Langholm
Langholm
| |
---|---|
Location within Dumfries and Galloway | |
Population | 1,740 (2020)[1] |
Language | English Southern Scots |
OS grid reference | NY364847 |
Council area | |
Lieutenancy area | |
Country | Scotland |
Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
Post town | LANGHOLM |
Postcode district | DG13 |
Dialling code | 013873 |
Police | Scotland |
Fire | Scottish |
Ambulance | Scottish |
UK Parliament | |
Scottish Parliament | |
Langholm
Location and geography
Langholm sits 8 miles (13 kilometres) north of the
Langholm is surrounded by four hills in the
The two longest B roads in the UK both start (or finish) in Langholm. The B6318 which goes to Heddon-on-the-Wall and is 61 miles (98 kilometres) long, and the B709 which joins the A7 near Heriot after 58 miles (93 kilometres).
History
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/59/The_Town_Hall%2C_Langholm_%28geograph_4190172%29.jpg/220px-The_Town_Hall%2C_Langholm_%28geograph_4190172%29.jpg)
Langholm was founded in 1455 during the Battle of Arkinholm.
A fort at nearby Langholm Castle was occupied by English soldiers during the war known as the
Langholm is the traditional seat of Clan Armstrong, which is currently represented globally by the official Clan Armstrong Trust. Home of the Clan Armstrong line is Gilnockie Tower 4.5 miles (7 kilometres) south of Langholm and 1.4 miles (2 kilometres) north of Canonbie. The Episcopalian church on Castle Holm went into disuse before conversion into the Clan Armstrong museum, later moved to Gilnockie Tower.
The town was an important centre for the
In 2020, the local community purchased 5,000 acres (2,000 hectares) of Langholm Moor for £3.8m from Buccleuch Estates.[7][8]
Governance
Langholm is in the
The town is part of the
Prior to Brexit for the European Parliament, Langholm was part of the Scotland constituency.
Langholm is part of the
The town is also part of the Dumfriesshire constituency for the Scottish Youth Parliament and is represented by 2 Members of the Scottish Youth Parliament (MSYPs).
Notable visitors and residents
Neil Armstrong
In 1972, astronaut Neil Armstrong was welcomed and made the first freeman and Burgess of the burgh.[9] The depute town clerk at the time later said, “The town council had made the approach because this is Armstrong country and we thought it would be appropriate. It turned out that he was coming to Edinburgh to deliver the Mountbatten lecture so he could accept and come to Langholm.”[10]
The ceremony took place at Langholm's largest building of the time, the parish church. With his manner of modest dignity he stated:[11][10]
"The most difficult place to be recognised is in one's home town. And I consider this now my home town."
He also commented:
- ”My pleasure is not only that this is the land of Johnnie Armstrong, rather that my pleasure is in knowing that this is my home town and in the genuine feeling that I have among these hills among these people.”[12]
He then walked for lunch at Buccleuch Hall. His visit is captured in online video.[13][14][15][16] In coverage by the international press, the Chicago Tribune's front-page story included a map of the British Isles marking only London and Langholm. Armstrong, universally known for his humility[17] is remembered as having no interest on his visit of boasting of his achievements. Instead he was absorbed in finding out more of his Armstrong heritage and making a connection with the area.[10]
Others
The civil engineer and road builder Thomas Telford was born nearby, and worked in Langholm as an apprentice early in his career.
Christopher Murray Grieve (known as
The first female corporate member of the Institution of Civil Engineers, Dorothy Donaldson Buchanan, was born and raised in Langholm, daughter of Rev. James Donaldson Buchanan, the longtime minister in Langholm Parish.
Dave Stevenson, Olympic pole vaulter (1964 Tokyo Games) and businessman, was raised in the burgh and his company was based there.[18]
Economy
Edinburgh Woollen Mill was founded in Langholm in 1946 by Drew Stevenson, however they moved their headquarters from Langholm to Carlisle in 2019.[19]
Buccleuch Estates have an office in Langholm and own much of the surrounding land.[20][21]
Transport
Bus
The X95 cross-border bus service (which is operated by Borders Buses) runs through Langholm, the service largely follows the route of the A7 road between Edinburgh and Carlisle via Hawick + Galashiels in the Scottish Borders.
Rail
Langholm railway station opened in April 1864, but closed 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.
The nearest operational
in Scotland.Local media
Newspaper
The local newspaper is the Eskdale & Liddesdale Advertiser based on Langholm High Street. The Advertiser was owned by the CN Group Ltd.[22] The paper covers news from Langholm and its surrounding areas (notably Canonbie & Newcastleton) and is commonly referred to locally as 'The Squeak'. Established in 1848, the newspaper was the first penny newspaper in Scotland.
Education
Langholm Academy and Langholm Primary were established in the 1800s (the original building of which still stands).
The schools run sessions in the community with various groups such as Wild Eskdale and Outpost Arts to expand and improve pupils' skills and community interests.
