was opened following an offer of 10 000 from Sir John Wilson 37 On 9 July 1918 nineteen miners died in the Stanrigg Pit Disaster The pit was situated in boggy land and collapsed after being saturated by heavy rainfall 38 1920 onwards Edit Airdrie War Memorial At the end of the First World War Airdrie was hard hit with many casualties from the war Unemployment reached 30 in the local area 39 After years of moving from one site to another the first purpose built library in Airdrie was opened in Anderson Street in 1895 However this only lasted 30 years until the current Airdrie Library building was erected in 1925 40 The first Airdrie Public Library building a Carnegie library opened 1894 Conditions in the town did not really improve until well after the Second World War but in 1949 the Boots pharmaceutical company and Banner Textiles Ltd were attracted to the town between them employing 1200 With this impetus new companies began to consider Airdrie as a viable option for business and in 1958 Pye opened employing over 1000 people The emergence of industrial estates was also prevalent around this time Newhouse Chapelhall and Brownsburn The Airdrie Arts Centre opened in 1967 in the former Airdrie Library building and was a popular venue for concerts and plays but was closed in 2012 by North Lanarkshire Council 41 Between 1964 and 1991 the town was the location of a Royal Observer Corps monitoring bunker to be used in the event of a nuclear attack No trace remains today 42 The Holehills Flats The 1970s saw the opening of Monklands Hospital which replaced an older hospital on the Airdrie House estate 43 Airdrie hosted the National Mod in 1993 44 Sport EditAngling Edit Airdrie is a popular destination for anglers from across the Central Belt due to its lochs and reservoirs These include Airdrie amp District Angling Club based at Hillend Loch 45 Athletics Edit Airdrie Harriers one of North Lanarkshire s athletics clubs 46 Airdrie Bowling Club Football Edit The Excelsior Stadium Penalty kick in Central Park The town s major football club is Airdrieonians F C who play in the Scottish League One and are based at the Excelsior Stadium They were formed as a replacement for the original Airdrieonians who folded in May 2002 47 48 Golf Edit Airdrie Golf Club was established in 1877 It is a wooded parkland par 69 course with tight fairways and well protected greens 49 Motor sport Edit The Monklands Sporting Car Club runs its events at the Forrestburn Hillclimb situated about 5 miles east of Airdrie 50 Rugby union Edit Airdrie was home to its own rugby union team called Waysiders RFC This team was amalgamated to form Waysiders Drumpellier RFC which currently play out of Drumpellier RFC s traditional home ground in Langloan Coatbridge 51 Sailing Edit The Monklands Sailing Club is based at Hillend Loch by Caldercruix 52 Tennis Edit Springwells Lawn Tennis Club A member of the West of Scotland District and LTA County divisions of Tennis Scotland 53 Culture EditPlaces of interest Edit Airdrie Public Library 54 Airdrie Public Observatory 55 Arran View villa built by Alexander Thomson in 1867 Black Hill transmitting station 56 Centenary and West End Parks including the Airdrie Cenotaph 57 Monkland Canal where the Vulcan the world s first iron boat was constructed and launched in 1819 58 New Monklands Parish Church 59 The Wallace Stone legend tells that William Wallace sharpened his sword on this stone on his way to the Battle of Falkirk 60 Organisations Edit The Moira Anderson Foundation a national charity providing support for those affected by childhood sexual abuse 61 Governance EditFurther information History of local government in Scotland Airdrie is represented by several tiers of elected government North Lanarkshire Council the unitary local authority for Airdrie is based at Motherwell and is the executive deliberative and legislative body responsible for local governance The Scottish Parliament is responsible for devolved matters such as education health and justice while reserved matters are dealt with by the Parliament of the United Kingdom 62 Westminster Edit The town forms part of the burgh constituency of Airdrie and Shotts electing one Member of Parliament MP to the House of Commons In 2005 changes to the constituency boundaries saw part of its area transferred to