Leadhills

Leadhills is a village in South Lanarkshire, Scotland, 5¾ miles WSW of Elvanfoot. Population (1901) 835. It is the second highest village in Scotland after Wanlockhead, lying 395m (1295ft) above sea-level, near the source of Glengonnar Water, an affluent of the River Clyde. The village is neat and well built, and contains a masonic hall, village hall and shop.

Leadhills Attractions

"The Leadhills Miner's Library", built in 1741 and also known as the Allan Ramsay Library, or The Leadhills Reading Society, houses an extensive antiquarian book collection, local relics, records and minerals. The library is the oldest subcription library in Britain and is of significant historical and geological importance. The Library is open from May to September on weekends, Wednesdays and bank holidays, between 2pm and 4 pm.

"The Grouse Moors" cover in excess of 11,000 acres around Leadhills and are amongst the finest in Scotland.

"Leadhills Golf Course" is the highest in Scotland. This nine hole course offers considerable challenge as the winds can be high and unpredictable as they are channeled between the hills.

"The Grave of John Taylor" is also available to visit in the cemetery. Reputed to be 137 years of age at the time of his death, John Taylor's grave (shared with his son, Robert) even attracted the attention of the BBC.

"The Leadhills & Wanlockhead Railway" runs at weekends only, and at Christmas sees the Santa Express, which includes a ride on the train, a visit to Santa down the Lead mine, and a story read by Mrs Kringle in the Museum of Lead Mining, Wanlockhead. The Elvanfoot railway station was on the Caledonian Railway main line from Glasgow to the south. A branch from there ran through Leadhills to Wanlockhead and operated until 1939. Part of the route has been re-used by the Leadhills & Wanlockhead Railway. The railway is 1498 feet above sea level.

Leadhills Local Businesses

Leadhills is host to a number of small local businesses ranging from the Leadhills Mining Bear Company, "Bear-ly Reminiscent", which sells bears and dolls dressed as miners, and The Leadhills Jam Factory, which sells delicious Leadhills made jams. Other items available are stained glass windows, garden ornaments, jewellrey, postcards and hand-made cards. Many of these items are available at the "Leadhills Craft fair", which often runs over a weekend at Christmas, and "Doors Open Day", which occurs across the Lanark area.

Staying At Leadhills

Leadhills has numerous holiday homes available to rent for short periods of time, as well at a local Motel; The Hopetoun Arms (Also the local pub); and the B&B, which are situated on Main Street and Ramsay Road.

Lead Mining

Lead and silver have been mined here and at Wanlockhead, 1½ miles south west, for many centuries, according to some authorities even in Roman days. Gold was discovered in the reign of James IV, but though it is said then to have provided employment for 300 persons, its mining has long ceased to be profitable.

The minerals lanarkite, leadhillite, susannite, plattnerite, scotlandite, macphersonite, chenite and mattheddleite were first found at Leadhills. [Alec Livingstone, 2002, "Minerals of Scotland", Edinburgh, National Museums of Scotland]

Leadhills Fame

Allan Ramsay, the poet, and William Symington (1763-1831), one of the earliest adaptors of the steam engine to the purposes of navigation, were born at Leadhills.

The cemetery at the northeast of the village features an unusual tablestone inscription (next to the southern wall) detailing almost as an afterthought the age of one hundred and fifty four years as being the age at death of the lair owner's father.

Q-pits

Q-pits were kilns dug for the production of White coal, a fuel originally favoured in lead production because it gave a heat which did not vapourise the lead to the same extent as other fuels.] Remains of Q-pits are associated with deciduous woodlands and are often dismissed as landscape features thought to have been small quarries.

References

* Alec Livingstone, 2002, Minerals of Scotland, Edinburgh, National Museums of Scotland
* Andrew, M. 2007, The Leadhills and Wanlockhead Railway (Online), Available from: [http://www.leadhillsrailway.co.uk "The Leadhills and Wanlockhead Railway"] website
* Meadowfoot Cottage. Date Unknown, Leadhills (Online), Available from: [http://www.gowanbank99.freeserve.co.uk/website/leadhills/local%20info.html "Leadhills"] website

External links

* http://www.leadhillsonline.org.uk/
* http://www.gowanbank99.freeserve.co.uk/
* http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/leadhills/leadhills/index.html
* http://www.leadminingmuseum.co.uk/
* http://www.leadhillsrailway.co.uk/
* http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/leadhills/leadhills/index.html
* http://www.lowtherhills.fsnet.co.uk/
* http://www.leadhills.com