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{{short description|Burgh in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}} {{Use British English|date=May 2025}} {{Infobox UK place | country = Scotland | label_position = left | language = English | language1 = [[Southern Scots]] | official_name = Langholm | scots_name = Langhowm | gaelic_name = Langaim | local_name = ''The Muckle Toon'' | population = {{Scottish locality population|name|POP=Langholm}} | population_ref = ({{Scottish settlement population citation|year}})<ref>{{Scottish settlement population citation}}</ref> | os_grid_reference = NY364847 | coordinates = {{coord|55.152|-2.999|display=inline,title}} | community_scotland = Langholm, Ewes, and Westerkirk | unitary_scotland = [[Dumfries and Galloway]] | lieutenancy_scotland = [[Dumfries]] | constituency_westminster = [[Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale (UK Parliament constituency)|Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale]] | constituency_scottish_parliament = [[Dumfriesshire (Scottish Parliament constituency)|Dumfrieshire]] | post_town = LANGHOLM | postcode_area = DG | postcode_district = DG13 | dial_code = 013873 | static_image_name = Langholm.jpg | static_image_caption = Langholm and the [[River Esk, Dumfries and Galloway|River Esk]] | london_distance = | edinburgh_distance = }} '''Langholm''' {{IPAc-en|Λ|l|Γ¦|Ε|Ιm}}, also known colloquially as the "Muckle Toon", is a [[burgh]] in [[Dumfries and Galloway]], southern Scotland. Langholm lies between four hills in the valley of the [[River Esk, Dumfriesshire|River Esk]] in the [[Southern Uplands]]. ==Location and geography== Langholm sits {{convert|8|mi|km|0|abbr=off}} north of the [[Anglo-Scottish border]] on the [[A7 road (Great Britain)|A7 road]] running between [[Edinburgh]] and [[Carlisle, Cumbria|Carlisle]]. Edinburgh is {{convert|73|mi|km|0|abbr=off}} to the north, [[Newcastleton]] is around {{convert|10|mi|km|0|abbr=off}} to the east and Carlisle {{convert|19|mi|km|0|abbr=off}} to the south.<ref name="lang">[https://www.langholm-online.co.uk/pages/content.asp?PageID=275 Langholm Online]</ref> Langholm is surrounded by four hills in the [[A7 road (Great Britain)|River Esk]] valley within Scotland's wider [[Southern Uplands]]. The highest of the four hills is 300 m high Whita hill on which stands an [[obelisk]] (locally known as 'The Monument'). The Monument commemorates the life and achievements of [[Sir John Malcolm]] (1769–1833), former soldier, statesman, and historian. The other three hills are Warblaw (in Langholm it is pronounced Warbla), Meikleholmhill (a [[Hillock|knowe]] of which is known as 'Timpen') and the Castle Hill. {{clear left}} The two longest B roads in the UK both start (or finish) in Langholm. The B6318 which goes to [[Heddon-on-the-Wall]] and is {{convert|61|mi|km|0|abbr=off}} long, and the B709 which joins the A7 near Heriot after {{convert|58|mi|km|0|abbr=off}}. == History== [[File:The Town Hall, Langholm (geograph 4190172).jpg|thumb|right|[[Langholm Town Hall]]]] [[File:Langholm 09.jpg|thumb|right|Whita hill with its obelisk commemorating [[Sir John Malcolm]], [[List of governors of Bombay|Governor of Bombay]] from 1827 to 1830]] Langholm was founded in 1455 during the [[Battle of Arkinholm]]. A fort at nearby Langholm Castle was occupied by English soldiers during the war known as the [[Rough Wooing]]. [[Thomas Wharton, 1st Baron Wharton|Thomas Wharton]] reported that at the end of April 1543, the soldiers burnt farms at Whitslade in [[Teviotdale]].<ref>Joseph Stevenson, ''Selections from unpublished manuscripts illustrating the reign of Mary Queen of Scotland'' (Glasgow, 1837), p. 1.</ref> There were plans to modify the tower by reducing its height to place artillery.<ref>David Caldwell, Vicky Oleksy, Bess Rhodes, ''The Battle of Pinkie, 1547'' (Oxbow, 2023), pp. 28β31.</ref> [[Regent Arran]] successfully besieged the fort in July 1547 and then travelled to the [[siege of St Andrews Castle]] to meet a French force.<ref>Elizabeth Bonner, 'The recovery of St. Andrews Castle in 1547, French diplomacy in the British Isles', ''EHR'' (June 1996), pp. 583β586, 588β589.</ref> [[Mary of Guise]] had the fort rebuilt in 1556.<ref>[[James Balfour Paul]], ''Accounts of the Treasurer of Scotland'', 10 (Edinburgh, 1913), p. 409: ''HMC The manuscripts of the Duke of Roxburghe'' (London, 1894), pp. 3, 30β31.