| East Kilbride | |
| Scottish Gaelic: Cille Bhrìghde an Ear | |
  East Kilbride shown within Scotland |
|
| Population | 73,820 (2004 GRO Scotland Estimate) |
|---|---|
| Council area | South Lanarkshire |
| Lieutenancy area | Lanarkshire |
| Constituent country | Scotland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | GLASGOW |
| Postcode district | G74-75 |
| Dialling code | 01355 & 0141 |
| Police | Strathclyde |
| Fire | Strathclyde |
| Ambulance | Scottish |
| European Parliament | Scotland |
| UK Parliament | East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow CC |
| Scottish Parliament | East Kilbride |
| List of places: UK • Scotland | |
East Kilbride, Scotlands first new town, is a moderately sized suburban town in the south eastern suburbs of the city of Glasgow Scotland. Scottish Gaelic ( Gàidhlig) is a member of the Goidelic branch of Celtic languages. Scotland ( Gaelic: Alba) is a Country in northwest Europethat occupies the northern third of the island of Great Britain. In Biology a population is the collection of inter-breeding organisms of a particular Species; in Sociology For local government purposes Scotland is divided into 32 areas designated as "council areas" which are all governed by unitary authorities designated as South Lanarkshire ( Siorrachd Lannraig a Deas in Gaelic) is one of 32 unitary council areas of Scotland, covering the southern part of the The Lieutenancy areas of Scotland are the areas used for the ceremonial lord-lieutenants, the monarch 's representatives in Scotland. Lanarkshire ( Siorrachd Lannraig in Gaelic) officially the County of Lanark, was formerly a county of Scotland. Constituent country is a phrase used often by official institutions in contexts in which a country makes up a part of a larger entity or grouping Scotland ( Gaelic: Alba) is a Country in northwest Europethat occupies the northern third of the island of Great Britain. This list of sovereign states, alphabetically arranged gives an overview of States around the world with information on the extent of their Sovereignty. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located A post town is a required part of all postal addresses in the United Kingdom, and a basic unit of the postal delivery system UK Postal codes are known as postcodes. UK postcodes are Alphanumeric. The, also known as the Glasgow postcode area, is a group of postal districts around Alexandria, Clydebank, Dumbarton, Glasgow and The UK Telephone numbering plan, also known as the National Telephone Numbering Plan, is the system used for assigning Telephone numbers in the United There are a number of law enforcement agencies in the United Kingdom. Strathclyde Police is the Police force for the Scottish council areas of Argyll and Bute, City of Glasgow, East Ayrshire The fire service in the United Kingdom operates under separate legislative and administrative arrangements in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Strathclyde Fire and Rescue is the Statutory fire and rescue service for the area of Strathclyde, Scotland. SASDivmap copyjpg|right|200px]] Helimed5jpg|thumb|right|EC-135 G-SASA "Helimed 5" based at Glasgow City Heliport]] The Scottish Ambulance Service ( Scottish Scotland constitutes a single Constituency of the European Parliament. This is a list of the 646 constituencies currently represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, as at the 2005 general election East Kilbride Strathaven and Lesmahagow is a County constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which was first The Scottish Parliament ( Scottish Gaelic: Pàrlamaid na h-Alba; Scots: Scottish Pairlament) is the devlolved national unicameral East Kilbride is a constituency of the Scottish Parliament ( Holyrood) A Gazetteer of place names in the United Kingdom showing each place's County, Unitary authority or council area and its geographical coordinates This List of places in Scotland is a complete collection of lists of places in Scotland. A geographic coordinate system enables every location on the Earth to be specified in three coordinates using mainly a spherical coordinate system. Glasgow (ˈglæzgoʊ is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom
East Kilbride is on high ground on the south side of the Cathkin Braes, about (8 miles) south east of Glasgow city centre. The Rotten Calder (River) flows along the east side of East Kilbride, northward toward the River Clyde. The Rotten Calder is a river to the east of East Kilbride, South Lanarkshire, Scotland. The River Clyde ( Gaelic: Abhainn Chluaidh, avɪɲˈxɫ̪uəj is a major River in Scotland.
