Langholm

infobox UK place
country = Scotland
language = English
language1 = South Scots
official_name= Langholm
scots_name= Langholm
gaelic_name= Langaim
local_name= "Muckle Toon"
population = 2,311 (2001)
map_type=Scotland
os_grid_reference= NY364847
latitude=55.15253
longitude=-2.99956
unitary_scotland= Dumfries and Galloway
lieutenancy_scotland= Dumfries
constituency_westminster= Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale
constituency_scottish_parliament= Dumfries
post_town= LANGHOLM
postcode_area=DG
postcode_district=DG13
dial_code= 013873
static_

static_image_caption=Langholm and the River Esk
london_distance=
edinburgh_distance=

History & General

[http://homepages.enterprise.net/iainlogan/langholm/ 'Langholm"'] , also known colloquially as the "Muckle Toon", is a burgh in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland, on the River Esk and the A7 road. The town grew around the textile industry, but is now best-known as the birthplace of Hugh MacDiarmid and Thomas Telford. The population in 2001 was 2,311.

The town was an important centre for the Border Reivers.

Transport

A branch of the Carlisle to Hawick railway line to Langholm was completed in 1864, but closed some 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.

Education

Langholm has a combined primary and secondary school of excellent repute [http://www.langholmacademy.org.uk/content/welcome.php Langholm Academy] which has produced most of the town's eminent alumni.

Sport

In 1858 [http://muckletooncricket.intheteam.com/modules/page/page.aspx?type=home&mid=19066&pmid=0/ Langholm Cricket Club] was founded. The club play their matches on the picturesque Castleholm Ground. They currently play their matches in Border League, where they have been unbeaten this season. This year the club is celebrating its 150th Anniversary.

In 1871, Langholm Rugby Football Club was founded, being the oldest Rugby club in the borders.

Arts & Leisure

The unused episcopalian church on the Castle Holm in the burgh has been converted into the Armstrong clan museum. In 1972, astronaut Neil Armstrong was welcomed to the town, and made the first freeman of the burgh. He happily declared the town his home.The BBC [http://www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/aboutus/wirelesstoweb/decades/index.shtml?decade=70s ] have a video clip of the visit.

The town is home to a music and arts festival, a food festival and the Langholm walks.

Each year many visitors come for the annual Common Riding, which takes place on the last Friday of July.

Geography

Langholm is surrounded by three hills. The highest is 300m Whita hill, on which stands an impressive obelisk commemorating the life and achievements of Sir John Malcolm (1769‑1833), the distinguished soldier, statesman, and historian. The others are Warblaw (in Langholm it is pronounced Warbla) and Meikleholmhill.

Press

The local newspaper is the Eskdale & Liddesdale Advertiser, which is part of the CN Group Ltd. The paper covers news from Langholm and its surrounding areas (notably Canonbie & Newcastleton) and is commonly referred to locally as 'The Langholm Squeak'.

Industry

Langholm has long been home to a thriving woollen milling trade and at one stage there were 22 mills in the town. There has been consolidation and closure since then, but many people still earn their living in the trade. The Edinburgh Woollen Mill, seen on many a high street, is based in Langholm.

Another local business is Border Fine Arts, set up in the early seventies. It makes figurines of local wildlife, each one hand painted by local people. The company trades around the world.

General

The 'Langholm Project' is a reference to the Joint Raptor Study, a scientific study undertaken in the 1990s on Langholm moor into the effects of Raptors on red grouse populations. This was a large scale project involving a range of organisations including the Game Conservancy Trust CEH (or ITE as they were then known) and Buccleuch estates. The project was followed by a two year study on the effects of supplementary feeding of 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 SNH announced a further long term project to see if it was possible to recover the grouse stocks on the moor while managing for Harriers.

External links

* [http://muckletooncricket.intheteam.com/modules/page/page.aspx?type=home&mid=19066&pmid=0/ Langholm Cricket Club]
* [http://www.langholm-online.co.uk/ Langholm Online]
* [http://www.langholmwalks.co.uk/index.html The Langholm Walks and Walking Festival]
* [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]
* [http://www.snh.org.uk/press/detail.asp?id=1792/ 2007 Press release regarding new Raptor and Grouse project]