</ref> 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]] {{convert|4.5|mi|km|0|abbr=off}} south of Langholm and {{convert|1.4|mi|km|0|abbr=off}} north of [[Canonbie]]. The [[Scottish Episcopal Church|Episcopalian]] church on Castle Holm went into disuse before conversion into the Clan Armstrong museum, later moved to Gilnockie Tower. The town was an important centre for the [[Border Reivers]]. In 1759, it won its case in a legal dispute with the [[Henry Scott, 3rd Duke of Buccleuch|Duke of Buccleuch]], winning the right of common over the Kilngreen and Common Moss, a success that led to the establishment of the Langholm Common Riding.<ref>[[Guy Shrubsole|Shrubsole, Guy]] (2024), ''The Lie of the Land: Who Really Cares for the Countryside?'', [[William Collins, Sons|William Collins]], London, p. 59,{{isbn|9780008651770}}</ref> The town later grew around the [[textile]] industry. [[Langholm Town Hall]] was completed in 1813.<ref>{{Historic Environment Scotland|num=LB37122|desc=Town Hall, High Street, Langholm|access-date=21 July 2022}}</ref> In 2020, the local community purchased 5,000 acres (2,000 hectares) of Langholm Moor for Β£3.8m from Buccleuch Estates.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.fwi.co.uk/business/markets-and-trends/land-markets/historic-community-buyout-of-part-of-buccleuch-estate|title=Historic community buyout of part of Buccleuch Estate|date=3 November 2020|website=Farmers Weekly}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thenational.scot/news/18539784.community-land-buyout-buccleuch-estate-looks-doomed/|title=Community land buyout on the Buccleuch Estate looks doomed|website=The National}}</ref> ==Governance== Langholm is in the [[United Kingdom Parliament constituencies|parliamentary constituency]] of [[Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale (UK Parliament constituency)|Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale]], [[David Mundell]] is the current [[Scottish Conservatives|Conservative Party]] [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|Member of Parliament]] (MP). The town is part of the [[South Scotland (Scottish Parliament electoral region)|South Scotland]] [[Scottish Parliament constituencies and regions|region]] in the [[Scottish Parliament]], being in the constituency of [[Dumfriesshire (Scottish Parliament constituency)|Dumfriesshire]]. [[Oliver Mundell]] of the [[Scottish Conservatives|Conservatives]] is the [[Member of the Scottish Parliament|MSP]]. Prior to [[Brexit]] for the [[European Parliament]], Langholm was part of the [[Scotland (European Parliament constituency)|Scotland]] constituency. Langholm is part of the [[Annandale East and Eskdale (ward)|Annandale East and Eskdale]] ward for both [[Dumfries and Galloway Council]], the ward is represented by 3 Councillors. The town is also part of the Dumfriesshire constituency for the [[Scottish Youth Parliament]] and is represented by 2 Members of the Scottish Youth Parliament (MSYPs). ==Notable residents and visitors== [[File:Here comes Langholm.jpg|thumb|"Here comes Langholm, birthplace of [[Hugh Macdiarmid]]."]] ===Christopher Murray Grieve=== Christopher Murray Grieve (known as [[Hugh Macdiarmid]]) was born in Langholm and educated at [[Langholm Academy]]. The Scottish poet and cultural [[Polemic|polemicist]] was a leading light in the [[Scottish Renaissance]] of the 20th century. Unusual for a communist, he was a committed [[Scottish nationalist]] and wrote both in English and in literary [[Scots language|Scots]]. The town is home to a monument in his honour made of [[Weathering steel|COR-TEN(r) steel]], which takes the form of a large open book depicting images from his writings. ===Neil Armstrong=== In 1972, astronaut [[Neil Armstrong]] was welcomed and made the first [[Freedom of the City|freeman]] and Burgess of the [[burgh]].<ref name="hera">{{Cite web|url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/13073067.neil-armstrongs-scots-roots-celebrated-moon-landing-hero-makes-final-journey/|title=Neil Armstrong's Scots roots celebrated as Moon landing hero makes his final journey|website=HeraldScotland}}</ref> The depute town clerk at the time later said, βThe town council had made the approach because this is Armstrong country and we thought it would be appropriate. It turned out that he was coming to Edinburgh to deliver the Mountbatten lecture so he could accept and come to Langholm.