East Kilbride forms part of the Greater Glasgow conurbation. Greater Glasgow is the Conurbation that includes and surrounds the city of Glasgow in the west of Scotland. East Kilbride has recently replaced Paisley as Scotland's largest town [4], however the difference in population between the two centres is negligible. Paisley (Pàislig is a town and former Burgh in the west- Central Lowlands of Scotland.
Contents |
East Kilbride, New Town
East Kilbride grew from a small village of around 900 inhabitants in 1930 to become eventually a large burgh. Year 1930 ( MCMXXX) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display 1930 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. In 1930 the Scottish Burghs were split into two types large burghs and Small burghs The councils of large burghs had more responsibilities and Behind this growth lay the rapid industrialisation of the nineteenth century which left much of the working population throughout Scotland's central belt from Glasgow to Edinburgh living in the housing stock built at the end of that century but accommodating far more people. The Great War postponed any better housing as did the Treaty of Versailles and the period of post war settlement it created. World War I (abbreviated WWI; also known as the First World War, the Great War, and the War to End All The Treaty of Versailles was one of the peace treaties at the end of World War I. In turn this was followed by the Great Depression. After the Second World War Glasgow already suffering from chronic shortages of housing had to deal with bomb damage from the war. World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including Glasgow (ˈglæzgoʊ is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom
From this unlikely backdrop a new dawn emerged which would bring East Kilbride to its unlikely success.
In 1946 the Greater Glasgow Regional Plan allocated sites where satellite new towns could be constructed to help alleviate the housing shortageoverspill. Glasgow would also undertake the development of its peripheral housing estates. East Kilbride was the first of five Scottish new towns to be designated from 1947 onward. A new town, planned community or planned city is a City, Town, or Community that was carefully planned from its inception and is typically Year 1947 ( MCMXLVII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1947 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The others were Glenrothes 1948, Cumbernauld 1956, Livingston 1962 and Irvine 1964 (Cowling 1997). Glenrothes is a former new town situated in the heart of Fife, in east central Scotland. Year 1948 ( MCMXLVIII) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display the 1948 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Cumbernauld ( Gaelic: Comar nan Allt) is a New town in North Lanarkshire, Scotland. Year 1956 ( MCMLVI) was a Leap year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Livingston is the fourth post-war New town to be built in Scotland, designated in 1962 Year 1962 ( MCMLXII) was a Common year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1962 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Irvine ( Gaelic: Irbhinn) is a coastal New town in North Ayrshire, Scotland. Year 1964 ( MCMLXIV) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the 1964 Gregorian calendar.
East Kilbride is often jokingly referred to by Glaswegians as "Polo Mint City", owing to the high concentration of roundabouts in its road system. Glasgow (ˈglæzgoʊ is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom A roundabout is a type of Road junction at which Traffic enters a one-way stream around a central island The town has been subdivided into residential precincts, each with its own local shops, primary schools and community facilities. The housing precincts surround the town centre which is bound by a ringroad. The town centre is the term used in the United Kingdom, Ireland and mainland Europe to refer to the commercial or Geographical centre of Industrial estates are concentrated at sites to the north, west and south, on the outskirts of the town.
Background & History
The earliest evidence of habitation in the area dates back to ancient graves found near the Kype Water to the south of the district. Roman coins and footwear have also been found in the area.
