Editing Milngavie

{{Short description|Town in Scotland}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2024}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox UK place
| country                          = Scotland
| official_name                    = Milngavie
| gaelic_name                      = Muileann-Ghaidh
| os_grid_reference                = NS553744
| coordinates                      = {{coord|55.9421|-4.3137|display=inline,title}}
| population                       = {{Scottish locality population|name|POP=Milngavie}}
| population_ref                   = ({{Scottish settlement population citation|year}})<ref>{{Scottish settlement population citation}}</ref>
| unitary_scotland                 = [[East Dunbartonshire]]
| lieutenancy_scotland             = [[Dunbartonshire]]
| post_town                        = GLASGOW<ref>{{cite web|author=Evox Facilities |url=http://www.evoxfacilities.co.uk/evoxptn.html |title=List of UK post towns |publisher=Evox Facilities |access-date=22 February 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120219123813/http://www.evoxfacilities.co.uk/evoxptn.html |archive-date=19 February 2012 }}</ref>
| postcode_district                = G62
| postcode_area                    = G
| dial_code                        = 0141
| constituency_westminster         = [[Mid Dunbartonshire (UK Parliament constituency)|Mid Dunbartonshire]]
| constituency_scottish_parliament = [[Clydebank and Milngavie (Scottish Parliament constituency)|Clydebank and Milngavie]]
| static_image_name                = Milngavie-Center.JPG
| static_image_caption             = Milngavie town centre (pedestrianised area)
| edinburgh_distance               =
| london_distance                  =  
}}
'''Milngavie''' ({{IPAc-en|audio=Milngavie.ogg|m|ʌ|l|ˈ|ɡ|aɪ}} {{respell|mul|GHY}};<ref>{{cite book|title=BBC Pronouncing Dictionary of British Names|date=1990|editor-last=Pointon|editor-first=Graham|edition=2nd|publisher=Oxford University Press|page=172|isbn=0-19-282745-6|url=https://archive.org/details/bbcpronouncingdi00gepo}}</ref> {{langx|gd|Muileann-Ghaidh}})<ref name=ainmean-aite>{{cite web|url=https://ainmean-aite.scot/placename/milngavie|title=Milngavie|publisher=Ainmean-Àite na h-Alba|access-date=3 February 2021}}</ref> is a town in [[East Dunbartonshire]], Scotland and a suburb of [[Glasgow]]. It is on the [[Allander Water]], at the northwestern edge of [[Greater Glasgow]], and about {{convert|10|km|mi|0|abbr=off|spell=on}} from [[Glasgow city centre]]. It neighbours [[Bearsden]]. Milngavie is a [[commuter town]], with much of its working population travelling to Glasgow to work or study. The town is served by [[Milngavie railway station]] on the [[North Clyde Line]] of the [[Strathclyde Passenger Transport|SPT]] rail network, which links it to Central Glasgow.

In 2018, the Scottish Government published statistics for the town showing that the population increased{{clarify|date=July 2024|reason=Increased from what? One number and a claim of increase is meaningless. The article at  has a 2001 stat, but it's unclear whether that is sourced.}} to 13,537 in 6,062 households.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://statistics.gov.scot/atlas/resource?uri=http://statistics.gov.scot/id/statistical-geography/S13002901 |title=Scottish Government Statistics - Milngavie |work=Scottish Government |date=2018 |access-date=27 March 2020}}</ref> The town is also a popular retirement location, with a high number of elderly people living there.

The ''Milngavie and Bearsden Herald'', owned by [[Johnston Press]], is a weekly newspaper that covers local events from the schools, town halls, community and government in the area. The paper was established in 1901 and is printed every Wednesday, to be sold on Thursdays.

The town is the start point of the [[West Highland Way]] [[long distance footpath]] which runs northwards for {{convert|154|km}} to the town of [[Fort William, Scotland|Fort William]]. A [[granite]] [[obelisk]] in the town centre marks the official starting point of the footpath.

== History ==
Milngavie's name is of Gaelic origin, and may mean either "windmill" ({{lang|gd|muileann-gaoithe}}) or "windy hill" ({{lang|gd|meall na gaoithe}}).<ref>{{cite book|title=A Dictionary of British Place-Names|last=Mills|first=David|date=2011|page=328|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-960908-6}}</ref> The town grew from a country village in the parish of [[New Kilpatrick]] to a minor industrial centre in the nineteenth century, with paper mills and bleach works on the Allander River to the north-west of the town centre.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gwsfhs.org.uk/features/walks/Milngavie_Industrial_Past.pdf |title=Milngavie's Industrial Past |publisher=GWSFHS |date=2016 |access-date=23 January 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161109155550/http://gwsfhs.org.uk/features/walks/Milngavie_Industrial_Past.pdf |archive-date=9 November 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Some remnants of this industry remain today on the Cloberfield Industrial Estate. The land surrounding the village comprised several estates with tenant farms, amongst them Barloch, Clober, Craigton, Craigdhu, Dougalston, [[Douglas of Mains|Douglas Mains]] and [[Douglas of Mains|South Mains]].