β<ref name="scot">{{Cite web|url=https://www.scotsmagazine.com/articles/neil-armstrong-langholm/|title=Mission Toβ¦ Langholm?|first=Lorraine|last=Wilson|date=15 June 2015}}</ref> The ceremony took place at Langholm's largest building of the time, the parish church. With his manner of modest dignity he stated:<ref name="nls">{{Cite web|url=https://movingimage.nls.uk/film/0536|title=Full record for 'NEIL ARMSTRONG IN LANGHOLM' (0536) - Moving Image Archive catalogue|website=movingimage.nls.uk}}</ref><ref name=scot/> {{blockquote|"The most difficult place to be recognised is in one's home town. And I consider this now my home town."}} He also commented: :βMy 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.β<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.scottishtartans.org/education/space_tartans.html|title=Scottish Tartans Museum|website=www.scottishtartans.org}}</ref> He then walked for lunch at Buccleuch Hall. His visit is captured in online video.<ref name="bbcfarem">{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/av/uk-19433405|title=Why Neil Armstrong visited Scottish town|work=BBC News }}</ref><ref name="nabbc70dec">{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/aboutus/wirelesstoweb/decades/index.shtml?decade=70s|title=BBC - Scotland - The Wireless to the Web - Through the Decades|website=www.bbc.co.uk}}</ref><ref name="tynetees">{{Cite web|url=https://vimeo.com/48610124|title=Neil Armstrong in Langholm, Tyne Tees}}</ref><ref name="bbcrem">{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/8158762.stm|title=Recalling Moon man's 'muckle' leap|date=20 July 2009|via=news.bbc.co.uk}}</ref> In coverage by the international press, the ''[[Chicago Tribune]]'''s front-page story included a map of the British Isles marking only [[London]] and Langholm. Armstrong, universally known for his humility<ref name="nasa">{{Cite web|url=http://www.nasa.gov/centers/dryden/Features/neil_armstrong_passing.html|title=Neil Armstrong: 'We have lost a humble giant, but his legacy is forever'|first=NASA|last=Administrator|date=5 June 2013|website=NASA}}</ref> is remembered as having no interest on his visit of boasting of his achievements. Instead he was absorbed in finding out more of his Armstrong heritage and making a connection with the area.<ref name=scot/> ===Others=== The civil engineer and road builder [[Thomas Telford]] was born nearby, and worked in Langholm as an apprentice early in his career. 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. [[David Thomas Richardson]], a [[linguist]] and officer of the [[Bengal Army]] was born in Langholm. Between 1904 and 1913 the composer [[Francis George Scott]] was a teacher at Langholm Academy, where he taught and influenced the young Christopher Murray Grieve. [[Dave Stevenson]], Olympic pole vaulter ([[Athletics at the 1964 Summer Olympics β Men's pole vault|1964 Tokyo Games]]) and businessman, was raised in the burgh and his company was based there.<ref>[https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/local-news/date-set-david-stevenson-freeman-2549210 Date set for David Stevenson Freeman honour], Daily Record, 31 August 2012</ref> ==Economy== [[Edinburgh Woollen Mill]] was founded in Langholm in 1946 by Drew Stevenson, however they moved their headquarters from Langholm to [[Carlisle]] in 2019.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-south-scotland-44239890|title=First minister 'very disappointed' by Edinburgh Woollen Mill move|work=BBC News |date=24 May 2018}}</ref> [[Buccleuch, Scottish Borders|Buccleuch Estates]] have an office in Langholm and own much of the surrounding land.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.buccleuch.com/newsposts/buccleuch-and-langholm-initiative-agreed-historic-buyout/|title=Buccleuch + Langholm initiative agreed historic buyout}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/nov/02/scottish-village-langholm-moor-duke-of-buccleuch|title=Scottish village buys large part of Langholm Moor from Duke of Buccleuch|date=2 November 2020|website=the Guardian}}</ref> == Transport == ===Bus=== The X95 cross-border bus service (which is operated by [[Borders Buses]]) runs through Langholm, the service largely follows the route of the [[A7 road (Great Britain)|A7 road]] between Edinburgh and Carlisle via [[Hawick]] + [[Galashiels]] in the [[Scottish Borders]]. ===Rail=== [[Langholm railway station]] opened in April 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 nearest operational [[railway stations]] are at {{stnlink|Carlisle}} in England and {{stnlink|Lockerbie}} in Scotland. ==Local media == ===Newspaper=== The local newspaper is the ''Eskdale & Liddesdale Advertiser'' based on Langholm High Street. The ''Advertiser'' was owned by the [[CN Group]] Ltd.