Sport
In 1858 Langholm Cricket Club was founded. The club play their matches on the Castleholm Ground. They currently play their matches in the Border League.
In 1871, Langholm RFC was founded, being the oldest Rugby club in the Borders. Langholm RFC play in Scottish National League Division 1 and in the Border League.
Langholm also has a minor
The town also has a karate club, Langholm Shotokan Karate Club, which is part of the JKS Scotland.
Langholm Scouts (2nd Dumfriesshire) has been running for many decades, with some members attending the biggest events in
Arts and leisure
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c3/Clan_Armstrong_in_Langholm.jpg/220px-Clan_Armstrong_in_Langholm.jpg)
As well as the Scottish Episcopal Church now used as the Clan Armstrong museum, The
The Buccleuch Centre, is a well equipped venue with providing a regular programme of music and theatre.
The town is home to a music and arts festival, a food festival and the Langholm walks. Each year the annual
Langholm has both a pipe band and a brass band (known as the Town Band - or colloquially as The Toon Ban'). The Town Band is the oldest continuous brass band in Scotland and has won many national awards.
The town is also home to the Eskdale and Liddesdale Archaeological Society.
The Langholm Archive Group has a collection of information, photographs etc. about the locality.[24]
Langholm Project
The 'Langholm Project' or 'Langholm Study' is a reference to the Joint Raptor Study, a scientific study undertaken in the 1990s on Langholm Moor into the effects of
- aim to establish a commercially viable driven grouse moor. Within the time frame of the project, it is the intention to sell driven grouse days producing an annual income in excess of £100,000.
- aim to restore an important site for nature conservation to favourable condition
- seek to demonstrate whether the needs of an economically viable grouse moor can be met alongside the conservation needs of protected raptors, especially the hen harrier.
This more recent study is officially titled The Langholm Moor Demonstration Project, but like its predecessor it is generally known as 'the Langholm Project'. The current project is a joint venture between Buccleuch Estates,
See also
References
- ^ "Mid-2020 Population Estimates for Settlements and Localities in Scotland". National Records of Scotland. 31 March 2022. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
- ^ Langholm Online
- ^ Joseph Stevenson, Selections from unpublished manuscripts illustrating the reign of Mary Queen of Scotland (Glasgow, 1837), p. 1.
- ^ David Caldwell, Vicky Oleksy, Bess Rhodes, The Battle of Pinkie, 1547 (Oxbow, 2023), pp. 28–31.
- ^ Elizabeth Bonner, 'The recovery of St. Andrews Castle in 1547, French diplomacy in the British Isles', EHR (June 1996), pp. 583–586, 588–589.
- ^ Historic Environment Scotland. "Town Hall, High Street, Langholm (LB37122)". Retrieved 21 July 2022.
- ^ "Historic community buyout of part of Buccleuch Estate". Farmers Weekly. 3 November 2020.
- ^ "Community land buyout on the Buccleuch Estate looks doomed". The National.
- ^ "Neil Armstrong's Scots roots celebrated as Moon landing hero makes his final journey". HeraldScotland.
- ^ a b c Wilson, Lorraine (15 June 2015). "Mission To… Langholm?".
- ^ "Full record for 'NEIL ARMSTRONG IN LANGHOLM' (0536) - Moving Image Archive catalogue". movingimage.nls.uk.
- ^ "Scottish Tartans Museum". www.scottishtartans.org.
- ^ "Why Neil Armstrong visited Scottish town". BBC News.
- ^ "BBC - Scotland - The Wireless to the Web - Through the Decades". www.bbc.co.uk.
- ^ "Neil Armstrong in Langholm, Tyne Tees".
- ^ "Recalling Moon man's 'muckle' leap". 20 July 2009 – via news.bbc.co.uk.
- ^ Administrator, NASA (5 June 2013). "Neil Armstrong: 'We have lost a humble giant, but his legacy is forever'". NASA.
- ^ Date set for David Stevenson Freeman honour, Daily Record, 31 August 2012
- ^ "First minister 'very disappointed' by Edinburgh Woollen Mill move". BBC News. 24 May 2018.
- ^ "Buccleuch + Langholm initiative agreed historic buyout".
- ^ "Scottish village buys large part of Langholm Moor from Duke of Buccleuch". the Guardian. 2 November 2020.
- ^ "Home". E&L Advertiser.
- ^ Liptrott, Sharon (26 November 2010). "St Francis of Assisi RC church to close next month". Daily Record.
- ^ Langholm Archive Group. Retrieved 21 May 2010.
External links
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- Welcome to Langholm - Local Information
- Video of Langholm from the Air
- The Langholm Walks and Eskdale Prehistoric Trail Information.
- Search the local paper archive
- The Buccleuch Centre
- The Eskdale & Liddesdale Advertiser
- Langholm Alliance Community Organisation
- The Langholm Project