Coatbridge
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Coatbridge | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
| OS grid reference: | NS7265 |
| Statistics | |
| Population: | 41,170 (2001 Census) |
| Administration | |
| Council area: | North Lanarkshire |
| Constituent country: | Scotland |
| Sovereign state: | United Kingdom |
| Other | |
| Police force: | Strathclyde Police |
| Lieutenancy area: | Lanarkshire |
| Former county: | Lanarkshire |
| Post office and telephone | |
| Post town: | Coatbridge |
| Postal district: | ML5 |
| Dialling code: | 01236 |
| Politics | |
| Scottish Parliament: | Coatbridge and Chryston with the most eastern fringes of the town being in the Airdrie and Shotts consituency. |
| UK Parliament: | Coatbridge, Chryston and Bellshill (UK Parliament constituency), and Airdrie and Shotts consituency]]. |
| European Parliament: | Scotland |
| Image:Flag of Scotland.svg | |
Coatbridge is a town in North Lanarkshire, Scotland approximately 9 miles east of Glasgow. At the 2001 Census it had a population of 41,170 making it the 23rd largest town or city in Scotland.
Settlement of the area which is now Coatbridge stretches back to the stone age with flint tools of stone age man being found on the shores of Woodend Loch. Lochend Loch once boasted of a fine example of a crannog - an iron age dwelling house made from wood and thatch, on an artificial island. This was designed as a protection against robbers and wolves. The crannog was joined to the shore by a narrow causeway hidden under the surface of the water. People continued to live in Crannogs up until about AD 1450.
The area around Coatbridge was described in the 1799 Statistical Account as an "immense garden" and "orchard" .It was not until the 1830s that the character of the district began to change from a rural landscape of small hamlets and farmhouses to a crowded industrial town. The town was further described in the late 19th century:
- "There is no worse place out of hell than that neighbourhood. At night the groups of blast furnaces on all sides might be imagined to be blazing volcanoes at most of which smelting is continued on Sundays and weekdays, day and night - without intermission'"
The numerous foundries gave the town its nickname of the Iron Burgh.
In the 19th century, fuelled by the local discovery of ironstone, Coatbridge became a major centre for the iron and steel industry. The town expanded quickly and the new industries assisted the massive impact Glasgow made on the world of shipbuilding. However, with the decline of shipbuilding on the River Clyde in the mid 1900's the demand for iron and steel dropped. This led the iron and coal industries to collapse which led to poverty and depravation which in turn led to drastic population fall from approximately 90,000 at the end of the 19th century to today's level.
Coatbridge is sometimes referred to as ‘Little Ireland’ due to the large numbers of Irish who emigrated to the town in the late 19th and early 20th century. Large St. Patrick's Day celebrations have been held in the town in recent years and there are a high number of Catholic churches and schools in the area.
Nowadays Coatbridge is a modern town that has been regenerated by Government and European Union grants. It is seen as something of a transport hub to which all major destinations in Scotland can be reached; it is adjacent to the M8 and M73 motorways, and the M74 motorway is a short drive away. The town is also very well serveed by passenger trains and has six railway stations on the four train lines that cross the town (see Transport Links section below).
The upsurge in Coatbridge is highlighted by the fact that Coatbridge became one of the most sought after destinations to stay within the UK, with house prices increasing by some 36% between 2004 and 2005, shattering the UK average of just 3%.
Contents |
[edit] Leisure
Coatbridge is the home of "Scotland's Noisest Museum" namely Summerlee Heritage Park which contains an insight into what life was like in Coatbridge during the heady days of being at the forefront of the world's iron and steel industry.
Drumpellier Country Park provides a good day out for a family or for a relaxing walk among woodland and loch-side surroundings, while the adjacent golf course acts as a temptation for the more energetic. This course is a municipal course while the nearby Drumpelier Golf Course is a private members' club. Other large parks are Dunbeth, West End and Whifflet Public Parks.
The Time Capsule is a multi-purpose leisure centre containing a swimming pool, an adventure pool set in a prehistoric environment, an ice skating facility, and a sports complex with gym halls and other facilities. All of these facilities, as well as the recently opened Showcase leisure park which contains a 12 screen cinema, a 10-pin bowling complex and numerous restaurants, have contributed to the continued regeneration of the once ailing Coatbridge.
The local football team is Albion Rovers F.C. who are much loved, although they suffer from many local residents' support for the Glasgow football teams Celtic and Rangers.
[edit] Famous People
Janet Hamilton, the nineteenth century poet and essayist, died in Langloan in 1873.
There are a two 'famous' singing duos who originate from Coatbridge. Brothers Greg Kane and Pat Kane make up the band Hue and Cry, while the singing sisters Fran and Anna were famous on the Scottish traditional music scene. Sadly, the latter partnership is no more since the death of Fran Watt.
Comic book writer Mark Millar hails from Coatbridge, as does novelist and playwright Des Dillon.
Former Celtic players John Hughes, Gerry Creaney and Peter Grant, who is now manager of Norwich City F.C..
Famous pupils who attended the local St Ambrose High school include Pop Idol Michelle McManus and footballers Tom Boyd, Malky Mackay, and Mark Wilson.
A famous pupil who attended the local St. Patrick's high school is John Reid, currently (2006) UK Home Secretary.
More infamously, Rena Costello, the first wife of mass murderer Fred West, was born and raised in Coatbridge.
[edit] Transport Links
Coatbridge is served by four railway lines; Motherwell-Cumbernauld Line, Whifflet Line, North Clyde Line and Argyle Line. Within these lines six train stations are located; Whifflet, Kirkwood, Blairhill, Coatbridge Sunnyside, Coatdyke and Coatbridge Central. Bargeddie Station is also within a short walk of Kirkwood but lies outwith the town boundary.
Coatbridge is adjacent to the M8 and M73 motorways.
[edit] Neighbourhoods
The neighbourhoods of Coatbridge are Barrowfield, Blairhill, Carnbroe, Coatdyke (partly in Airdrie), Cliftonville, Cliftonhill, Coatbank, Cuparhead, Drumpellier, Dunbeth, Dundyvan, Espieside, Gartsherrie, Glenboig, Greenhill, Greenend, Kirkshaws, Kirkwood, Langloan, Old Monkland, Rosehall, Shawhead, Sikeside, Summerlee, Sunnyside, Townhead and Victoria Park Whifflet.
