Editing Airdrie, North Lanarkshire (section)

==History==

===Early history===
[[File:Blaeu - Atlas of Scotland 1654 - GLOTTIANA PRÆFECTVRA INFERIOR - Lower Clydesdale.png|thumb|right|[[Joan Blaeu|Blaeu]]'s map<ref>{{cite web|last1=Blaeu|first1=Joan|url=http://maps.nls.uk/geo/find/#zoom=15&lat=55.8640&lon=-3.9798&layers=17&b=1&point=55.8635,-3.9820|title=Glottiana Praefectura Inferior|website=National Library of Scotland|access-date=30 December 2017}}</ref> based on [[Timothy Pont|Pont]]'s original<ref>{{cite web|title=Glasgow and the county of Lanark - Pont 34|url=http://maps.nls.uk/rec/297|website=Maps of Scotland|publisher=Timothy Pont (16th century)|access-date=31 December 2017}}</ref> "Glasgow and the county of Lanark" map c.1596 depicting Ardry (Airdrie), Burnsyd (Burnfoot), Carnhil (Cairnhill), Gartly (Gartlea), and Ruchsols (Rochsoles) amongst others.]]
[[File:Arms of Airdrie.jpg|thumb|left|Arms of Airdrie - The town's motto is the Latin word Vigilantibus (Being Watchful). It comes from Aitcheson of Rochsolloch<ref>{{cite web|title=Airdrie|url=http://www.ngw.nl/heraldrywiki/index.php?title=Airdrie|website=Heraldry of the World|access-date=5 January 2018}}</ref>]]
[[File:She's oor ain toon still - geograph.org.uk - 1316877.jpg|thumb|right|"Be Airdrie what she will, She's oor ain toon still." anonymous quotation on Graham Street]]
There is no evidence to support the claim ([[George Chalmers (antiquarian)|George Chalmers]], Caledonia<ref>{{cite book|last1=Chalmers|first1=George|title=Caledonia : or, a historical and topographical account of North Britain, from the most ancient to the present times with a dictionary of places chorographical & philological|date=1887|publisher=Gardner|location=Paisley|page=246|edition=Vol 1|url=https://archive.org/stream/caledoniaorhisto01chal#page/246/mode/1up/search/Arderyth|access-date=5 January 2018}}</ref>) that Airdrie is the site of the ancient [[Battle of Arfderydd|battle of Arderyth]].<ref>{{cite book|last1=Skene|first1=William Forbes|title=Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland|date=1868|publisher=Neill and Co.|location=Edinburgh|pages=91–98|edition=Vol VI|url=https://archive.org/stream/proceedingssoci25scotgoog#page/n140/mode/2up/search/Arderyth|access-date=5 January 2018}}</ref> Under the patronage of King [[Malcolm IV of Scotland]] Cistercian monks established an abbey at [[Melrose Abbey|Melrose]] in 1136. Five years later a daughter house was founded at [[Newbattle Abbey]] in Lothian. In 1160, Malcolm granted lands in central Scotland to the monks of Newbattle. These became known as the "Munklands" (Register of the Great Seal 1323).<ref name="JamesKnox">{{cite book|last1=Knox|first1=James, Sir|title=Airdrie: A Historical Sketch|date=1921|publisher=Baird & Hamilton|location=Airdrie|url=https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015074854087;view=1up;size=150|access-date=4 January 2018}}</ref>{{rp|p=3}}

Malcolm's Charter constitutes the oldest documentary record of place-names in the Monklands. The area of land granted by the Charter is clearly defined by direct reference to geographical and topographical features thus: ''Dunpeldre by its right boundaries, namely with Metheraugh and Mayeuth and Clarnephin as far as Dunduffes in the east.'' The name ''Dunpeldre'' is found in the modern name Drumpellier, ''Metheraugh'' is Medrox; ''Mayeuth'' is Myvot and ''Clarnephin'' refers to the [[North Calder Water]] in the east of the parish (from old Brittonic name ''claur n afon'' meaning plain of the river). ''Dunduffes'' has become directly translated into the modern [[Black Hill transmitting station|Black Hill]] which, as the Charter states, lies at the eastern extremity of the parish. The Charter does not mention anything resembling Airdrie, although this is where Airdrie is located.<ref name="JamesKnox"/>{{rp|p=3}}

