Editing Larkhall

{{Short description|Town in South Lanarkshire, Scotland}}
{{about|the town in South Lanarkshire, Scotland|other places|Larkhall (disambiguation)}}
{{distinguish|Larkhill}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox UK place
|static_image_name= Avon Water at Millheugh Bridge - geograph.org.uk - 165433.jpg
|static_image_caption= Millheugh Bridge and the Larkhall Viaduct
|country = Scotland
|official_name= Larkhall
|scots_name= Larkhauch
|gaelic_name= Taigh na h-Uiseig
|population = {{Scottish locality population|name|POP=Larkhall}}
|population_ref = ({{Scottish settlement population citation|year}})<ref>{{Scottish settlement population citation}}</ref>
|os_grid_reference= NS7651
|map_type=Scotland
|coordinates = {{coord|55.737|-3.972|type:city(15000)_region:GB|display=inline,title}}
|civil_parish= [[Dalserf]]
|unitary_scotland= [[South Lanarkshire]]
|lieutenancy_scotland= [[Lanarkshire]]
|constituency_westminster= [[Hamilton and Clyde Valley (UK Parliament constituency)|Hamilton and Clyde Valley]]
|constituency_scottish_parliament= [[Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse (Scottish Parliament constituency)|Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse]]
|historic_county=
|post_town= LARKHALL
|postcode_district = ML9
|postcode_area= ML
|dial_code= 01698
|edinburgh_distance_mi = 34
|london_distance_mi = 332
}}

'''Larkhall''' ({{langx|sco|Larkhauch}},<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20111016023704/http://newsnetscotland.com/index.php/arts-and-culture/3108-scottish-names-for-scottish-places.html "Scottish names for Scottish places"], NewsNet Scotland</ref> {{langx|gd|Taigh na h-Uiseig}})<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gaelicplacenames.org/databasedetails.php?id=529|title=Ainmean-Àite na h-Alba - Gaelic Place-Names of Scotland - Database}}</ref> is a town in [[South Lanarkshire]], [[Scotland]], around {{convert|14|mi|km}} southeast of [[Glasgow]]. It is [[Twin towns and sister cities|twinned]] with [[Seclin]] in northern France.

Larkhall sits on high ground between the [[River Clyde]] to the East and the [[Avon Water]] to the West. Larkhall sits on the edge of the scenic Clyde valley and is  a [[commuter town]] for Glasgow.
Larkhall had a population of 14,951 in the [[2011 UK Census]], and is a typical Scottish former industrial town. Traditionally a mining, weaving and textile area, most of Larkhall's traditional industries have now closed down, including the Lanarkshire ironworks.

==Toponym==
The name Larkhall or ''Laverock Ha'' first appears in journals around 1620. The origins of the name are unknown, although Laverock is the Scots word for ''[[skylark]]''. However, there is no evidence that the town is named after the bird. It is more likely that Laverock was a surname.<ref>A. D. MILLS. "Larkhall." A Dictionary of British Place-Names. Oxford University Press. 2003.</ref>
The name for Larkhall was originally a Scots word Laverockhaugh (''Laverockha''), which meant ''laverock'' - skylark and ''haugh'' - boggy/wet area.

==History==
One of the town's most notable historical landmarks is the Morgan Glen viaduct standing over the Avon Water. The viaduct was built between 1898 and 1904 for the [[Caledonian Railway]] company by [[Sir William Arrol & Co.]]<ref name="HESViaduct">{{Historic Environment Scotland|num=LB5168|desc=LARKHALL, LARKHALL VIADUCT|cat=B|access-date=16 January 2022}}</ref> It spans some {{convert|285|yd}}, and at a height of {{convert|175|ft}},<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.forgottenrelics.co.uk/bridges/gallery/larkhall.html|title=Larkhall Viaduct}}</ref> it is the tallest viaduct in Scotland. The viaduct is in a state of disrepair since the closure of the railway line in 1965 
and is closed to public access for safety reasons. In the 1990s, the viaduct was under the threat of dismantling but was protected by a local heritage group.<ref name="Independentviaduct">{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/morgan-glen-viaduct-under-threat-1398269.html | title=Morgan Glen viaduct under threat |work=The Independent | date=6 January 1994 |access-date=16 January 2022}}</ref> The viaduct is Category B listed.<ref name="HESViaduct"/> It is currently on the [[Buildings at Risk Register for Scotland]].<ref name="Atrisk">{{cite web|url=https://www.buildingsatrisk.org.uk/details/905254| title=Larkhall Railway Viaduct, Over Avon Water |publisher=Buildings at Risk |access-date=16 January 2022}}</ref>

