Eaglesham

infobox UK place
country = Scotland
official_name= Eaglesham
gaelic_name=
scots_name=
population= 3,127 [cite web|publisher=Scotland's Census Results Online|title =Comparative Population Profile: Eaglesham Locality | url=http://www.scrol.gov.uk/scrol/browser/profile.jsp?profile=Population&mainArea=eaglesham&mainLevel=Locality | date = 2001-04-29| accessdate =2008-09-02 ] (2001 census)
est. 3,070 [http://www.gro-scotland.gov.uk/statistics/publications-and-data] (2006)
traditional=Renfrewshire
os_grid_reference= NS573519
map_type=Scotland
latitude=55.739444
longitude=-4.273333
unitary_scotland= East Renfrewshire
lieutenancy_scotland= Renfrewshire
constituency_westminster= Eastwood
constituency_scottish_parliament= Eastwood
post_town= GLASGOW
postcode_district = G76
postcode_area= G
dial_code= 01355

Eaglesham "(pronounced "Eagles-ham")" is a village in East Renfrewshire, Scotland. Today it is chiefly a dormitory town for commuters to nearby Glasgow, Paisley and other major urban centres. The village is distinctive in being based around a large triangular green.

Eaglesham is situated about convert|10|mi|km south of Glasgow to the southwest of Newton Mearns, south of Busby, and west of East Kilbride. It finds itself amongst the East Renfrewshire hills, which, to the south west of the village, become Eaglesham Moor and the northern boundary of Fenwick Moor. To the south lies mainly farmland and planted forested areas where two experimental wind turbines have existed for many years. At the beginning of 2007 construction of Whitelee Wind Farm with some 144 turbines began.

History

The village's name

The village takes its name from the French word eglise, or church, earning this as a result of its apparent abundance of places of worship in the past. In more recent times, however, this has shrunk to only two congregations: one Roman Catholic and one Presbyterian (Church of Scotland).

Early history and birth of the 'new town'

The French influence of the name is likely related to the Montgomeries (latterly spelled Montgomery), historic landowners of the Eaglesham area, who originated from Normandy. Another possibility is the French influence on pre-Union Scotland where many members of the aristocracy were educated in France.

According to legend one of these Montgomeries, the Alexander Montgomerie, 10th Earl of Eglinton, visited a village constructed in an ‘A’ shape whilst traveling abroad and, on his return, decided to transform his scattered ‘ferm toun’ (farm town) parish, then known as Egglisham, by building a similarly planned settlement at its heart. It was around this time that the spelling changed to Eaglesham. The bi-centenary of the formation of the ‘new town’ was celebrated in 1969.

Modern history

As well as agriculture, during the 1800s many of the population of Eaglesham were employed in cotton mills, however, the last of these was destroyed by fire early last century. The ruins are still visible on ‘The Orry’ (the name given locally to the village green - from the word area).

By the middle of the 1950s the village had suffered severe decline, many of the old properties being threatened with demolition. Fortunately, about 1960 a group of concerned residents fought to have these historic buildings ‘listed’ and so Eaglesham became the first Conservation Village in Scotland. As such, the historic part of today's village is subject to strict planning regulations with even newly built housing having to reflect a traditional style. Now they have all been restored and have become much sought after residential properties. The two principal streets in old Eaglesham are Polnoon Street and Montgomery Street. They both climb a steep hill and meet at the top, on the edge of the moor. The addition of Mid Road connecting them forms the distinctive "A" shape, which can often be seen from the air when approaching Glasgow Airport. The other original thoroughfares are Cheapside Street, Strathaven Road and Montgomerie Square.

During World War Two Eaglesham found brief international attention as the crash-landing site of Rudolf Hess, Hitler’s then deputy. He claimed to be seeking the Duke of Hamilton, whom he had met in Berlin prior to the war, to start talks about an alliance to end Germany’s war with the United Kingdom. It seems he mistook Eaglesham House (no longer standing) for the Duke’s residence in Hamilton and ditched his plane, parachuting into a nearby field and going to the door of a farm-worker’s cottage. He was eventually imprisoned in Berlin until his death.

The village today

The village is served by a Primary School, local shops and services - garages, restaurant, B&Bs and the historic Eglinton Arms Hotel and Swan pub. The only manufacturing done near Eaglesham now is at Linn Products, a state-of-the-art Hi-Fi production plant. Eaglesham Amateurs is Eaglesham's football team.

Eaglesham’s Market Act of 1672 permitted villagers to hold weekly markets and annual fairs. Unfortunately these events became lost in history. In 1969, however, a Fair was revived as part of the celebration of the bi-centenary of the Earl of Eglinton’s construction of old Eaglesham as is now preserved. Sadly, this event, too, threatened to become part of history, declining from annual to two-yearly events. The last one was held in 2000. Fortunately, a group of concerned residents got together in 2004, resurrecting a new fair to be held every two years from 2005.

References

External links

* [http://www.eaglesham.com/ Eaglesham Web Site]