Motherwell and Wishaw offset by the addition of part of Hamilton North and Bellshill 63 The location has been represented by several prominent Labour MPs in recent years John Smith MP for North Lanarkshire 1970 1983 and Monklands East 1983 1994 Eastern Coatbridge and Airdrie area Former Shadow Chancellor and then leader of the Labour Party until his untimely death in 1994 64 Helen Liddell MP for Monklands East 1994 1997 Airdrie and Shotts 1997 2005 Secretary of State for Scotland and subsequently Britain s High Commissioner to Australia 65 John Reid MP for Airdrie and Shotts 2005 2010 a high profile minister including as the first Roman Catholic to be appointed Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 66 The current MP for the constituency is the Scottish National Party s Anum Qaisar 67 Scottish Parliament Edit For the purposes of the Scottish Parliament Airdrie forms part of the Airdrie and Shotts constituency This has slightly different boundaries from those of the UK Parliament constituency of the same name The current Member of the Scottish Parliament MSP for Airdrie and Shotts is Neil Grey MSP Scottish National Party who won this seat in 2021 68 In addition to this Airdrie is represented by seven regional MSPs from the Central Scotland electoral region 69 European Parliament Edit Before Brexit it was part of the Scotland European Parliament constituency Local government Edit Up until 1975 Airdrie had its own Burgh Council Between 1975 and 1996 Airdrie came under Monklands District Council operating in conjunction with Strathclyde Regional Council Monklands District Council was headquartered in the Coatbridge Municipal Building Many Airdrieonians felt short changed by MDC s actions and a significant political scandal known as Monklandsgate greatly tarnished the council s reputation After 1996 it came under the authority of the unitary North Lanarkshire Council North Lanarkshire has many councillors currently the council is in control of the Labour group and the leader of the council is Jim Logue councillor for Airdrie Central 70 Law EditPolice Edit Burgh of Airdrie Police helmet badge Victorian Crown pre 1902 Policing in Airdrie is undertaken by Police Scotland Airdrie is part of Coatbridge Area Command 71 with Chief Inspector Kenny MacLeod as the Area Commander Airdrie also forms part of NA or Monklands sub division which includes Coatbridge and the surrounding area There is one police office in Airdrie and this is open 24 hours 72 Sheriff Court Edit Airdrie Sheriff Court provides a comprehensive local court service for the area including civil actions and criminal cases It is administered by the Scottish Court Service and part of the South Strathclyde Dumfries and Galloway Sheriffdom headed by a Sheriff Principal Other Edit The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service responsible for the prosecution of crime in Scotland maintains an office in the town directly opposite the Court The Airdrie Hearing Centre holds Children s Hearings within the town The centre is part of the Central West Region of the Scottish Children s Reporter Administration Economy EditOverview Edit As outlined in the history section Airdrie s traditional economic activities of weaving coal mining and heavy industry have ceased to exist Although the Glenflagler Distillery is now closed the town still retains a strong involvement in the whisky industry Airdrie was also home to a Crimpy Crisps factory Given its location near to Glasgow and other commercial or industrial areas Airdrie might now be considered something of a commuter town In fact housing construction in Airdrie has been very prominent in recent years with builders developing a number of brownfield sites following the closure of various factories such as Boots who closed their factory in 2004 Nonetheless it does retain significant economic activity Notable employers Edit Albert Bartlett amp Sons a supplier of root vegetables in the UK The Bartlett brothers Alan 52 and Ronnie 44 are jointly ranked in The Sunday Times Rich List 2008 as the 63rd richest persons in Scotland and the 969th richest persons in the UK with a worth valued at 80 million 73 Inver House Distillers Limited headquarters and warehousing in Airdrie Products include Old Pulteney Balblair Heather Cream and Coldstream Gin Former