Glenview memorial fountain is a local fountain and artwork in the town, originally produced by the [[Saracen Foundry]].<ref name="Glenview">{{cite web|url=https://artuk.org/discover/artworks/glenview-memorial-fountain-307368| title=Glenview Memorial Fountain |publisher=ArtUK |access-date=1 January 2022}}</ref>

On 22 December 1999 a large gas explosion took place in the town which resulted in the death of four people.<ref name="Scotsman">{{cite web|url=https://www.scotsman.com/news/transco-fined-ps15m-killer-gas-blast-2479890| title=Transco fined £15m for killer gas blast |publisher=The Scotsman |access-date=16 January 2022}}</ref> In [[Transco plc v HM Advocate]] [[National Grid plc|Transco]] were subsequently found guilty of culpable homicide and fined £15 million in 2004.<ref name="Chalmers">Chalmers, J. (2004) 'Corporate Culpable Homicide: Transco plc v H M Advocate', The Edinburgh law review, 8(2)</ref><ref name="Guardian">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2005/aug/26/owenbowcott| title= Transco fined £15m for gas pipe error that killed family |work=The Guardian | date= 25 August 2005 |access-date=16 January 2022 | last1= Bowcott | first1= Owen }}</ref><ref name="BBCNews">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/4184962.stm| title=Transco fined £15m for gas blast | date=25 August 2005 |publisher=[[BBC News]] |access-date=16 January 2022}}</ref>

==Education==
The primary schools in Larkhall are Machanhill Primary School, Dalserf Primary School, Glengowan Primary School, Hareleeshill Primary School, Craigbank Primary School, Netherburn Primary School and Robert Smillie Memorial Primary School. There is also a Catholic primary school, St Mary's. The town's sole secondary school is [[Larkhall Academy]].

==Religion==
The [[Church of Scotland]] has most adherents at 7,416 persons (49.6% of the population). The 2011 census notes there are 1,247 [[Roman Catholics]] living in the town (8.3% of the population).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.scotlandscensus.gov.uk/|title=Welcome to Scotland's Census - Scotland Census 2011}}</ref>

Larkhall contains eight churches: Chalmers Parish Church, The Church At The Cross, Larkhall Baptist Church, Larkhall Congregational Church, St. Machan's Parish Church, St. Mary's R.C. Church, Strutherhill Gospel Hall and Trinity Parish Church. There is also a Kingdom Hall of [[Jehovah's Witnesses]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.churches-uk-ireland.org/towns/l/larkhall.html|title=The Churches of Britain and Ireland - Larkall}}</ref>

==Transport==
Trains returned to the town in December 2005, with the opening of the new [[Larkhall railway station]], which is a terminus on the [[Argyle Line]]. The station provides regular services to Glasgow and beyond. [[Merryton railway station]] serves the northern end of town and is also on the Argyle Line.

Larkhall also has good bus links with frequent services to [[Hamilton, South Lanarkshire|Hamilton]], [[Lanark]], [[Motherwell]], [[Stonehouse, South Lanarkshire|Stonehouse]], [[Strathaven]] and [[Wishaw]].

Scotland's main [[motorway]], the [[M74 motorway|M74]] skirts the eastern edges of the town. Larkhall has 2 motorway intersections: Junction 7 with the [[A72 road|A72]], which is for southbound traffic only, and Junction 8 with the [[A71 road|A71]], which is for both northbound and southbound traffic. Junction 8 is known locally as Canderside Toll or ''The Toll''. The centre of [[Glasgow]] can be reached in 20 minutes; [[Edinburgh]] is around 50 minutes away.