East Kilbride takes its name from an Irish saint, St Bride (or Brigit) who founded a monastery for nuns and monks in Kildare, Ireland in the 6th century. Kildare ( Cill Dara in modern Irish, originally derived from Cell Dara in Old Irish meaning "Church of the Oak" is a town in County Ireland (pronounced /ˈaɾlənd/ Éire) is the third largest island in Europe, and the twentieth-largest island in the world The 6th century is the period from 501 to 600 in accordance with the Julian calendar in the Christian / Common Era. Irish monks introduced her cult to Scotland. Kil, from the Gaelic cill, means church or burial place. The Goidelic languages, (also sometimes called particularly in colloquial situations the Gaelic languages or collectively Gaelic) historically formed a Dialect
The area of East Kilbride is home to a river valley which, apart from the Avon Gorge, is unique in the way it was formed. A river usually starts off narrow, fast-flowing, with steep cliffs, and in the hills. This is the youth of the river. Later once the river reaches flat land it begins to widen and meander and flow slower. This is the river's middle age. Calderglen is interesting in that it flows fast, has steep cliffs and is fairly narrow (youth stage) but also meanders. The Rotten Calder therefore has its river youth after its middle age, as the river source is on flatter land and is meandering and slow flowing.
Calderglen was in the past celebrated as a picturesque wooded valley. It was the home of a noble family known as the Maxwells of Calderwood who resided in Calderwood Castle. The remnants of Calderwood Castle were demolished in 1955.
The original parish church was located on the site of a pre-Christian sacred well, which is possibly the origin of the association with St. Brigit, since the well was dedicated to the Celtic goddess whose traditions the reverence of St. A parish is a Local church; it is an administrative unit typically found in episcopal or presbyterian churches This article refers to the Pagan Goddess Brigid For the Catholic/Orthodox Saint of that name see Saint Brigid. Brigit has continued. Over the centuries the church has been destroyed and rebuilt several times. As a result its current location deviates from its original site by about 50 m. The original site, and site of the sacred well, ironically lies under a property that was until recently an off-sales/liquor store.
The presence of the oystercatcher bird in the coat of arms could arises because this bird was considered sacred to both St. "Oystercatchers" is also a novel by Susan Fletcher. The oystercatchers are a group of Waders they form the family Brigit and her pre-Christian antecedent or because it was part of the Lindsey family crest - which had local connections
Town Centre & Shopping
The town is occupied by a large shopping centre comprising 6 linked malls, developed in phases. The malls are known by local residents as "The Centre".
The six malls are The Plaza (development started in 1972), Princes Mall (1984), Olympia (1988), Southgate (1989), Princes Square (1997) and Centre West (2003). The shopping centre has come under recent criticism for losing major retail chains in light of rising rental prices. This coupled with the Centre West expansion and decreasing shopper numbers has allowed swathes of properties within the centre to remain closed for months at a time, notably on the first floor of Centre West and the Plaza.
A £400m redevelopment of East Kilbride town centre has been given the go-ahead by South Lanarkshire Council. The plan would demolish some existing buildings to create a new civic centre, a state-of-the-art health centre, a library and shopping facilities [1] [2].
It would also see a "landmark" arts and culture complex with a 1,000-seat theatre, a 500-seat conference centre, a museum and a new town square.
Parking spaces in the town centre would increase from 3,000 to 8,700 spaces. The first stage of the plan could start in 2006, with completion of the major elements in 2012/2013. It is hoped the project - the various phases of which will require full planning permission - will create up to 3,000 temporary jobs over the 10-year construction programme and 2,000 permanent jobs.
The new civic and health facilities would be created at the site currently occupied by Plaza Tower, which would be demolished, with the theatre and arts facilities being created at the adjoining Olympia Centre.
The current civic centre and the adjoining Hunter Health Centre would be demolished to make way for the first phase of development, which would include a major food retail store.
Transport
East Kilbride is connected to Glasgow city centre by bus and rail, there are two main roads connecting East Kilbride with surrounding Suburbs and the city, these being the A726 leading west to Busby and on to Clarkston Toll. The other route being the A749 which runs north into Rutherglen. Rutherglen (pronounced ruh-ther-glen is a town in South Lanarkshire, Scotland. East Kilbride Bus Station, at the shopping centre, was recently rebuilt and provides modern facilities. East Kilbride railway station is situated in the Village. East Kilbride railway station serves the town of East Kilbride, South Lanarkshire, Scotland. Trains depart to Glasgow Central railway station every half hour, with a journey time of 27 minutes. Glasgow Central is the larger of the two present main-line Railway terminals in Glasgow, Scotland, and is managed by Network Rail. The town is also served by Hairmyres railway station. Hairmyres railway station is a railway station in the Hairmyres area of East Kilbride, Glasgow.