notable employers Edit Teleperformance a telesales and technical support company Ceased operation December 2021 74 There are two trading estates in the town Brownsburn Industrial Estate and Osprey Trade Park Demography EditHistorical records of Airdrie s population are available from the 18th 75 the early decades of the 19th century 34 and into the early 20th century 76 According to the 2001 Census 77 Airdrie s population of 36 326 was 47 31 male 52 69 female 20 7 were under 16 16 67 were pensioners 46 61 were married first marriage 29 81 were single 95 74 were born in Scotland or described their nationality as Scottish 0 42 spoke Gaelic Religion EditChristian Church of Scotland Airdrie s Church of Scotland churches are part of the Presbytery of Hamilton Cairnlea Church Cairnlea Church formed by the amalgamation of Broomknoll Church and Flowerhill Church in 2016 and housed in the former Flowerhill building 1875 Clarkston Church 1837 High Church Jackson Church New Monkland Parish Church bef 1698 In nearby Glenmavis New Wellwynd 1834 St Columba s Church Saint Andrews Chapel Roman Catholic Church Airdrie s Roman Catholic churches are immediately governed by the Diocese of Motherwell currently led by Bishop Joseph Toal The Bishops Conference of Scotland effectively the Church s headquarters in Scotland is situated in Airdrie St Andrew s Church Whinhall St Edward s Church Gartlea St Margaret s Church Airdrie centre St Serf s Church Rawyards Pilgrim Congregational Church Congregational Church Airdrie s Congregational churches are associated with the Congregational Federation Coatdyke Church Ebenezer Church Broomknoll Street 1882 Pilgrim ChurchOther Airdrie Reformed Presbyterian Church 1838 Airdrie Baptist Church 1843 part of the Baptist Union of Scotland Airdrie Islamic Centre mosque part of the UK Islamic Mission Airdrie Park part of the United Reformed Church Airdrie Reformed Presbyterian Church part of the Reformed Presbyterian Church of Scotland which is largely headquartered in Airdrie The Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints Chapel Ebenezer Church Aitchison Street Evangelical Church Airdrie s Evangelical churches are Brethren and associated with the Evangelical Alliance Jehovah s Witnesses Kingdom Hall The Salvation Army Airdrie Corps St Andrew s Hospice operated by the Sisters of Charity St Paul amp St John the Baptist part of the Scottish Episcopal Church governed by the Diocese of Glasgow and Galloway Transport EditAirdrie railway station is on the electrified North Clyde Line This railway provides a frequent train service to Glasgow via Coatbridge Sunnyside and Easterhouse In 2010 the Airdrie Bathgate rail link re opened providing Airdrie with a direct commuter train service to Bathgate Livingston North and Edinburgh Waverley Drumgelloch railway station serves the eastern end of the town Including the satellite village of Caldercruix Airdrie is served by four stations Caldercruix Drumgelloch Airdrie and Coatdyke on the border of Airdrie and Coatbridge Airdrie has road links to Glasgow Edinburgh Livingston Motherwell and Cumbernauld and is situated close to the M8 motorway Bus services are largely undertaken by local operators and links to Glasgow are provided by First Glasgow and McGills McGill s took over most of the local companies in 2016 to form its Monklands network in Go Zone 8 The services link all the local neighbourhoods with longer distance services e g the 212 from Coatbridge Caldercruix via Airdrie and Plains or the 247 from Monklands Hospital Kirkintilloch via Airdrie Glenmavis Cumbernauld and Blackwood Airdrie is connected to the UK National Cycle Network by National Cycle Route 75 This route provides a path between Glasgow and Edinburgh According to the Sustrans website there is currently a gap in the National Cycle Network route at Devol Glen Port Glasgow 78 Other than the Sustrans path there are no cycle lanes in Airdrie Historical transport links include Monkland Canal 1794 commenced by James Watt Airdrie and Coatbridge Tramways Ballochney Railway 1828 Monkland and Kirkintilloch Railway 1826 Slamannan Railway Monkland Railways formed in 1848 by the merger of the aforesaid local coal railways Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway North British Railway Caledonian Railway London and North Eastern Railway