Alloa
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Alloa | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
| OS grid reference: | NS900920 |
| Statistics | |
| Population: | 18,989 |
| Administration | |
| Council area: | Clackmannanshire |
| Constituent country: | Scotland |
| Sovereign state: | United Kingdom |
| Other | |
| Police force: | Central Scotland Police |
| Lieutenancy area: | Clackmannanshire |
| Former county: | Clackmannanshire |
| Post office and telephone | |
| Post town: | Alloa |
| Postal district: | FK10 |
| Dialling code: | 01259 |
| Politics | |
| Scottish Parliament: | Ochil |
| UK Parliament: | Ochil and South Perthshire |
| European Parliament: | Scotland |
| Image:Flag of Scotland.svg | |
Alloa is a small burgh in Clackmannanshire, Scotland, 6 miles to the east of Stirling, on the north bank of the River Forth. Its most notable visible landmark is the 14th century Alloa Tower (National Trust for Scotland), the surviving part of the ancestral medieval residence of the Erskine family, the Earls of Mar. Though much altered both externally and internally, the Tower retains its original medieval wooden roof and battlements, as well as some internal features. It is one of the largest (and earliest) of Scottish tower houses. The town was a burgh of barony, and at one time of considerable commercial importance. It formerly contained a large number of 17th and 18th century buildings, but these were unfortunately cleared away as 'slums' from the late 19th century on, and Alloa retains hardly any historic architecture
During the 18th century, Alloa thrived as a river port through which the products of Glasgow manufacture was exported to continental Europe.
The town itself was known for its weaving and glassmaking industries. Alloa was long associated with the brewing industry, with at least nine major breweries producing ales. However this industry declined severely during the late 20th century.
The town has suffered poor transport links since the Stirling-Alloa-Dunfermline rail service was closed in 1968. However the project for reopening the Stirling-Alloa-Kincardine rail link is expected to be completed in 2007. This also involves the construction of a new bypass road and bridge so that a major level crossing in the town can be removed in the interests of safety. After much preparatory work, including drainage, and grouting of a large number of shallow mine workings, laying of new track commenced in September 2006. An hourly service to Glasgow is planned, by extending the existing service from Stirling, where the trains currently terminate and spend some considerable time idle. Thus, no new trains will be required, nor any alteration to timetables south of Stirling.
Alloa Athletic F.C. are based at Recreation Park in the town.
The burgh population in a mid-19th century census was 6,440.
Notable people from the town include the footballer and commentator Alan Hansen and the artists Lys Hansen and Emma Scott-Smith. The Canadian politician George Brown was born here in 1818. The founder of Forte Holdings which later merged with Trust House to become Trust House Forte, Lord Charles Forte, was raised in Alloa.
Alloa is served by Tesco, Morrison's and ASDA supermarkets.
Interesting places to visit near to Alloa include Tillicoultry, Dollar, Rumbling Bridge, Culross and Falkirk.
[edit] Churches
Alloa is currently served by three parish churches in the Church of Scotland, namely the North Parish Church, the West Parish Church and St Mungo's Parish Church (the largest of the three.) In 1978 the Very Rev Dr Peter Brodie (then minister at St Mungo's) was elected Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland. Alloa is within the Church of Scotland's Presbytery of Stirling.
In addition, the United Free Church of Scotland serves the town centre through the congregation at Moncrieff U.F. Church in Drysdale Street.
There are churches of other denominations in the town, including a Catholic church also named St Mungo's.
The headquarters of Action of Churches Together in Scotland (ACTS), the ecumenical organisation linking Scotland's largest churches, is located at Inglewood House, Alloa.
[edit] References
- "Alloa and its Environs: A descriptive and Historical Sketch", Alloa Advertiser, 1861
- Scotland's Census Results Online - 2001