Airdrie owes its existence to its location on the 'Hogs Back' – a ridge of land running from east to west.<ref>{{cite web|title=Airdrie|url=http://www.monklands.co.uk/airdrie/|website=Monklands Memories|access-date=4 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150111113307/http://www.monklands.co.uk/airdrie/|archive-date=11 January 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> One very important aspect of the town's history was the [[Cistercian]] monks of [[Newbattle Abbey]], which is why the area is called the Monklands. The monks were farmers and some of their place names survive, e.g., Ryefield and Whifflet (the wheat flats). Much of the land they used is known today as 'The Four Isles' (a housing estate named after four Scottish islands): [[Isle of Mull|Mull]], [[Islay]], [[Iona]] and [[Luing]] in the Petersburn area of modern Airdrie.  The [[monk]]s of Newbattle had numerous establishments throughout the area including a [[farm]] grange at Drumpellier, Coatbridge, a court house at [[Kipps]], a [[chapel]] in the area of Chapelhall and a number of corn [[Mill (grinding)|mills]]. The Monks were also expert in the construction of roads. In the 12th century, they established the original Glasgow to [[Edinburgh]] road via Airdrie and [[Bathgate]], to link up with their lands in Newbattle in [[East Lothian]].<ref name="JamesKnox"/>{{rp|p=3}}
[[File:The Robert Hamilton Memorial - geograph.org.uk - 1315490.jpg|thumb|right|The Robert Hamilton Memorial]]

Definitive evidence of the existence of Airdrie as a tenantry was only made clear in 1503. The old monks' road was via Cliftonhill (an area now in neighbouring Coatbridge), Airdrie House (now the site of [[Monklands Hospital]]), Aitchison Street, High Street, Hallcraig Street, Flowerhill Street and Colliertree Road. The first houses in Airdrie were built along this road. Development was slow and it was only around 1650 that evidence of the number of [[population|inhabitants]] was known at around 500 for the Airdrie area. A large contingent of Airdrieonians fought at the [[Battle of Bothwell Brig]] during the Covenanter Rebellion of 1679; their banner can still be viewed at the local library.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.scotsman.com/news/banner-headline-covenanters-2508399|title=Banner headline for Covenanters|date=19 February 2002|newspaper=The Scotsman|access-date=8 October 2022}}</ref>

{{Infobox UK legislation
| short_title           = Airdrie Fairs and Market Act 1695
| type                  = Act
| parliament            = Parliament of Scotland
| long_title            = Act in favours of Robert Hamilton of Airdry for four yearly fairs & a weekly Mercat at the toun of Airdry.
| year                  = 1695
| citation              = [[List of acts of the Parliament of Scotland from 1695|1695]] c. 94
| introduced_commons    = 
| introduced_lords      = 
| territorial_extent    = 
| royal_assent          = 17 July 1695
| commencement          = 
| expiry_date           = 
| repeal_date           = 
| amends                = 
| replaces              = 
| amendments            = 
| repealing_legislation = 
| related_legislation   = 
| status                = 
| legislation_history   = 
| theyworkforyou        = 
| millbankhansard       = 
| original_text         = 
| revised_text          = 
| use_new_UK-LEG        = 
| UK-LEG_title          = 
| collapsed             = yes
}}
A significant event in Airdrie's history was the 1695 passing of a special act of Parliament, the '''{{visible anchor|Airdrie Fairs and Market Act 1695}}'' (c. 94)<ref name="JamesKnox"/>{{rp|p=17}} in the Scottish Parliament allowing Robert Hamilton of Airdrie to hold four fairs yearly and a weekly market in the town of 'Airdry'. This helped develop Airdrie from a 'farm town' into a thriving 'market town'.<ref>{{cite web|title=1986 AIRDRIE AN OPEN AIR MARKET|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/history/domesday/dblock/GB-276000-663000/page/8|website=Domesday Reloaded|publisher=BBC|access-date=5 January 2018|ref=D-block GB-276000-663000}}</ref>