LNER London Midland and Scottish Railway British Railways British Rail Scottish Region of British RailwaysHealthcare Edit Monklands District General Hospital with the medical tower the surgical tower and the A amp E entrance Weaver s Cottage Airdrie is home to Monklands District General Hospital with a 24 hour Accident amp Emergency department 79 Adjacent to Monklands Hospital is Maggie s Lanarkshire part of the Maggie s Centres cancer support charity 80 Education EditThe following are the secondary schools all of which are run by North Lanarkshire Council 81 Airdrie Academy Airdrie Academy Non denominational co educational comprehensive school Caldervale High Non denominational co educational comprehensive school St Margaret s High Roman Catholic co educational comprehensive schoolInternational relations EditTwin towns sister cities Edit Arnhem Gelderland Netherlands Fussen Bavaria GermanyNotable people EditAnton Danyluk Love Island 2019 participant Ian Aitken political journalist Bill Adam racing driver Joe Allen painter Ian Bannen actor 82 John Carmichael soldier and recipient of the Victoria Cross Reece Clarke ballet dancer John Craig geologist and lexicographer Paul Craig Mixed Martial Artist Leo Cushley Roman Catholic archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh William Whigham Fletcher biologist Hugh de Largie Australian politician The Big Dish pop rock band Ryan Dalziel racing driver Ross Davidson actor Nathan Evans singer Emily Gerard writer whose works inspired Bram Stoker s Dracula and coined the term Nosferatu John Graham 1st Viscount of Dundee also known as Bluidy Clavers and Bonnie Dundee Royalist and Jacobite soldier Walker Hamilton writer Dee Hepburn actress best known for her role in Gregory s Girl David Keenan writer musician Jim Lambie Turner Prize nominated artist David Ross Lauder soldier and recipient of the Victoria Cross Jason Leitch National Clinical Director for Scotland Dux of Airdrie Academy Sir George G Macfarlane engineer scientific administrator and public servant Alesha MacPhail murder victim John O Neill soldier and recipient of the Victoria Cross James Bell Pettigrew William Robinson swimmer won silver in the Men s 200 metre Breaststroke at the 1908 Olympics in London Jim Traynor sports broadcaster and journalist Sir John Wilson Baronet Wilson Baronetcy of Airdrie which continues today with the 5th Baronet Amanda Hendrick high fashion model Grant Harrold broadcaster and former Royal butler to HRH Prince Charles and The Duchess of Cornwall Kenny Williams Scottish professional wrestler with Insane Championship WrestlingFootballers Edit John Armstrong Barry Bannan Dick Black George Brown Jackie Campbell Sandy Clark Bobby Cumming Torrance Gillick Dick Hendrie Drew Jarvie Alan Lawrence Nicknamed Nipper Brian McClair Bob McFarlane John McGregor Ian McMillan Robert Main Alan Morton Nicknamed The Wee Blue Devil Billy Neil Olympian Ally Roy Matthew Scott Gardner Speirs James White Martin WoodsClimate EditClimate data for Airdrie United KingdomMonth Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec YearRecord high C F 15 56 17 55 19 59 23 75 27 81 29 85 30 86 31 88 25 78 21 70 15 59 13 57 31 88 Average high C F 6 43 6 44 8 47 11 52 15 59 17 63 18 66 18 65 15 60 12 54 8 48 6 44 12 54 Average low C F 1 34 1 34 2 36 3 38 6 43 8 48 11 52 10 51 8 47 5 42 2 37 1 35 5 41 Record low C F 17 1 12 9 8 16 4 24 3 25 0 33 3 38 1 35 2 27 7 19 10 14 17 1 17 1 Average precipitation mm inches 86 9 3 42 79 3 11 74 4 2 93 46 5 1 83 33 5 1 32 38 6 1 52 49 5 1 95 52 6 2 07 56 6 2 23 84 8 3 34 84 8 2 62 74 9 2 95 762 1 30 Source Weatherbase 83 See also EditList of places in North LanarkshireSources EditBegg E and Rich D 1991 On the Trail of Merlin ISBN 0 85030 939 5 Geddes C M 1995 Airdrie 300 A Souvenir Brochure Motherwell Monklands Library Services ISBN 0 946120 29 3 Hutton G 1997 Lanarkshire s Mining Legacy Catrine Stenlake Publishing ISBN 1 84033 015 5 McCutcheon C 1994 Old Airdrie Catrine Stenlake Publishing ISBN 1 872074 34 0 Moir H 2001 Airdrie Stroud Tempus Publishing Ltd ISBN 0 7524 2368 1 Scobbie J K 1985 Book of Airdrie Motherwell Monklands Library Services ISBN 0 946120 08 0 Wilson R 1997 Old Airdrie Villages Catrine Stenlake Publishing ISBN 1 84033 004 XReferences Edit Mid 2020 Population Estimates for Settlements and