Stenhousemuir
Encyclopedia
Stenhousemuir ˈ is a town in the Central Lowlands
of Scotland
. It lies in the Forth Valley within the Falkirk council area
of Scotland
. The town is 2 miles (3.2 km) north-northwest of Falkirk
and directly adjoins to Larbert
in the west. The villages of Carron
and Carronshore
adjoin Stenhousemuir to the east but to a lesser extent. At the 2001 census
, Stenhousemuir had a resident population of 10,351 but according to a 2009 estimate this has been revised to around 10,190 residents.
In 2008, a £15 million town centre development scheme was completed and opened which provides a new civic square, a library and large retailing outlets for Stenhousemuir.
The "stone house" from which the village took its name was a Roman building on the north of the Carron River Valley known in later centuries as Arthur's O'on, i.e. King Arthur
's oven. This building fits the description of the "rotunda tabulata" described by Wace
in his Roman de Brut
of 1155, which may by mistranslation have given rise to the legend of the round table
. It is no longer to be seen, having been demolished to rebuild a dam on the River Carron
by Sir Michael Bruce of Stenhouse in 1743. The stones were swept away in a flood soon after. However, detailed drawings had been made in the 1720s and a replica was made in 1763 to serve as a dovecote on the roof of the stable block of Penicuik
House in Midlothian, and this remains. The site of the original building has been localised to the garden of a modern house on a housing estate, apparently by the American academic Norma Lorre Goodrich (1917–2006).
Stenhousemuir became home to the "Falkirk Tryst" from 1785 - one of the largest gatherings of livestock farmers and buyers from all over Scotland
and beyond. After the decline of the Tryst in Crieff
, the Falkirk Tryst came to be held more frequently, on the second Tuesdays of August, September and October each year. Thomas Gisbourne in his "Essay on Agriculture" described the Tryst in 1849 as "a scene to which Great Britain, perhaps even the whole world, does not afford a parallel". The Trysts continued until the late 19th century.
The town is home to the world famous McCowan’s
toffee factory, established in 1922, who make both traditional toffee and also the popular Wham Bar
and Irn-Bru
and Lippy-Chicks bars.
), a cricket club and a golf club. The Tryst Golf Club, built in 1885, has its clubhouse in Burnhead Road, which is arguably in Larbert
.
The Cricket Club has been in existence since 1876 and has a very long and proud history with many successes in national club cricket. It has also produced a number of international player representing Scotland and had a number of notable cricket professionals playing for the club many of whom are noted internationalists for their respective countries also e.g. Abdul Qadir
.
comes to the site.
There are two churches in the village: nearer the centre of the village is Larbert East Church with its imposing tower, meanwhile one third of a mile to the east of the village centre on the aptly named Church Street is the Stenhouse and Carron church which is smaller but more unique architecturally, designed in 1897 by the firm of John James Burnet
.
The shopping area of Stenhousemuir is currently under renovation, which opened on 29 September 2008. A new library, football pitch and new shops including a 40,000 sq Asda
supermarket will be the essence of the development. A further plan for King Street will begin in 2009.
Central Lowlands
The Central Lowlands or Midland Valley is a geologically defined area of relatively low-lying land in southern Scotland. It consists of a rift valley between the Highland Boundary Fault to the north and the Southern Uplands Fault to the south...
of 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...
. It lies in the Forth Valley within the Falkirk council area
Falkirk (council area)
Falkirk is one of the 32 unitary authority council areas in Scotland. It borders onto North Lanarkshire to the south west, Stirling to the north west, West Lothian to the south east and, across the Firth of Forth to the north east, Fife and Clackmannanshire...
of 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...
. The town is 2 miles (3.2 km) north-northwest of Falkirk
Falkirk
Falkirk is a town in the Central Lowlands of Scotland. It lies in the Forth Valley, almost midway between the two most populous cities of Scotland; north-west of Edinburgh and north-east of Glasgow....
and directly adjoins to Larbert
Larbert
Larbert is a small town in the Falkirk council area of Scotland. The town lies in the Forth Valley above the River Carron which flows from the west. Larbert is 3 miles from the shoreline of the Firth of Forth and 2.5 miles northwest of Falkirk, the main town in the area...
in the west. The villages of Carron
Carron, Falkirk
Carron is a small village within the Falkirk council area of Scotland. The village is situated in the Forth Valley, north of Falkirk, north-west of Grangemouth and south-east of Stenhousemuir. Carron directly adjoins the neighbouring village of Carronshore to the east.The village sits north of...
and Carronshore
Carronshore
Carronshore is a small village in the Falkirk council area of Scotland. The village lies in the Forth Valley, north of the town of Falkirk and directly to the east of neighbouring village Carron.The village sits north of the River Carron....
adjoin Stenhousemuir to the east but to a lesser extent. At the 2001 census
United Kingdom Census 2001
A nationwide census, known as Census 2001, was conducted in the United Kingdom on Sunday, 29 April 2001. This was the 20th UK Census and recorded a resident population of 58,789,194....
, Stenhousemuir had a resident population of 10,351 but according to a 2009 estimate this has been revised to around 10,190 residents.
In 2008, a £15 million town centre development scheme was completed and opened which provides a new civic square, a library and large retailing outlets for Stenhousemuir.
History
King Arthur
King Arthur is a legendary British leader of the late 5th and early 6th centuries, who, according to Medieval histories and romances, led the defence of Britain against Saxon invaders in the early 6th century. The details of Arthur's story are mainly composed of folklore and literary invention, and...