However, Airdrie really came to prominence through its [[weaving]] industry. Airdrie Weavers Society was founded in 1781 and [[flax]] was being grown in sixteen farms in and around the [[burgh]]. In the last decade of the eighteenth century, [[coal mining]] was in progress and around thirty [[Coal mining|colliers]] were employed. Weaving continued to flourish making up a substantial part of the population of over 2,500 around the turn of the 19th century.<ref name="JamesKnox"/>{{rp|p=73-85}}

{{Infobox UK legislation
| short_title           = Airdrie Improvement Act 1821
| type                  = Act
| parliament            = Parliament of the United Kingdom
| long_title            = 
| year                  = 1821
| citation              = [[1 & 2 Geo. 4]]. c. lx
| introduced_commons    = 
| introduced_lords      = 
| territorial_extent    = 
| royal_assent          = 28 May 1821
| commencement          = 
| expiry_date           = 
| repeal_date           = 
| amends                = 
| replaces              = 
| amendments            = 
| repealing_legislation = {{ubli|Airdrie Corporation Order Confirmation Act 1951}}
| related_legislation   = 
| status                = repealed
| legislation_history   = 
| theyworkforyou        = 
| millbankhansard       = 
| original_text         = https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukla/Geo4/1-2/60/pdfs/ukla_18210060_en.pdf
| revised_text          = 
| use_new_UK-LEG        = 
| UK-LEG_title          = 
| collapsed             = yes
}}
Given its large number of weavers, its geographic location and a large number of unemployed soldiers following the end of the [[Napoleonic Wars]], Airdrie became a major centre of support for the [[Radical War]] of 1820. The rapid pace of population growth continued and by 1821 there were 4,862 inhabitants. At this time, the number of houses being built increased dramatically and in 1821, by a local [[act of Parliament]], the '''{{visible anchor|Airdrie Improvement Act 1821}}''' ([[1 & 2 Geo. 4]]. c. lx), Airdrie became a free and independent [[burgh of barony]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://vlex.co.uk/vid/airdrie-improvement-act-1821-808481269|title=Airdrie Improvement Act 1821|publisher=Vlex| access-date=8 October 2022}}</ref>

In 1821, the first election of a town council took place and by August it had appointed an assessor, [[Procurator Fiscal|procurator fiscal]], master of police and a [[town crier]]. Anyone who had paid their 3 [[guineas]] was allowed to vote; there is even a record of a John Mackay voting despite being under 10 years old.<ref name="JamesKnox"/>{{rp|p=63}}

In 1824, it was decided to build the [[Airdrie Town House]], originally designed by Alexander Baird and now a local landmark known as the 'town clock'.<ref name=townhouse>{{Historic Environment Scotland|num= LB20926|desc= Bank Street, The Townhouse |access-date=29 March 2021}}</ref> In 1832, the Town House was used as a hospital due to the [[cholera]] outbreak of this year.<ref name=townhouse/>

===1850 to 1920===
[[File:Airdrie Town Hall - geograph.org.uk - 1227063.jpg|thumb|left|[[Airdrie Town Hall|Sir John Wilson Town Hall]]]]
The enormous growth in population was not due to high birthrate, but instead due to an influx of residents from the [[Scottish Highlands|Highlands]] and predominantly Ireland. This followed the [[Highland Potato Famine|Highland potato famine]] of the mid-1840s and also reflected the change from cottage industry to [[heavy industry]] in the area. Most of the Irish immigrant population were involved with [[mining]] and labouring.
This led to an increase in ironwork [[Foundry|foundries]] around the area. Because of this explosion in industry, [[Rail transport|railway]] links were established starting in 1826.<ref name="JamesKnox"/>{{rp|p=72}} By 1862, the Airdrie and Bathgate Junction Railway provided a direct link to Edinburgh with Airdrie South Station providing the starting point for trains to Glasgow.<ref>{{cite web|title=O.S. Map with zoom and Bing overlay|url=http://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=17&lat=55.8655&lon=-3.9797&layers=168&b=1|website=National Library of Scotland|publisher=Ordnance Survey|access-date=30 December 2017}}</ref>

