Leadhills
Encyclopedia
Leadhills is a village in South Lanarkshire
, Scotland
, 5¾ miles WSW of Elvanfoot. Population (1901) 835. Originally known as Waterhead, It is the second highest village in Scotland after Wanlockhead
, lying 395m (1295ft) above sea-level, near the source of Glengonnar Water, an affluent of the River Clyde
. The village is neat and well built, and contains a masonic hall, village hall and shop.
Library, or The Leadhills Reading Society, houses an extensive antiquarian book collection, local relics, records and minerals. The library is the oldest subscription library in Britain and is of significant historical and geological importance. The library is open from May to September on weekends, Wednesdays and bank holidays, between 2pm and 4 pm.
The Grouse Moors cover in excess of 11000 acres (44.5 km²) around Leadhills and are considered to be amongst the finest in Scotland.
Leadhills Golf Course is the highest in Scotland. This nine hole course offers considerable challenge as the winds can be high and unpredictable as they are channelled between the hills.
The Grave of John Taylor is also available to visit in the cemetery. Reputed to be 137 years of age at the time of his death, John Taylor's grave (shared with his son, Robert) even attracted the attention of the BBC.
The Leadhills & Wanlockhead Railway runs at weekends only, and at Christmas sees the Santa Express, which includes a ride on the train, a visit to Santa down the Lead
mine, and a story read by Mrs Kringle in the Museum of Lead Mining, Wanlockhead. The Elvanfoot railway station was on the Caledonian Railway
main line from Glasgow
to the south. A branch from there ran through Leadhills to Wanlockhead and operated until 1939. Part of the route has been reused by the Leadhills & Wanlockhead Railway. The railway is 1498 feet (456.6 m) above sea level.
and silver
have been mined here and at Wanlockhead, 1½ miles south west, for many centuries, according to some authorities even in Roman days. Gold
was discovered in the reign of James IV
, but though it is said then to have provided employment for 300 persons, its mining has long ceased to be profitable.
The mineral
s lanarkite
, leadhillite
, caledonite
, susannite, plattnerite
, scotlandite, macphersonite, chenite and mattheddleite were first found at Leadhills.
at the northeast of the village features an unusual tablestone inscription (next to the southern wall) detailing almost as an afterthought the age of one hundred and thirty seven years as being the age at death of the lair owner's father.
(1763-1831), one of the earliest adaptors of the steam engine to the purposes of navigation, were born at Leadhills.
and Scotland, Leadhills experiences a maritime climate with cool summers and mild winters. In terms of the local climate profile, given its elevated position, Leadhills is amongst the coldest places of its size in the British Isles. With regard to daytime temperatures it is, on average, actually marginally colder than the commonly regarded coldest settlement of Braemar. (Although Braemar is still coldest in terms of absolute minima) - This relative daytime cold can be reversed during cold clear nights due to its elevated, exposed position limiting the pooling of cold air. This results in absolute minima being higher than one might expect for such a location - the December absolute minimum of -15.0 C compares favourably to usually milder Glasgow Airport's absolute minimum of -20.0 C.
South Lanarkshire
South Lanarkshire is one of 32 unitary council areas of Scotland, covering the southern part of the former county of Lanarkshire. It borders the south-east of the city of Glasgow and contains many of Glasgow's suburbs, commuter towns and smaller villages....
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, 5¾ miles WSW of Elvanfoot. Population (1901) 835. Originally known as Waterhead, It is the second highest village in Scotland after Wanlockhead
Wanlockhead
Wanlockhead is a village in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland nestling in the Lowther Hills one mile south of Leadhills at the head of the Mennock Pass, which forms part of the Southern Uplands...
, lying 395m (1295ft) above sea-level, near the source of Glengonnar Water, an affluent of the River Clyde
River Clyde
The River Clyde is a major river in Scotland. It is the ninth longest river in the United Kingdom, and the third longest in Scotland. Flowing through the major city of Glasgow, it was an important river for shipbuilding and trade in the British Empire....
. The village is neat and well built, and contains a masonic hall, village hall and shop.
Local attractions
The Leadhills Miners' Library, built in 1741 and also known as the Allan RamsayAllan Ramsay (poet)
Allan Ramsay was a Scottish poet , playwright, publisher, librarian and wig-maker.-Life and career:...
Library, or The Leadhills Reading Society, houses an extensive antiquarian book collection, local relics, records and minerals. The library is the oldest subscription library in Britain and is of significant historical and geological importance. The library is open from May to September on weekends, Wednesdays and bank holidays, between 2pm and 4 pm.
The Grouse Moors cover in excess of 11000 acres (44.5 km²) around Leadhills and are considered to be amongst the finest in Scotland.
Leadhills Golf Course is the highest in Scotland. This nine hole course offers considerable challenge as the winds can be high and unpredictable as they are channelled between the hills.
The Grave of John Taylor is also available to visit in the cemetery. Reputed to be 137 years of age at the time of his death, John Taylor's grave (shared with his son, Robert) even attracted the attention of the BBC.
The Leadhills & Wanlockhead Railway runs at weekends only, and at Christmas sees the Santa Express, which includes a ride on the train, a visit to Santa down the Lead
Lead
Lead is a main-group element in the carbon group with the symbol Pb and atomic number 82. Lead is a soft, malleable poor metal. It is also counted as one of the heavy metals. Metallic lead has a bluish-white color after being freshly cut, but it soon tarnishes to a dull grayish color when exposed...
mine, and a story read by Mrs Kringle in the Museum of Lead Mining, Wanlockhead. The Elvanfoot railway station was on the Caledonian Railway
Caledonian Railway
The Caledonian Railway was a major Scottish railway company. It was formed in the early 19th century and it was absorbed almost a century later into the London, Midland and Scottish Railway, in the 1923 railway grouping, by means of the Railways Act 1921...
main line from Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
to the south. A branch from there ran through Leadhills to Wanlockhead and operated until 1939. Part of the route has been reused by the Leadhills & Wanlockhead Railway. The railway is 1498 feet (456.6 m) above sea level.