's oven. This building fits the description of the "rotunda tabulata" described by Wace
Wace
Wace was a Norman poet, who was born in Jersey and brought up in mainland Normandy , ending his career as Canon of Bayeux.-Life:...
in his Roman de Brut
Roman de Brut
Roman de Brut or Brut is a verse literary history of Britain by the poet Wace. Written in the Norman language, it consists of 14,866 lines....
of 1155, which may by mistranslation have given rise to the legend of the round table
Round table
A round table is a table which has no "head" and no "sides", and therefore no one person sitting at it is given a privileged position and all are treated as equals. The idea stems from the Arthurian legend about the Knights of the Round Table in Camelot....
. It is no longer to be seen, having been demolished to rebuild a dam on the River Carron
River Carron (Forth)
The River Carron is a river in central Scotland. This river has given its name to towns in Falkirk, a variety of regional features, a type of cannon, a line of bathtubs, two warships and an island in the Southern Hemisphere.-River Carron:The river rises in the Campsie Fells before flowing into...
by Sir Michael Bruce of Stenhouse in 1743. The stones were swept away in a flood soon after. However, detailed drawings had been made in the 1720s and a replica was made in 1763 to serve as a dovecote on the roof of the stable block of Penicuik
Penicuik
Penicuik is a burgh and civil parish in Midlothian, Scotland, lying on the west bank of the River North Esk. The town was developed as a planned village in 1770 by Sir James Clerk of Penicuik. It became a burgh in 1867. The town was well known for its paper mills, the last of which closed in 2005....
House in Midlothian, and this remains. The site of the original building has been localised to the garden of a modern house on a housing estate, apparently by the American academic Norma Lorre Goodrich (1917–2006).
Stenhousemuir became home to the "Falkirk Tryst" from 1785 - one of the largest gatherings of livestock farmers and buyers from all over 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...
and beyond. After the decline of the Tryst in Crieff
Crieff
Crieff is a market town in Perth and Kinross, Scotland. It lies on the A85 road between Perth and Crianlarich and also lies on the A822 between Greenloaning and Aberfeldy. The A822 joins onto the A823 which leads to Dunfermline....
, the Falkirk Tryst came to be held more frequently, on the second Tuesdays of August, September and October each year. Thomas Gisbourne in his "Essay on Agriculture" described the Tryst in 1849 as "a scene to which Great Britain, perhaps even the whole world, does not afford a parallel". The Trysts continued until the late 19th century.
The town is home to the world famous McCowan’s
McCowan’s
- History :McCowan's originally began life as an aerated water business run by Andrew McCowan, His wife attempted to make some extra money on the side by selling toffee from the window of their house in Stenhousemuir. The Toffee proved more successful than the Lemonade and soon became the primary...
toffee factory, established in 1922, who make both traditional toffee and also the popular Wham Bar
Wham Bar
The Wham Bar is a confectionery bar formerly produced by Millar McCowan and sold in the United Kingdom.They are bars of thin, chewy toffee with coloured pieces of sherbet inside. Wham Bars are available in a range of flavours, including Original , Strawberry, Cola, Brew , Extreme Super Sour , Sour...
and Irn-Bru
Irn-Bru
Irn-Bru is a carbonated soft drink produced in Westfield, Cumbernauld, Scotland. It is made by A.G. Barr of Glasgow since moving out of their original Parkhead factory in the mid-1990s and at a second manufacturing site in Mansfield, England...
and Lippy-Chicks bars.
Sports
Stenhousemuir has a football team (Stenhousemuir F.C.Stenhousemuir F.C.
Stenhousemuir FC is a Scottish football club located in Stenhousemuir. The club is a member of the Scottish Football League and currently plays in the Scottish Second Division....
), a cricket club and a golf club. The Tryst Golf Club, built in 1885, has its clubhouse in Burnhead Road, which is arguably in Larbert
Larbert
Larbert is a small town in the Falkirk council area of Scotland. The town lies in the Forth Valley above the River Carron which flows from the west. Larbert is 3 miles from the shoreline of the Firth of Forth and 2.5 miles northwest of Falkirk, the main town in the area...
.
The Cricket Club has been in existence since 1876 and has a very long and proud history with many successes in national club cricket. It has also produced a number of international player representing Scotland and had a number of notable cricket professionals playing for the club many of whom are noted internationalists for their respective countries also e.g. Abdul Qadir
Abdul Qadir (cricketer)
Abdul Qadir Khan is a former Pakistani international cricketer, later commentator and was recently the Chief Selector of Pakistan Cricket Board. He resigned from the post because of his differences with the top brass of Pakistan cricket board...
.
Landmarks
Ochilview Park, McCowan's Toffee Factory, Falkirk Tryst Golf Club and Stenhousemuir Cricket Club are all accessible via Tryst Road, a prominent stretch of road leading North out of the village. The street is so called because it was the site of the annual Tryst. On the anniversary of the Tryst in September each year, a travelling funfairFunfair
A funfair or simply "fair" is a small to medium sized travelling show primarily composed of stalls and other amusements. Larger fairs such as the permanent fairs of cities and seaside resorts might be called a fairground, although technically this should refer to the land where a fair is...
comes to the site.
There are two churches in the village: nearer the centre of the village is Larbert East Church with its imposing tower, meanwhile one third of a mile to the east of the village centre on the aptly named Church Street is the Stenhouse and Carron church which is smaller but more unique architecturally, designed in 1897 by the firm of John James Burnet
John James Burnet
Sir John James Burnet was a Scottish Edwardian architect who was noted for a number of prominent buildings in Glasgow, Scotland and London, England...
.
The shopping area of Stenhousemuir is currently under renovation, which opened on 29 September 2008. A new library, football pitch and new shops including a 40,000 sq Asda
Asda
Asda Stores Ltd is a British supermarket chain which retails food, clothing, general merchandise, toys and financial services. It also has a mobile telephone network, , Asda Mobile...
supermarket will be the essence of the development. A further plan for King Street will begin in 2009.