In August the [[Public Libraries Act 1850|Public Libraries Act (Scotland) 1853]] was passed, and in November [[Airdrie Public Library]] became the first in Scotland.<ref name="Mort">{{cite book|last1=Mort|first1=Frederick|title=Lanarkshire|date=1910|publisher=Cambridge University Press|location=Cambridge|page=151|url=https://archive.org/stream/lanarkshire00mortuoft#page/150/mode/2up/search/airdrie|access-date=4 January 2018}}</ref><ref name="JamesKnox"/>{{rp|p=117-119}}
[[File:Rear of Airdrie library - geograph.org.uk - 1227072.jpg|thumb|right|Rear of Airdrie library with Observatory Dome]]
The dramatic rise in population and industry prompted the need for more accessible water supplies. Until the mid-1800s, various wells were put in place feeding from surrounding streams in the area. These served to provide many houses with private wells. By 1846 Airdrie and Coatbridge Water Company was founded to construct (along with Forth and Clyde Canal Company) the reservoir at Roughrigg.<ref name="JamesKnox"/>{{rp|p=110-112}}

Journalism in Airdrie began with "The Airdrie Literary Album" in 1828. Several local newspapers began appearing around this time notably the [[Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser]] in 1855, which is still the most popular local paper today.<ref name="JamesKnox"/>{{rp|p=125-129}} The prison was legalised in 1859 and had 51 cells.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Groome|first1=Francis Hindes|title=Ordnance gazetteer of Scotland : a survey of Scottish topography, statistical, biographical, and historical|date=1882|publisher=T.C. Jack|location=Edinburgh|page=36|edition=Vol 1|url=https://archive.org/stream/ordnancegazettee01groo/ordnancegazettee01groo#page/36/mode/2up/search/airdrie|access-date=5 January 2018}}</ref>

Airdrie Working Men's Club was established in 1869.<ref name="JamesKnox"/>{{rp|p=150-151}} Also around this time, [[association football|football]] and [[cricket]] began to emerge as popular sports. Following the codification of association football rules a local team called Excelsior was formed in 1878 which would later be renamed [[Airdrieonians F.C. (1878)|Airdrieonians]]. Horse race meetings were also held in the town (1851–1870) but this land became the golf course for the newly formed Airdrie Golf Club in 1877.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.airdriegolfclub.co.uk/page.aspx?pid=59237|title=About us|publisher=Airdrie Golf Club|access-date=8 October 2022}}</ref>

[[Education]] posed a major problem with severe overcrowding in the few schools available, therefore three new school boards were established. In the early 1830s there were about 800 pupils while the town had about 7,000 residents.<ref name="William Blackwood and Sons">{{cite book|last1=Begg|first1=James|title=The new statistical account of Scotland.|date=1845|publisher=William Blackwood and Sons|location=Edinburgh and London|pages=244–245|edition=Vol 6|url=https://archive.org/stream/b21365805_0006#page/n261/mode/2up/search/airdrie|access-date=3 January 2018}}</ref> Fees were routinely charged within the schools with the belief they should be self-supporting until an act of Parliament of 1889{{which|date=April 2024}} relieved some of the infant classes in schools of this burden. [[Airdrie Academy]] was built in 1849 and by 1919 all school boards were dissolved and Lanarkshire Education Authority took over responsibility for education throughout [[Lanarkshire]].<ref name="JamesKnox"/>{{rp|p=112-116}}

[[Airdrie Public Observatory]], one of only four public observatories in the UK (second oldest and smallest) – all in Scotland, was founded in the first library building in 1896, and is still operated in the present building by the Airdrie Astronomical Association a Scottish [[space exploration|astronautic]] and [[astronomy]] society and registered charity.<ref name="JamesKnox"/>{{rp|p=120-121}}

By the turn of the 20th century [[variety show]]s were becoming popular in the area and by 1911 the Pavilion in Graham Street was built which after initially being used as a music hall started showing cinematographic pictures. Unfortunately it was destroyed by fire in 1917 but was rebuilt in 1919 and finally closed in 1970. The New Cinema was opened in 1920 in Broomknoll Street but it too has since closed. The town had no suitable venue for larger functions so in 1912 the [[Airdrie Town Hall|Sir John Wilson Town Hall]] was opened (following an offer of £10,000 from Sir John Wilson).<ref>{{Historic Environment Scotland|num= LB20947|desc= Stirling Street, Sir John Wilson Town Hall Including Gatepiers |access-date=29 March 2021}}</ref>