East Kilbride's primary bus operator is First Glasgow which provides regular services to the city centre, Cambuslang, Rutherglen, Hamilton, Motherwell and the surrounding area. First Glasgow is the largest bus company serving the Greater Glasgow area in Scotland. Stagecoach West Scotland provide a half-hourly to hourly service to Ayr, McKindless used to provide an hourly service to Wishaw, Carluke and Lanark, and smaller bus operators provide links to other destinations such as Strathaven and Newarthill. Stagecoach West Scotland is an operating Region of Stagecoach UK Bus, comprising of Western Buses Ltd and Stagecoach Glasgow Ltd based in Ayr, Scotland Ayr (Inbhir Àir Mouth of the River Ayr) is a town and port situated on the Firth of Clyde, in south-west Scotland. McKindless is a Scottish bus operator operating a number of bus routes throughout Glasgow and Lanarkshire For the village in England see Wishaw Warwickshire Wishaw ( Scots Wishae) is a large town and former Burgh in The town of Carluke ( Gaelic: Cathair MoLuaig) lies in the heart of the Lanarkshire countryside in South Lanarkshire, Scotland, 5 Lanark is a small town in the Central belt of Scotland. Its population of 8253 makes it the 100th largest settlement in Scotland Strathaven ( Gaelic: Srath Aibhne /stra 'əjnə/ (pronounced Stra'ven, meaning valley of the Avon is a small town in South Lanarkshire,
Similar to other New Towns, the road network within the town is populated by more than 85 roundabouts, Glaswegians jokingly refer to East Kilbride as "polo mint city". A new town, planned community or planned city is a City, Town, or Community that was carefully planned from its inception and is typically
Significant Buildings
Dollan Baths
One of the most significant buildings of an earlier phase of development was Dollan Baths leisure complex (opened 1968) which has Grade A listed status. A roundabout is a type of Road junction at which Traffic enters a one-way stream around a central island Dollan Baths ( Dollan Aqua Centre) is a Grade A listed building in East Kilbride, Scotland. A listed building in the United Kingdom is a building or other structure officially designated as being of special architectural historical or cultural significance
Duncanrig Secondary School
In 1950 Lanarkshire County Council commissioned Basil Spence & Partners to build a new secondary school on a green-field site, nine miles south of Glasgow City Centre. Sir Basil Urwin Spence, OM, OBE, RA, ( 13 August 1907 &ndash 19 November 1976) was a Scottish Opened in September 1956, Duncanrig was the first school built for the new town of East Kilbride. Duncanrig Secondary School, now known as Duncanrig High School, was designed in 1953 by Basil Spence as part of the development of the New town
The internal wall of the two storey foyer was covered with a colourful mural by William Crosbie representing the history of the Clyde.
The School has now been demolished following the opening of the new Duncanrig Secondary School in August 2007.
Hunter House Museum
See below under Famous Residents.
Parks & Sports
East Kilbride Thistle is the town's main football club. (It is the largest town in Scotland without a senior football team. )
East Kilbride RFC, are based at Calderglen Country Park. East Kilbride Rugby Football Club are a Rugby union team from East Kilbride, South Lanarkshire. East Kilbride Lawn Tennis Club is one of the oldest tennis club in Scotland. East Kilbride Lawn Tennis Club (ekltc is a tennis club located at Calderglen Country Park in East Kilbride, Scotland, United Kingdom. East Kilbride Pirates play in the British American Football League. History The Formation (1985 The East Kilbride Pirates were formed in 1985, following a notice appearing in the local newspaper asking any interested parties British American Football League (BAFL is the United Kingdom 's primary American Football league
East Kilbride Cricket Club (http://www.ekcc.org.uk), founded in 1962, is also based at Calderglen Country Park.