Stone-built villas and semi-detached houses were constructed for wealthy citizens to the east of the town centre and around Tannoch Loch when commuting to Glasgow was made possible by the opening of the railway which reached the town in 1863.
After [[World War II]] a local authority housing scheme was built to the west of the town centre, housing many people relocated from [[Clydebank]] which had been [[Clydebank Blitz|badly bombed]]. The town grew with the addition of private speculative housing developments of bungalows and semi-detached homes at South Mains to the south of the town centre and around Clober, to the west, in the 1950s and 1960s.

The town was historically served by routes 13 and 14 of the extensive [[Glasgow Corporation Tramways|Glasgow tramway system]]. Tramway services in Milngavie were withdrawn in 1956 and the entire system was dismantled by September 1962.

The Fairways estate was built, starting in 1977 and continued into the 1980s.

The town centre was redeveloped to improve traffic flow and pedestrian safety. The central commercial streets were pedestrianised starting in 1974 and many buildings were replaced. A superstore was opened on the fringes of the town centre in the 1990s.

In 2008, residents launched a tongue-in-cheek campaign to bring the Olympic games to Milngavie in 2020.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/glasgow_and_west/7343174.stm |title=Milngavie bids to host Olympics |work=BBC News |date=11 April 2008 |access-date=30 July 2009}}</ref>

Today the town is primarily a dormitory town for the nearby city of [[Glasgow]].

== Governance ==
Milngavie, originally in Stirlingshire, was in an area that became an [[exclave]] of [[Dunbartonshire]] on the orders of King [[David II of Scotland|David II]] (1324–1371).  In 1875, whilst remaining part of Dunbartonshire, it became a [[police burgh]] under the jurisdiction of the [[Stirlingshire]] constabulary and retained burgh status for 100 years until 1975 when it was absorbed into the newly created [[Strathclyde Region]].

Milngavie is located to the north of the neighbouring town of [[Bearsden]]. Although the two are in close proximity, the social histories of these two towns differ significantly. Bearsden grew almost exclusively as a dormitory town of Glasgow for the wealthy and professional classes. In that sense both towns now fulfil a similar role. The two became a single local authority district in 1975, before [[Local government of Scotland|Scottish Local Government]] reorganisation in the 1990s re-integrated them with the towns of [[Kirkintilloch]] and [[Bishopbriggs]], to form the [[East Dunbartonshire]] administrative area.

In 2014, businesses in Milngavie voted in favour of becoming a [[Business_improvement_district#Scotland|Business Improvement District (BID)]] to work with [[East Dunbartonshire Council]] and community groups to improve the town and commercial viability of the central pedestrianised business area.<ref>{{cite web |title=New additions to town centre will help Milngavie really go places |url=https://www.eastdunbarton.gov.uk/news/new-additions-town-centre-will-help-milngavie-really-go-places |publisher=East Dunbartonshire Council |access-date=7 December 2022 |ref=EDC |date=11 February 2022}}</ref> 

== Landmarks ==
[[File:The start of the West Highland Way (geograph 6199493).jpg|thumb|West Highland Way obelisk, Milngavie]]
[[File:Milngavie water works (AHP).jpg|thumb|[[Milngavie water treatment works]]]]
Little remains of the pre-nineteenth century village other than the Corbie Ha' meeting hall, Cross Keys [[Public House]], although now renovated and renamed, and the Gavin's Mill [[water mill]] on the [[Allander Water]] along with Barloch House and Barloch Farm.

There are a few good examples of nineteenth century stone villas along the Station Road as well as the well preserved nineteenth century railway station. Many interesting Victorian houses around the Tannoch Conservation Area show Scottish cottage, [[Scottish Baronial]], [[Classical architecture]] and [[Gothic Revival architecture|Gothic]] influences. The town centre and Strathblane Road have remaining Victorian shop/[[tenement]] buildings and a few [[Arts and Crafts movement|Arts and crafts]] influenced commercial buildings. Craigmillar Avenue and the area around Baldernock Road have some large Arts and Crafts and [[Glasgow Style]] influenced houses. 
[[File:View across milngavie.jpg|thumbnail|right|View across Milngavie]]

The bulk of the housing stock is twentieth century, showing Scottish [[vernacular]] influences such as [[harl]]ing or rough-casting, and, occasionally, more traditionally English elements like black and white timber paneled [[dormer]] windows and gables.

The public [[sheltered housing]] projects of the 1970s and 1980s are interesting for their attempts to use traditional local materials like grey rough-cast and slate plus interesting rounded walls and [[pitched roof]]s.