Business
Leadhills is host to a number of small local businesses ranging from the Leadhills Mining Bear Company, Bear-ly Reminiscent, which sells bears and dolls dressed as miners, and The Leadhills Jam Factory, which sells delicious Leadhills made jams. Other items available are stained glass windows, garden ornaments, jewellrey, postcards and hand-made cards. Many of these items are available at the Leadhills Craft fair, which often runs over a weekend at Christmas, and Doors Open Day, which occurs across the Lanark area.Lodging
Leadhills has numerous holiday homes available to rent for short periods of time, as well at a local Motel; The Hopetoun Arms (Also the local pub); and the B&B, which are situated on Main Street and Ramsay Road.Lead mining
LeadLead
Lead is a main-group element in the carbon group with the symbol Pb and atomic number 82. Lead is a soft, malleable poor metal. It is also counted as one of the heavy metals. Metallic lead has a bluish-white color after being freshly cut, but it soon tarnishes to a dull grayish color when exposed...
and silver
Silver
Silver is a metallic chemical element with the chemical symbol Ag and atomic number 47. A soft, white, lustrous transition metal, it has the highest electrical conductivity of any element and the highest thermal conductivity of any metal...
have been mined here and at Wanlockhead, 1½ miles south west, for many centuries, according to some authorities even in Roman days. Gold
Gold
Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au and an atomic number of 79. Gold is a dense, soft, shiny, malleable and ductile metal. Pure gold has a bright yellow color and luster traditionally considered attractive, which it maintains without oxidizing in air or water. Chemically, gold is a...
was discovered in the reign of James IV
James IV of Scotland
James IV was King of Scots from 11 June 1488 to his death. He is generally regarded as the most successful of the Stewart monarchs of Scotland, but his reign ended with the disastrous defeat at the Battle of Flodden Field, where he became the last monarch from not only Scotland, but also from all...
, but though it is said then to have provided employment for 300 persons, its mining has long ceased to be profitable.
The mineral
Mineral
A mineral is a naturally occurring solid chemical substance formed through biogeochemical processes, having characteristic chemical composition, highly ordered atomic structure, and specific physical properties. By comparison, a rock is an aggregate of minerals and/or mineraloids and does not...
s lanarkite
Lanarkite
Lanarkite is a mineral, a form of lead sulfate with formula Pb2O. It was originally found at Leadhills in the Scottish county of Lanarkshire, hence the name. It forms white or light green, acicular monoclinic prismatic crystals, usually microscopic in size. It is an oxidation product of...
, leadhillite
Leadhillite
Leadhillite is a lead sulfate carbonate hydroxide mineral, often associated with anglesite. It has the formula Pb4SO422.Leadhillite crystallizes in the monoclinic system, but forms pseudo-hexagonal forms due to crystal twinning. It forms transparent to translucent variably colored adamantine crystals...
, caledonite
Caledonite
Caledonite, whose name derives from Caledonia, the historical name of its place of discovery , is a richly colored blue-green sulfate-carbonate mineral of lead and copper with an orthorhombic crystal structure. It is an uncommon mineral found in the oxidized zones of copper-lead...
, susannite, plattnerite
Plattnerite
Plattnerite is an oxide mineral and is the beta crystalline form of lead dioxide , scrutinyite being the other, alpha form. It was first reported in 1845 and named after German mineralogist Karl Friedrich Plattner...
, scotlandite, macphersonite, chenite and mattheddleite were first found at Leadhills.
Cemetery
The cemeteryCemetery
A cemetery is a place in which dead bodies and cremated remains are buried. The term "cemetery" implies that the land is specifically designated as a burying ground. Cemeteries in the Western world are where the final ceremonies of death are observed...
at the northeast of the village features an unusual tablestone inscription (next to the southern wall) detailing almost as an afterthought the age of one hundred and thirty seven years as being the age at death of the lair owner's father.
Notable residents
Allan Ramsay, the poet, and William SymingtonWilliam Symington
William Symington was a Scottish engineer and inventor, and the builder of the first practical steamboat, the Charlotte Dundas.-Early life:...
(1763-1831), one of the earliest adaptors of the steam engine to the purposes of navigation, were born at Leadhills.
Climate
As with the rest of the British IslesBritish Isles
The British Isles are a group of islands off the northwest coast of continental Europe that include the islands of Great Britain and Ireland and over six thousand smaller isles. There are two sovereign states located on the islands: the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and...
and Scotland, Leadhills experiences a maritime climate with cool summers and mild winters. In terms of the local climate profile, given its elevated position, Leadhills is amongst the coldest places of its size in the British Isles. With regard to daytime temperatures it is, on average, actually marginally colder than the commonly regarded coldest settlement of Braemar. (Although Braemar is still coldest in terms of absolute minima) - This relative daytime cold can be reversed during cold clear nights due to its elevated, exposed position limiting the pooling of cold air. This results in absolute minima being higher than one might expect for such a location - the December absolute minimum of -15.0 C compares favourably to usually milder Glasgow Airport's absolute minimum of -20.0 C.
External links
- http://www.madestuff.co.uk - original handmade arts and crafts from the village of Leadhills
- http://www.leadhillsonline.org.uk/
- http://www.gowanbank99.freeserve.co.uk/
- http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/leadhills/leadhills/index.html
- http://www.leadminingmuseum.co.uk/
- http://www.leadhillsrailway.co.uk/
- http://www.lowtherhills.fsnet.co.uk/
- http://www.leadhills.com