Localities in Scotland National Records of Scotland 31 March 2022 Retrieved 31 March 2022 Ainmean Aite na h Alba Gaelic Place Names of Scotland Archived from the original on 24 September 2015 Retrieved 25 October 2011 Key Facts 2016 Demography North Lanarkshire Council Archived from the original on 4 January 2018 Retrieved 3 January 2018 Estimated population of localities by broad age groups mid 2012 PDF Nrscotland gov uk Retrieved 3 January 2018 Not including outlying villages Calderbank Caldercruix Chapelhall Glenmavis Greengairs Plains and Wattston which are recorded separately Locality and settlement population 2016 North Lanarkshire Council Retrieved 21 September 2019 Drummond Peter John 2014 An analysis of toponyms and toponymic patterns in eight parishes of the upper Kelvin basin PDF Glasgow Glasgow University p 322 Retrieved 3 July 2017 Oxenham William 2005 Welsh Origins of Scottish Place Names Llanrwst Gwasg Carreg Gwalch p 97 ISBN 0 86381 957 5 Electoral Ward Airdrie North Scottish Government Statistics Electoral Ward Airdrie Central Scottish Government Statistics Electoral Ward Airdrie South Scottish Government Statistics Blaeu Joan Glottiana Praefectura Inferior National Library of Scotland Retrieved 30 December 2017 Glasgow and the county of Lanark Pont 34 Maps of Scotland Timothy Pont 16th century Retrieved 31 December 2017 Airdrie Heraldry of the World Retrieved 5 January 2018 Chalmers George 1887 Caledonia or a historical and topographical account of North Britain from the most ancient to the present times with a dictionary of places chorographical amp philological Vol 1 ed Paisley Gardner p 246 Retrieved 5 January 2018 Skene William Forbes 1868 Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland Vol VI ed Edinburgh Neill and Co pp 91 98 Retrieved 5 January 2018 a b c Knox James Sir 1921 Airdrie a historical sketch Airdrie Baird amp Hamilton p 3 Retrieved 4 January 2018 Airdrie Monklands Memories Archived from the original on 11 January 2015 Retrieved 4 January 2018 Banner headline for Covenanters The Scotsman 19 February 2002 Retrieved 8 October 2022 1986 AIRDRIE AN OPEN AIR MARKET Domesday Reloaded BBC Retrieved 5 January 2018 Knox James Sir 1921 Airdrie a historical sketch Airdrie Baird amp Hamilton pp 73 85 Retrieved 4 January 2018 Airdrie Improvement Act 1821 Vlex Retrieved 8 October 2022 Knox James Sir 1921 Airdrie a historical sketch Airdrie Baird amp Hamilton p 63 Retrieved 4 January 2018 a b Historic Environment Scotland Bank Street The Townhouse LB20926 Retrieved 29 March 2021 Knox James Sir 1921 Airdrie a historical sketch Airdrie Baird amp Hamilton p 72 Retrieved 4 January 2018 O S Map with zoom and Bing overlay National Library of Scotland Ordnance Survey Retrieved 30 December 2017 Mort Frederick 1910 Lanarkshire Cambridge Cambridge University Press p 151 Retrieved 4 January 2018 Knox James Sir 1921 Airdrie a historical sketch Airdrie Baird amp Hamilton pp 117 119 Retrieved 4 January 2018 Knox James Sir 1921 Airdrie a historical sketch Airdrie Baird amp Hamilton pp 110 112 Retrieved 4 January 2018 Knox James Sir 1921 Airdrie a historical sketch Airdrie Baird amp Hamilton pp 125 129 Retrieved 4 January 2018 Groome Francis Hindes 1882 Ordnance gazetteer of Scotland a survey of Scottish topography statistical biographical and historical Vol 1 ed Edinburgh T C Jack p 36 Retrieved 5 January 2018 Knox James Sir 1921 Airdrie a historical sketch Airdrie Baird amp Hamilton pp 150 151 Retrieved 4 January 2018 About us Airdrie Golf Club Retrieved 8 October 2022 a b Begg James 1845 The new statistical account of Scotland Vol 6 ed Edinburgh and London William Blackwood and Sons pp 244 245 Retrieved 3 January 2018 Knox James Sir 1921 Airdrie a historical sketch Airdrie Baird amp Hamilton pp 112 116 Retrieved 4 January 2018 Knox James Sir 1921 Airdrie a historical sketch Airdrie Baird amp Hamilton pp 120 121 Retrieved 4 January 2018 Historic Environment Scotland Stirling Street Sir John Wilson Town Hall Including Gatepiers LB20947 Retrieved 29 March 2021 Stanrigg 9th July 1918 Scottish Mining Website Retrieved 12 May 2017 Gray Alastair 1989 A History of Scotland in Modern Times Oxford University Press p 66 ISBN 978 0 19 917063 0 Call to retain Airdrie Arts Centre for community use Daily Record 18 January 2012 Retrieved 15 April 2021 Airdrie