The most recent development is characterised by some interesting one-off conversions and extensions to Victorian properties; new housing by developers that often follows designs based on the brick architecture of the [[South of England]]; and contemporary steel framed commercial and leisure buildings.

The [[Milngavie water treatment works|Milngavie reservoir]] is visited by tourists and walkers. The reservoir is made up of the Craigmaddie and Mugdock reservoirs and was opened in 1859 by [[Queen Victoria]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/158786/details/glasgow+corporation+waterworks+milngavie+craigmaddie+reservoir/ |title=Glasgow Corporation Waterworks, Milngavie, Craigmaddie Reservoir |publisher=Canmore.rcahms.gov.uk |date=2 April 2003 |access-date=21 August 2016}}</ref> It is the main supplier of water to the city of [[Glasgow]] and can hold up to {{convert|548|e6impgal|GL|abbr=off}} of water.

The war memorial is by [[George Henry Paulin]].

The Auld Wives' Lifts, an interesting natural rock feature, is located on Craigmaddie Muir to the north east of Milngavie.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Auld Wives' Lifts|url=http://www.educationscotland.gov.uk/Images/PasseportLiteracyMonumentsAuldWives_tcm4-731540.pdf|publisher=Education Scotland|access-date=21 August 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130107200556/http://www.educationscotland.gov.uk/Images/PasseportLiteracyMonumentsAuldWives_tcm4-731540.pdf|archive-date=7 January 2013}}</ref>

== Education ==
=== Secondary schools ===
* [[Douglas Academy]]: A state-funded secondary school, which includes a Music School for gifted children who gain entry through audition and board in Glasgow's West End

===Primary schools===
State funded:
* Clober Primary
* Craigdhu Primary
* Milngavie Primary

Privately funded:
* The Glasgow Academy Milngavie is a fee paying Nursery and Primary School that is part of [[The Glasgow Academy]], whose senior school and other departments are located at Colebrooke Street in the [[West End of Glasgow]].

== Places of worship ==
* Allander Evangelical Church
* Cairns Church of Scotland
* [http://www.milngavie.church/ Milngavie United Free Church of Scotland]
* St. Andrew's Episcopal Church
* St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church
* St. Luke's Church of Scotland
* [[St Paul's Church (Milngavie)|St. Paul's Church of Scotland]]

Originally Milngavie was in the [[New Kilpatrick|Parish of New Kilpatrick]], the church being that of New Kilpatrick in [[Bearsden]], with no formal place of worship in the town until the eighteenth century.
Milngavie now has three stone built churches dating from the early twentieth century within 500 m of each other. Until the 1970s these three were all Church of Scotland congregations (those of St.Paul's, Cairns, and St.Luke's) in consequence of the history of the [[Kirk]] ([[Church of Scotland]]) which saw a multitude of factions and congregations organise, each with varying forms of worship and constitutional arrangements, and which subsequently re-integrated. St.Paul's was always in the fold of the Church of Scotland and is now the [[parish church]] of Milngavie. It was originally housed in a simple grey stone church building above the Station Road beside the Milngavie Primary School before moving to a handsome red sandstone building on the [[Strathblane]] Road in 1906. The original building is now apartments. From 1799 Cairns Church had been located in a building on [[Mugdock Road]] close to the 'preaching braes' on [[Barloch Moor]] where the congregation's first services had taken place. It moved to its present building on Buchanan Street in 1903 which displays elements of the [[Glasgow Style]] of architecture and design. St.Luke's had been built as the Milngavie United Free Church. In the 1970s it was decided that the concentration of churches in one area should be reviewed and a new St. Lukes was built on the western side of the town to serve the residents of Clober. The [[Roman Catholic Church]] bought the old St.Luke's Church and moved their congregation to the new premises from a church (also "St. Joseph's" - now no longer there) on Buchanan Street at Moor Road which was associated with the neighbouring Roman Catholic Convent of Ladywood which closed in the 1970s.

== Sporting institutions ==
[[Rangers F.C.]] has their professional training facility, The [[Rangers Training Centre]], at Auchenhowie Road in the east of the town. It was officially opened on 4 July 2001 by then-manager Dick Advocaat and then-chairman David Murray, after whom it was originally named as Murray Park. The total cost of the complex was estimated at £14 million. Following improvements completed in 2019, the facility became the regular home venue for competitive matches played by Rangers' Women's team, Reserve team and Under 18's team as well as many younger age groups. On 2 August 2019 the new Academy Stand with an all-seated capacity of 250 was officially opened at The Rangers Training Centre before hosting a reserve friendly against Chelsea F.C. finishing in a 1–1 draw.

Milngavie is the base of [[West of Scotland F.C.]], a rugby club, which dates from 1865 and is one of the founder members of the [[Scottish Rugby Union|SRU]]. They were one of the first open rugby clubs in Scotland, i.e. not affiliated to any school.

