History

The village of Elsrickle lies on the ridge of Blackmount hill at the end of the Pentland Hills, four miles north east of Biggar, South Lanarkshire. It is adjacent to the A720 artierial route from teh Capital and is 20 minutes from the Edinburgh by-pass.

The area occupies a key location close to two of Scotland's great rivers, the Clyde flowing to the west, and the Tweed flowing to the east. The area has been occupied since Mesolithic times. The present day A702 follows the route of a Roman road, which linked the Clyde Valley with Musselburgh.

In the 12th century, a motte and bailey castle was constructed by the Normans, and the first permanent crossing of the Biggar Burn was built. It is thought that there has been a church at Biggar since the 6th or 7th century, although the first stone kirk was built in 1164, on the site of the existing kirk. In the 14th century, the Fleming family were given lands in the area by Robert the Bruce, whose cause they had supported. The Flemings built Boghall Castle, visible as a ruin until the early 20th century, but now only represented by a few mounds.

The town continued to grow as an important market town, and in 1451 the town became a burgh. The market place remains the central focus of the town. The kirk was rebuilt as a Collegiate church in 1546, the last to be established before the Reformation of 1560. The Flemings found themselves on the wrong side in the 16th century, when they supported Mary, Queen of Scots, and their lands were given over to the Elphinstone family.

Biggar Gas Works opened in 1836, producing gas from coal. In 1973, with the introduction of natural gas, the works closed. Biggar had its own railway station between 1860 and 1953.

John Brown the physician and essayist was born in a house in the South Back Road in 1810 which was at that time a manse. He is commemorated with a plaque on the front wall of the municipal hall.

In early 1900 a farmer located in Biggar founded Albion Motors as a small business which eventually grew into the largest truck company in the British Empire. The company still exists as part of the Leyland DAF group. The archives of Albion motors can still be found in Biggar.

 

Amenities and facilities

Local amenities in Biggar include a range of local shops, a pharmacist, post office, bank, hairdressers, beauticians and a supermarket. There is also a variety of public houses, hotels and restaurants. The nearerst main shopping area is Lanark which has a range of local and high street shops, supermarkets, restaurants and leisure facilities.

 

Transport links

Bus stop adjacent to Blackmount Common, with regular services to Biggar and onward to Lanark & Symington and Edinburgh. From Lanark town bus services operate to the outlying villages and to other major towns across South Lanarkshire, Wishaw and Motherwell. Lanark train station has links to several major towns across South Lanarkshire, Motherwell and Glasgow.

 

Nearest schools

Biggar High School
Market Road
Biggar
Lanarkshire
ML12 6FX

Walston Primary School
Elrickle by Biggar
Lanarkshire
ML12 6RA

 

Medical Amenities

Health Centre
Biggar Health Centre
South Croft Road
Biggar
Lanarkshire
ML12 6BE

Dentist
FH Andrews
213 High Street
Biggar
Lanarkshire
ML12 6DJ