<ref name="el">{{Cite web|url=https://www.eladvertiser.co.uk/|title=Home|website=E&L Advertiser}}</ref> 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. == Education == Langholm Academy and Langholm Primary were established in the 1800s (the original building of which still stands). The schools run sessions in the community with various groups such as Wild Eskdale and Outpost Arts to expand and improve pupils' skills and community interests. == Sport == In 1858 Langholm [[Cricket]] Club was founded. The club play their matches on the Castleholm Ground. They currently play their matches in the Border League. In 1871, [[Langholm RFC]] was founded, being the oldest Rugby club in the [[Scottish Borders|Borders]]. Langholm RFC play in [[Scottish National League (rugby union)|East Regional League Division One]] and in the [[Border League]]. Langholm also has an amateur [[Football (soccer)|football]] team, Langholm Legion, who play on the Scholars 3G. They compete in the Border Amateur Football Association Division A. Langholm Scouts (2nd Dumfriesshire) has been running for many decades, with some members attending the biggest events in [[Scouting]], including the [[World Scout Jamboree]] and [[Blair Atholl Jamborette]]. == Arts and leisure == [[File:Clan Armstrong in Langholm.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|right|The [[Clan Armstrong]] Trust Centre]] As well as the Scottish Episcopal Church now used as the Clan Armstrong museum, The [[Roman Catholic]] church of St Francis of Assisi closed in 2010<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/local-news/st-francis-assisi-rc-church-2581198|title=St Francis of Assisi RC church to close next month|first=Sharon|last=Liptrott|date=26 November 2010|website=Daily Record}}</ref> and is now a fine art gallery. The Buccleuch Centre is a well-equipped venue, providing a regular programme of music and theatre. The town is home to a music and arts festival, a food festival and the Langholm walks. Each year the annual [[Common Riding]], takes place on the last Friday of July which features horse riding, sports, dancing and musical processions by the Pipe and Town Bands. 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 continuous brass band in Scotland and has won many national awards. The town is also home to the Eskdale and Liddesdale Archaeological Society. The Langholm Archive Group has a collection of information, photographs etc. about the locality.<ref>[http://www.langholmarchive.com Langholm Archive Group]. Retrieved 21 May 2010.</ref> == Langholm Project == 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 [[Bird of prey|raptors]] on [[red grouse]] populations. This was a large-scale project involving a range of organisations including [[Game Conservancy Trust]], [[Centre for Ecology and Hydrology|CEH]] (or ITE as they were then known) and [[Duke of Buccleuch|Buccleuch estates]]. The project was followed by a two-year study on the effects of supplementary feeding of [[Harrier (bird)|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 Β£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]]. ==See also== * [[Duke of Buccleuch]] == References == {{reflist}} == External links == {{Commons category|Langholm}} * [https://welcometolangholm.co.uk/ Welcome to Langholm - Local Information ] * [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uvnqhbGiQfA Video of Langholm from the Air] * [http://www.langholmwalks.co.uk The Langholm Walks and Eskdale Prehistoric Trail Information.] * [http://www.langholmarchive.org.uk// Search the local paper archive] * [http://www.buccleuchcentre.com/ The Buccleuch Centre] * [http://www.eladvertiser.co.uk/ The Eskdale & Liddesdale Advertiser] * [https://www.langholm-alliance.co.uk/ Langholm Alliance Community Organisation] * [http://www.langholmproject.com The Langholm Project] {{Civil parishes in Dumfries and Galloway}} {{Authority control}} [[Category:Langholm| ]] [[Category:Towns in Dumfries and Galloway]] [[Category:Parishes in Dumfries and Galloway]]
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