Due to the town's suburban and residential profile, it is home to many sporting clubs and facilities.
* Allander Leisure Centre
* Milngavie Cricket Club
* Milngavie Bowling Club
* Claremont Bowling Club [[File:V milngavie.jpg|thumbnail|right|[[Virgin Active]] Milngavie. Previously [[Esporta|Esporta Health Clubs]] and now operating as [[Nuffield Health|Nuffield Health Milngavie]]]]
* Clober Golf Club
* Milngavie Golf Club
* Milngavie Wanderers AFC
* Nuffield Health Fitness and Wellbeing
* Hilton Park Golf Club
* Glasgow Vipers Inline Hockey Club
* Sports Direct Fitness.com (formerly LA Fitness)
* Milngavie Lawn Tennis Club
* Western Wildcats Hockey Club
* Milngavie Football Club<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.milngaviefootballclub.co.uk/|title=www.MilngavieFootballClub.co.uk|website=www.milngaviefootballclub.co.uk}}</ref>
* Milngavie and Bearsden Amateur Swimming Club

== Notable people ==
The playwright [[Robert McLellan]] grew up in the town where his father, John, founded and ran the local Allander Press, with premises in the Black Bull Yard from c.1912.{{Citation needed|date=January 2023}}

The footballer [[Murdo MacLeod]], who played for Dumbarton, Celtic, Borussia Dortmund and Hibernian, and at international level for Scotland, was born and brought up in Milngavie.{{Citation needed|date=January 2023}}

The former [[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrat]] leader [[Jo Swinson]] was born and brought up in Milngavie. She attended local school [[Douglas Academy]]. She is the former Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Employment relations, consumer and postal affairs, having lost her seat in the 2015 General Election, only to regain it in 2017. She then lost her seat in 2019, resulting in Jo stepping down as leader for the Liberal Democrat Party.{{Citation needed|date=January 2023}}

Prof [[Edward Eisner]] of the [[University of Strathclyde]] lived in Milngavie.<ref>{{cite book|title=Biographical Index of Former Fellows of the Royal Society of Edinburgh 1783–2002|date=July 2006|publisher=The Royal Society of Edinburgh|isbn=0-902-198-84-X|url=https://www.royalsoced.org.uk/cms/files/fellows/biographical_index/fells_indexp1.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www.royalsoced.org.uk/cms/files/fellows/biographical_index/fells_indexp1.pdf |archive-date=9 October 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref>

Racing driver [[Gerry Birrell]] was born and raised in Milngavie before moving south to London as he became more successful.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://sidepodcast.com/post/gerry-birrell-what-might-have-been|title=Gerry Birrell - What might have been|last=Roy|first=Steven|date=15 January 2010|website=Sidepodcast|access-date=27 December 2018}}</ref>

[[Margaret Cunnison]] (29 May 1914 – 4 January 2004) was a Scottish aviator and the first Scottish woman flying instructor. She was one of the first women to join the Air Transport Auxiliary.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cunnison, Margaret MacDonald (W.6) |url=https://www.ata-ferry-pilots.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=80:accident-logs-1943&catid=2:uncategorised |access-date=2025-03-25 |website=www.ata-ferry-pilots.org}}</ref>

Professional footballer [[Greg Docherty]] was born in the town<ref>{{Cite web |title=Greg Docherty {{!}} Charlton Athletic Football Club |url=https://www.charltonafc.com/player/309 |access-date=24 August 2024 |website=www.charltonafc.com |language=en}}</ref> and attended [[Douglas Academy]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=31 August 2018 |title=Milngavie academy is real deal for local Rangers star Greg Docherty |url=https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/milgavie-academy-is-real-deal-for-local-rangers-star-greg-docherty-260146 |access-date=24 August 2024 |website=The Scotsman}}</ref> He is currently club captain at [[Charlton Athletic F.C.|Charlton Athletic]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Greg Docherty named club captain {{!}} Charlton Athletic Football Club |url=https://www.charltonafc.com/news/greg-docherty-named-club-captain#:~:text=Greg%20Docherty%20has%20been%20named,think%20that%20goes%20without%20saying. |access-date=24 August 2024 |website=www.charltonafc.com |language=en}}</ref> and has previously played for [[Hull City A.F.C.|Hull City]], [[Rangers F.C.|Rangers]] and [[Hamilton Academical F.C.|Hamilton Academical]].

== See also ==
* [[Milngavie water treatment works]]
* [[Bennie Railplane]]
* [[List of places in East Dunbartonshire]]
* [[List of places in Scotland]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}
{{East Dunbartonshire Settlements}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Milngavie| ]]
[[Category:Burghs]]
[[Category:New Kilpatrick]]
[[Category:Towns in East Dunbartonshire]]
[[Category:Greater Glasgow]]