==Location grid==
{{Geographic location
|title = '''Destinations from Larkhall'''
|Northwest = [[Hamilton, South Lanarkshire|Hamilton]]
|North     = [[Motherwell]]
|Northeast = [[Wishaw]]
|West      = [[East Kilbride]]
|Centre    = Larkhall
|East      = [[Carluke]]
|Southwest = [[Strathaven]]
|South     = [[Stonehouse, South Lanarkshire|Stonehouse]]
|Southeast = [[Lanark]]
}}

==Sport==
Because of the Protestant majority, residents mainly support [[Rangers F.C.]], to the point where it was noted in 2008 that the colour green—which is associated with that team's rivals [[Celtic F.C.]]—is avoided by retailers.<ref name=repaint>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/scottish-town-where-green-is-beyond-the-pale-981747.html |title=Scottish town where green is beyond the pale |last=Hughes |first=Mark |newspaper=The Independent |date=1 November 2008 |access-date=10 May 2013 }}</ref> However, community leaders attributed any trouble to a small number of vandals.<ref>{{cite news|title=Nothing about Larkhall is black and white|url=http://www.scotsman.com/news/nothing-about-larkhall-is-black-and-white-1-916560|access-date=30 August 2017|work=The Scotsman|date=29 August 2007}}</ref>
A local authority study in 2017 found that sectarianism was not a major issue in the town.<ref>{{cite news|first=Martin|last=Williams|title=Sectarianism no longer an issue for Larkhall residents, says new research|url=https://www.glasgowtimes.co.uk/news/15082547.sectarianism-no-longer-an-issue-for-larkhall-residents-says-new-research/|access-date=30 August 2017|work=Evening Times|date=9 February 2017|location=Glasgow}}</ref>

The town has two [[Scottish Junior Football Association|Junior Football]] teams: [[Larkhall Thistle F.C.]] and [[Royal Albert F.C.]] although Royal Albert now play in Stonehouse, a neighbouring village while Larkhall Thistle play at Gasworks Park on Raploch Street. Royal Albert were once a full member of the Scottish Football League but now ply their trade, as do Larkhall Thistle, in the Third Division (fourth tier) of the [[West of Scotland Football League]]. Also present in the town is Larkhall United Junior Football Club.

The town also has its own 9 hole municipal Golf Course which was founded in 1909.{{Citation needed|date=November 2023}}

=== Athletics ===
Larkhall also has a Running & Athletics club, [[Larkhall YMCA Harriers]]. Established in 1930 they are one of Scotland's longest established Running & Athletics Club. Based in Larkhall, [[South Lanarkshire]], over the years their members have performed with distinction at District, Inter-Districts, Scottish, British and International level, including the [[Olympic Games]]. The most famous and successful member being [[David Gracie]] who represented [[Team GB]] at the [[1952 Summer Olympics|Helsinki Olympic Games]] in the [[400 metres hurdles|400 Hurdles]]. The Harriers train from their base, the Larkhall YMCA Hall on Caledonian St, Larkhall and other surrounding sports facilities. Their members are drawn from Larkhall and the surrounding towns and villiages of [[Stonehouse, South Lanarkshire|Stonehouse]], [[Ashgill]], [[Netherburn]], [[Blackwood, South Lanarkshire|Blackwood]], [[Kirkmuirhill]], [[Lesmahagow]], [[Strathaven]], [[Ferniegair]], [[Glassford]], [[Lanark]] and beyond. The club colours are Red and White and they compete in Red vests with two White horizontal hoops. [[Larkhall YMCA Harriers]] cater for athletes from Age 5 with no upper age limit and compete in Road Racing, Track & Field and Cross Country.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Larkahall YMCA Harriers Running and Athletics Club. Established 1930 |url=https://larkhallymcaharriers.org/ |access-date=2023-12-13 |website=larkhallymcaharriers.org}}</ref>