On 9 July 1918 nineteen miners died in the [[Stanrigg Mining Accident|Stanrigg Pit Disaster]]. The pit was situated in boggy land and collapsed after being saturated by heavy rainfall.<ref name="SMW">{{cite web|title=Stanrigg 9th July 1918|url=http://www.scottishmining.co.uk/45.html|website=Scottish Mining Website|access-date=12 May 2017}}</ref>

===1920 onwards===
[[File:Airdrie War Memorial - geograph.org.uk - 222475.jpg|thumb|right|Airdrie War Memorial]]
At the end of the [[World War I|First World War]], Airdrie was hard hit with many casualties from the war. Unemployment reached 30% in the local area.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GGhvmMCbQLUC|page=66|title=A History of Scotland in Modern Times|first=Alastair|last=Gray|publisher=Oxford University Press|year=1989|isbn=978-0-19-917063-0 }}</ref> After years of moving from one site to another, the first purpose built library in Airdrie was opened in Anderson Street in 1895. However, this only lasted 30 years until the current Airdrie Library building was erected in 1925.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/local-news/call-retain-airdrie-arts-centre-2827198|title=Call to retain Airdrie Arts Centre for community use|date=18 January 2012|work=Daily Record|access-date=15 April 2021}}</ref>
[[File:ASTRA - Airdrie Library Building Anderson Street.JPG|thumb| The first Airdrie Public Library building, a [[Carnegie library]] opened 1894.]]

Conditions in the town did not really improve until well after the [[World War II|Second World War]] but in 1949 the [[Boots Group|Boots]] [[Pharmaceutical industry|pharmaceutical company]] and Banner Textiles Ltd were attracted to the town (between them employing 1200). With this impetus, new companies began to consider Airdrie as a viable option for business and in 1958 [[Pye Ltd.|Pye]] opened employing over 1000 people. The emergence of industrial estates was also prevalent around this time (Newhouse, Chapelhall, and Brownsburn). The Airdrie Arts Centre opened in 1967 in the former Airdrie Library building, and was a popular venue for concerts and plays, but was closed in 2012 by North Lanarkshire Council.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://database.theatrestrust.org.uk/resources/theatres/show/2795-airdrie-arts-centre|title=Airdrie Arts Centre &#124; Theatres Trust|website=Database.theatrestrust.org.uk|access-date=4 June 2022}}</ref>

Between 1964 and 1991, the town was the location of a [[Royal Observer Corps]] monitoring bunker, to be used in the event of a nuclear attack. No trace remains today.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Airdrie ROC Post – Subterranea Britannica |url=https://www.subbrit.org.uk/sites/airdrie-roc-post/ |access-date=2022-10-10 |website=subbrit.org.uk}}</ref>

[[File:The Holehills Flats - geograph.org.uk - 1742668.jpg|thumb|right|The Holehills Flats (now demolished)]]
The 1970s saw the opening of [[Monklands Hospital]], which replaced an older hospital on the Airdrie House estate.<ref>{{cite web| title=HoC 11th Dec 1970| url=https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/commons/1970/nov/11/airdrie-general-hospital| work=[[Hansard|Parliamentary Debates (Hansard)]]| date=11 November 1970| access-date=2009-08-29}}</ref> Airdrie hosted the [[Royal National Mòd|National Mòd]] in 1993.<ref name=SMO>[http://www.smo.uhi.ac.uk/gaidhlig/mod/ List of Mod's places] for each year on [[Sabhal Mòr Ostaig]] website</ref>

In the 21st century, the town has continued to grow as a residential settlement, with development and conversion of some town centre buildings, such as the Historic Orrs Department Store into new homes.<ref name="Housing1">{{cite web | title=Transformation of Airdrie department store nears completion | website=Scottish Housing News | date=2024-05-15 | url=https://www.scottishhousingnews.com/articles/transformation-of-airdrie-department-store-nears-completion | access-date=2024-08-07}}</ref> In 2024, permission was given for a significant expansion of the town, with the creation of up to 3,000 new homes in East Airdrie on former mining land.<ref name="Housing2">{{cite web | title=Expansion of East Airdrie to provide 3,000 new homes | website=Scottish Housing News | date=2024-07-16 | url=https://www.scottishhousingnews.com/articles/expansion-of-east-airdrie-to-provide-3000-new-green-grid-homes | access-date=2024-08-07}}</ref>