East Kilbride Gymnastics Club (http://www.ekgymnastics.com), founded in 1972 by Foster McLean and now based permanantly within Greenhills Sports Centre, Stroud Road, East Kilbride
East Kilbride Ice Figure Skating Club (http://www.ekifsc.co.uk), based within the "Ice Bowl" Ice Rink at East Kilbride Shopping Centre
Athletics in the town is covered by 3 athletics clubs. Whitemoss, East Kilbride and Calderglen. Both Whitemoss and East Kilbride Athletic Club are based at the John Wright Sports centre. East Kilbride Athletic Club ( or EKAC for short is an athletic club based in South Lanarkshire.
Residential Precincts of East Kilbride
Local Government District
| East Kilbride District 1975-96 | |
 |
From 1975 East Kilbride lent its name to a local government district in the Strathclyde region. Year 1975 ( MCMLXXV) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Local government in Scotland is organised through 32 unitary authorities consisting of Councillors elected every four years by registered voters in each of the The regions and districts of Scotland were established under the Local Government (Scotland Act 1973 as a two-tier system of Local government in Scotland. Strathclyde ( Srath Chluaidh in Gaelic, meaning "valley of the River Clyde" is a Historic subdivision of Scotland, and was one of the regional The regions and districts of Scotland were established under the Local Government (Scotland Act 1973 as a two-tier system of Local government in Scotland. In 1996 administrative functions were taken over by the South Lanarkshire unitary council. Year 1996 ( MCMXCVI) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar) South Lanarkshire ( Siorrachd Lannraig a Deas in Gaelic) is one of 32 unitary council areas of Scotland, covering the southern part of the (See: Subdivisions of Scotland)
East Kilbride Constituencies
There is an East Kilbride constituency of the Scottish Parliament. For local government purposes Scotland is divided into 32 areas designated as "council areas" which are all governed by unitary authorities designated as East Kilbride is a constituency of the Scottish Parliament ( Holyrood) Since the opening of the Scottish Parliament, the constituency has been represented by Andy Kerr MSP (Labour). The Scottish Parliament ( Scottish Gaelic: Pàrlamaid na h-Alba; Scots: Scottish Pairlament) is the devlolved national unicameral Andy Kerr (born 17 March 1962, East Kilbride, South Lanarkshire) is a Labour Member of the Scottish Parliament for The Labour Party is a Political party in the United Kingdom. Founded at the start of the 20th century it has been since the 1920s the principal party of the
East Kilbride was formerly a constituency of the UK Parliament. The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative body in the United Kingdom and British overseas territories In 2005 it was replaced by the constituency of East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow. East Kilbride Strathaven and Lesmahagow is a County constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which was first The seat has been held since 1987 by Adam Ingram. Year 1987 ( MCMLXXXVII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link displays 1987 Gregorian calendar) Adam Paterson Ingram (born in Glasgow on 1 February 1947 is a British politician, and Member of Parliament for East Kilbride.
Twin towns
References
- ^ East Kilbride Town Centre redevelopment [1]
- ^ BBC News (2006) New town could get £400m facelift [2]
- ^ BBC News (2008) Roundabouts in East Kilbride [3]
Primary Sources
- Cowling, D (1997) An Essay for Today: the Scottish New Towns 1947-1997 (Rutland Press, Edinburgh)
External links
- East Kilbride Gymnastics Club
- East Ice Figure Skating Club
- East Kilbride Rep Theatre Company
- Interactive picture guide of East Kilbride
- East Kilbride's Shopping Centre
- Business and Community
- Local Theatre Company
- Local Pipe Band
- Community and Local Events
- East Kilbride Thistle Football Club
- Dynamica Drum Corps - Youth band based in East Kilbride
Further interest
New Towns
- "The Disappointing New Towns of Great Britain
- "New Towns: Can They Be Given New Life?"
- "Building Towns for the future"
Dapyx Software network: MP3 Explorer | Ebook Manager | Zenithic