Alva, Clackmannanshire

infobox UK place
country = Scotland
official_name= Alva
gaelic_name=
scots_name=
population= 5,181 [cite web|publisher=Scotland's Census Results Online|title =Comparative Population Profile: Alva Locality | url=http://www.scrol.gov.uk/scrol/browser/profile.jsp?profile=Population&mainArea=alva&mainLevel=Locality | date = 2001-04-29| accessdate =2008-08-31 ] (2001 census)
4,960 [http://www.gro-scotland.gov.uk/statistics/publications-and-data] (2006)
os_grid_reference= NS882970
map_type= Scotland
longitude=-3.8
latitude=56.15
unitary_scotland= Clackmannanshire
lieutenancy_scotland= Clackmannanshire
constituency_westminster= Ochil and South Perthshire
constituency_scottish_parliament= Ochil
post_town= Alva
postcode_district = FK12
postcode_area= FK
dial_code= 01259

Alva ("Allamhagh" in Gaelic) is a small town in Clackmannanshire, Scotland. It is one of a number of towns situated immediately to the south of the Ochil Hills. These towns are collectively referred to as the Hillfoots Villages or simply "The Hillfoots".

Physical geography

Alva lies right at the foot of the Ochil Hills. The Ochil Fault, movement of which gave rise to the steep southern scarp of the Ochils, coincides approximately with the old road along the base of the hills.

The town is situated on slightly higher ground than the surrounding carse, being on two overlapping alluvial fans, comprising material deposited by the Carnaughton Glen and Alva Glen burns. The rock beneath the carse in this area is carboniferous. In the 19th century coal was mined at the Caroline Pit to the south of the town beside the River Devon, and has been mined in the higher ground to the south for a much longer period.Fact|date=February 2007 A more recent attempt, the Glenochil Colliery, was not a success, and the site is now a prison.

The spectacular Alva Glen cuts into the Ochils immediately north of the town. Alva Burn flows from the glen, through Alva, and into the River Devon.

To the east of Alva Glen, and parallel to it, is the Silver Glen, where silver was mined at one timeFact|date=February 2007.

Facilities

Alva has many shops, a few pubs, a small library and a medical practice. There are two large parks - Johnstone Park and Cochrane Park, which contains the local hall (Cochrane Hall). The McArthur Braes, at the foot of Alva Glen, was once a formal park that has fallen into neglect; it is now being regenerated.

The town has both a primary school and a secondary school. Alva Academy takes pupils from several primary schools in the Hillfoots area. The school is set to be relocated in a different part of the town within the next 5 years. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/tayside_and_central/5151828.stm]

Transport

Alva is on the main A91 Stirling to St Andrews road. Bus services run to Stirling and to Alloa (via Tillicoultry), and (less frequently) to St Andrews.

Recreation

For more than 150 years, the annual Alva Games have been held in the town. [http://www.alva.ukctest.co.uk/home/]

Between 1937 and 1954, Alva Glen was famed for its annual Illuminations, which drew visitors from across Scotland. In 2004 the Illuminations were revived.

Economy and industry

During the Industrial Revolution, Alva developed as a textile manufacturing centre and the woollen mills provided employment for locals and emigrants to the area. The Mill Trail Centre (next to Cochrane Park) houses permanent exhibits on the old woollen industryand the experience of many people employed in the industry.

On the site of the town's post office there used to be an old weaving shed, which was rented out to William Nicholl and Son, a locally famous cabinet maker and upholster. This shed was also haunted by the sounds of looms spinning on the uninhabited first floor.

The Campbell Group

One of the most successful soft furnishings businesses in the world is also based in the town.Fact|date=August 2008

Harviestoun Brewery

Harviestoun is a British small brewery founded in 1984 by Ken Brooker in a 200 year old stone barn on a farm in Dollar. It moved in 2004 to Alva Industrial Estate in Alva, before being bought by Caledonian Brewery in 2006.

Harviestoun produce cask ales and filtered bottled beers. The most notable brands are Schiehallion, Bitter & Twisted and Old Engine Oil.

Architecture

The most prominent building in Alva is Strude Mill, a former woollen mill that has been restored and converted to flats. It stands above the town at the base of the hills, and is clearly visible from some distance away.

References

External links

* [http://www.alvaglen.org.uk/ Alva Glen Heritage Trust]
* [http://www.clacksweb.org.uk/learning/schools/alvaprimaryschool/ Alva Primary School]
* [http://www.clacksweb.org.uk/learning/schools/alvaacademy/ Alva Academy]
* [http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/alva/alva/ Undiscovered Scotland: Alva]
* [http://www.clacksnet.org.uk ClacksNet - Clackmannanshire's Community Network]
* [http://www.lookabootye.co.uk/ Look Aboot Ye - Clackmannanshire Community News, Information and Forums]