==Notable people==
{{main category|People from Larkhall}}
Larkhall is home to snooker player and [[2006 World Snooker Championship]] winner [[Graeme Dott]] and 2001 and 2025 Scottish Snooker Champion Gary Thomson and his wife professional snooker referee Agnieszka Thomson.{{Citation needed|date=May 2023}} Previous residents include footballers [[Paul McStay]]{{Citation needed|date=May 2023}}; [[Jim McLean]]{{Citation needed|date=May 2023}} and his brother [[Tommy McLean]]{{Citation needed|date=May 2023}} come from a village called Ashgill next to Larkhall. Other high-profile former residents include actress [[Una McLean]]{{Citation needed|date=May 2023}}.

=== David Keir Gracie ===
[[David Gracie|David Keir Gracie]], (26 January 1927 – 26 October 2020) Olympian and member of [[Larkhall YMCA Harriers]]. Gracie moved to Larkhall as a young child in the mid 1930's and after leaving the Royal Marines in 1947 he Joined the [[Larkhall YMCA Harriers]] where he discovered his love for athletics. He competed in the [[Athletics at the 1952 Summer Olympics – Men's 400 metres hurdles|men's 400 metres hurdles]] at the [[1952 Summer Olympics]]. Amongst his other achievements, In 1953 he won the [[FISU World University Games|World University Games]] 400m Hurdles title in Dortmund, Germany. He was also part of the [[Team GB]] Quartet who won the silver medals in the [[4 × 400 metres relay|4x400m relay]] at the same event. Gracie died in October 2020 at the age of 93.<ref name=":0" />

===Black Lady===
The black lady of Larkhall is a local ghost story.<ref name="HeraldBlackLady">{{cite web|url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12704471.spectre-of-the-black-lady-hovers-over-scheme-for-houses/| title=Spectre of the Black Lady hovers over scheme for houses | date=4 January 1994 |publisher=The Herald |access-date=16 January 2022}}</ref> She was said to be the Indian servant of Captain Henry McNeil Hamilton, the last owner of Broomhill House ({{nowrap|{{coord| 55|43|59.03|N|3|59|4.78|W|scale:3000|display=inline}}}}) who was brought to Larkhall by Captain McNeil after one of his many seafaring voyages. She was happy with her new life but her ignorance of Scottish customs made her a social outcast. The Captain forbade her to leave Broomhill House during the day.<ref name="spooky"/>{{reliable source|date=June 2020}} Soon she was not seen at night either and the Captain claimed she had disappeared, but locals were suspicious. She is said to have returned, as her ghostly form appeared in the windows of Broomhill House and then later in Morgan Glen. The Captain is said to have died prematurely.<ref name="spooky">{{cite web|url=https://www.spookyisles.com/the-black-lady-of-broomhill-house/|title=THE BLACK LADY OF BROOMHILL HOUSE|website=www.spookyisles.com|date=29 July 2012 |access-date=2 February 2020}}</ref>{{reliable source|date=June 2020}}

When Broomhill House fell into disrepair the {{convert|500|long cwt |kg}} door lintel was moved down to the Applebank public house on Millheugh road by a large group of men. The next day it was said to be found lying across the road from the public house. In the 1960s a team from the ''[[Tonight (1957 TV programme)|Tonight]]'' programme visited Larkhall as they tried to perform the first televised exorcism. The cameras were frozen over in fine weather and after filming finished the director was killed in a road crash on his way to another location. He was found with a fence post impaled in his heart.<ref>[http://www.larkhall.s-lanark.sch.uk/local_info/lh_black_lady.shtml Black Lady] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111006092202/http://www.larkhall.s-lanark.sch.uk/local_info/lh_black_lady.shtml |date=2011-10-06 }}. Larkhall Academy.</ref>{{reliable source|date=June 2020}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{South Lanarkshire Settlements}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Larkhall| ]]
[[Category:Towns in South Lanarkshire]]