Arts Centre Theatres Trust Database theatrestrust org uk Retrieved 4 June 2022 Airdrie ROC Post Subterranea Britannica subbrit org uk Retrieved 10 October 2022 HoC 11th Dec 1970 Hansard Retrieved 29 August 2009 List of Mod s places for each year on Sabhal Mor Ostaig website About us Airdrie amp District Angling Club Retrieved 8 October 2022 About us Airdrie Harriers Retrieved 8 October 2022 New Airdrie will honour debts BBC 14 June 2002 Archived from the original on 15 March 2004 Retrieved 5 December 2010 Airdrie United change name to Airdrieonians following Scottish FA approval STV News 3 June 2013 Archived from the original on 10 November 2013 Retrieved 3 June 2013 Airdrie Golf Club website Airdrie Golf Club About us Monklands Sporting Car Club Retrieved 8 October 2022 About us Waysiders Drumpellier RFC Retrieved 8 October 2022 Monklands Sailing Club Go Sail Retrieved 8 October 2022 Springwells Lawn Tennis Club Sports Pros Connect Retrieved 8 October 2022 Historic Environment Scotland Wellwynd Airdrie Public Library LB20950 Retrieved 8 October 2022 Airdrie Observatory Culture NL Retrieved 20 July 2021 Black Hill transmitter to start switching off analogue BBC News 29 February 2012 Retrieved 4 April 2021 Airdrie Imperial War Museum Retrieved 8 October 2022 Guthrie Hutton Monkland the Canal that Made Money Richard Stenlake Ochiltree 1993 ISBN 1 872074 28 6 About us New Monkland and Greengairs Parish Church Retrieved 8 October 2022 Historic Environment Scotland Wallacestone Wallace s Stone 47907 Canmore Retrieved 8 October 2022 Our staff Moira Anderson Foundation Retrieved 8 October 2022 Reserved and devolved matters Scotland Office Archived from the original on 4 October 2006 Retrieved 14 November 2006 The Parliamentary Constituencies Scotland Order 2005 Legislation gov uk Retrieved 31 December 2011 Stuart Mark John Smith A Life London Politico s 2005 p 63 Helen Liddell Appointed to Transport Minister Post Local Government Chronicle 19 May 1999 Former Airdrie MP John Reid takes seat in House of Lords Daily Record 4 August 2010 Retrieved 8 October 2022 Ms Anum Qaisar members parliament uk UK Parliament Archived from the original on 21 November 2021 Retrieved 21 November 2021 Neil Grey Scottish Parliament Retrieved 8 October 2022 Paterson Colin 6 May 2011 Scottish Election 2011 Seven MSPs on Central Scotland list Airdrie amp Coatbridge Advertiser Archived from the original on 17 June 2013 Retrieved 10 August 2013 Member and Committee Information North Lanarkshire Council 24 August 2009 Retrieved 6 August 2016 Police Scotland Coatbridge Area Command Scotland police uk Retrieved 4 June 2022 Airdrie Police Station Scotland police uk Retrieved 4 June 2022 The Bartlett brothers entry in The Sunday Times Rich List 2008 The Times London 27 April 2008 Archived from the original on 12 June 2011 Retrieved 28 January 2009 Tonner Judith 25 March 2021 Teleperformance to close Airdrie contact centre base Daily Record Retrieved 4 June 2022 Mack William 1791 The statistical account of Scotland Drawn up from the communications of the ministers of the different parishes Vol VII number XXV ed Edinburgh William Creech pp 276 277 Retrieved 4 January 2018 Knox James Sir 1921 Airdrie a historical sketch Airdrie Baird amp Hamilton p 189 Retrieved 4 January 2018 Profile of Airdrie from Scotland s Census 2001 scrol gov uk Archived from the original on 25 March 2009 Retrieved 28 January 2009 Route 75 Sustrans Retrieved 7 January 2018 Monklands Hospital NHS Lanarkshire Retrieved 29 August 2009 Architecture and design Maggie s Lanarkshire Retrieved 9 October 2022 Schools in Aidrie Schools Search Retrieved 9 October 2022 Ian Bannen The Guardian 5 November 1999 Retrieved 17 September 2022 Historical Weather for Airdrie Scotland United Kingdom Weatherbase Retrieved 23 March 2010 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Airdrie North Lanarkshire Airdrie web page The Airdrie page no longer maintained A collection of historic maps of Airdrie from the 1830s onward at National Library of Scotland Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Airdrie North Lanarkshire amp oldid 1148557692, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

article

, read, download, free, free download, mp3, video, mp4, 3gp, jpg, jpeg, gif, png, picture, music, song, movie, book, game, games.