Langholm
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Langholm
| |
|---|---|
 Langholm and the River Esk | |
| Population | 2,311 (2001) |
| Language | English Southern Scots |
| OS grid reference | NY364847 |
| Council area | |
| Lieutenancy area | |
| Country | Scotland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | LANGHOLM |
| Postcode district | DG13 |
| Dialling code | 013873 |
| Police | Scotland |
| Fire | Scottish |
| Ambulance | Scottish |
| UK Parliament | |
| Scottish Parliament | |
Langholm /ˈlæŋəm/, also known colloquially as the "Muckle Toun", is a burgh in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland, on the River Esk and the A7 road.
History
The town grew around the textile industry, but is now best known as the birthplace of Hugh MacDiarmid and Thomas Telford. The population in 2001 was 2,311.
The town was an important centre for the Border Reivers.
Transport
A branch of the Carlisle to Hawick railway line to Langholm was completed in 1864, but closed 100 years later. The last regular passenger train was on 13 June 1964, although a special ran in March 1967 - complete with restaurant car; the freight service continued until September 1967. The X95/95 bus line runs through Langholm. The A7 road runs through the town.
Education
Langholm Academy is a combined primary and secondary school.
Sport
In 1858 Langholm Cricket Club was founded. The club play their matches on the picturesque Castleholm Ground. They currently play their matches in the Border League, finishing mid table for the 2009 season. The 2010 season started against Gala at home on 24 April.
In 1871, Langholm RFC was founded, being the oldest Rugby club in the Borders. Langholm RFC play in Scottish National League Division 1 and in the Border League.
Langholm also has a minor football team, Langholm Legion, who also play on the Castleholm
The town also has a karate club, Langholm Shotokan Karate Club, which is part of the JKS Scotland.
Arts & leisure
The unused Episcopalian church on the Castle Holm in the burgh has been converted into the Armstrong clan museum.
The town is home to a music and arts festival, a food festival and the Langholm walks.
Each year many visitors come for the annual Common Riding, which takes place on the last Friday of July.
Langholm has both a pipe band and a brass band (known as the Town Band - or colloquially as The Toon Ban'). The Town Band is the oldest surviving brass band in Scotland.
The town is also home to the Eskdale and Liddesdale Archaeological Society.
There is also an active Archive Group with a steadily increasing collection of information, much now on-line.[1]
The Roman Catholic church of St Francis of Assisi closed in 2010,[2] and is now a fine art gallery.[3]
Geography
Langholm is surrounded by four hills. The highest is 300m Whita hill, on which stands an impressive obelisk (locally known as 'The Monument') commemorating the life and achievements of Sir John Malcolm (1769‑1833), the distinguished soldier, statesman, and historian.
The others are Warblaw (in Langholm it is pronounced Warbla), Meikleholmhill (a knowe of which is known as 'Tinpin') and the Castle Hill.
Press
The local newspaper is the Eskdale & Liddesdale Advertiser, which is part of the CN Group Ltd. The paper covers news from Langholm and its surrounding areas (notably Canonbie & Newcastleton) and is commonly referred to locally as 'The Squeak'. Established in 1848, the newspaper was the first penny newspaper in Scotland.
Industry
Langholm has long been home to a thriving woollen milling trade and at one stage there were 22 mills in the town. There has been consolidation and closure since then, but many people still earn their living in the trade. The Edinburgh Woollen Mill, seen on many a high street, is based in Langholm.
Another local business is Border Fine Arts, set up in the early 1970s. It makes figurines of local wildlife, each one hand painted by local people. The company trades around the world.
Notable people
In 1972, astronaut Neil Armstrong, a descendant of the clan, was welcomed to the town, and made the first freeman of the burgh. He happily declared the town his home:
- “My pleasure is not only that this is the land of Johnnie Armstrong, rather that my pleasure is in knowing that this is my home town and in the genuine feeling that I have among these hills among these people.” [4]
The BBC [3] have a video clip of the visit.
Langholm is the traditional seat of Clan Armstrong, which is currently represented globally by the official Clan Armstrong Trust. Home of the Clan Armstrong line is Gilnockie Tower 2.3 km (1.4 mi) north of Canonbie.
Langholm is also home of Christopher Murray Grieve (known as Hugh Macdiarmid), the Scottish poet, who was a leading light in the Scottish Renaissance of the 20th century. Unusually for a communist, he was a committed Scottish nationalist and wrote both in English and in literary Scots. The town is home to a monument in his honour made of COR-TEN(r) steel which takes the form of a large open book depicting images from his writings.
The first female corporate member of the Institution of Civil Engineers, Dorothy Donaldson Buchanan, was born and raised in Langholm, daughter of Rev. James Donaldson Buchanan, the longtime minister in Langholm Parish.
General
There is a Legend in Langholm amongst the Younger Population of a Headless Horseman, who roams the woods near Meikleholm Side. Many "Expeditions" were taken out by the children in the past to find it however no proof could be found of such a ghost. Stories also are told of a wild horse running down "Jimmy's Brae" with no rider and mysterious hoof prints appearing where there shouldn't be.
The 'Langholm Project' or 'Langholm Study' is a reference to the Joint Raptor Study, a scientific study undertaken in the 1990s on Langholm Moor into the effects of raptors on red grouse populations. This was a large scale project involving a range of organisations including Game Conservancy Trust, CEH (or ITE as they were then known) and Buccleuch estates. The project was followed by a two-year study on the effects of supplementary feeding of harriers, which ended in 1999. The findings of the study and the effect on the moor have been the subject of much debate. In 2007 the Scottish Government announced a further 10-year project with the following aims:
- aim to establish a commercially viable driven grouse moor. Within the time frame of the project, it is the intention to sell driven grouse days producing an annual income in excess of £100,000.
- aim to restore an important site for nature conservation to favourable condition
- seek to demonstrate whether the needs of an economically viable grouse moor can be met alongside the conservation needs of protected raptors, especially the hen harrier.
This more recent study is officially titled The Langholm Moor Demonstration Project, but like its predecessor it is generally known as 'the Langholm Project'. The current project is a joint venture between Buccleuch Estates, Scottish Natural Heritage, Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust, RSPB and Natural England.
References
External links
- Langholm Cricket Club
- Langholm Online
- The Langholm Walks and Walking Festival
- Search the local paper archive
- The Buccleuch Centre
- The Eskdale & Liddesdale Advertiser
- 2007 Press release regarding new Raptor and Grouse project
- The Langholm Page
- The Langholm Project
- Centre Stage Youth Theatre
- Video of Langholm from the Air