Rutherglen
| Rutherglen Scots: Ruglen | |
| Lanarkshire | |
|---|---|
 Rutherglen Town Hall | |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | NS607617 |
| Location: | 55°49’41"N, 4°13’26"W |
| Data | |
| Population: | 25,000 |
| Post town: | Glasgow |
| Postcode: | G73 |
| Dialling code: | 0141 |
| Local Government | |
| Council: | South Lanarkshire |
| Parliamentary constituency: |
Rutherglen and Hamilton West |
Rutherglen is a town in Lanarkshire, close in to the urban growth of Glasgow though not quite absorbed.
This is a town with a long history, but transformed by the modern era; today’s Rutherglen is built upon heavy industry, and the waste product of its chemical factories is visible all around. Soluble [chromium (VI)] waste has seeped into the ground. Today though the largest factories have closed and Rutherglen, alike with most of the towns encircling the great city, is a dormitory suburb of Glasgow.
History
Rutherglen received the status of Royal Burgh in 1126 by Royal Charter from King David I, who ruled from 1124 to 1153. In the 14th century Walter Stewart, father of King Robert II, was granted Farme Castle. This was located close to Farme Cross in the east of Rutherglen, and stood until the 1960s.
Rutherglen was a centre of heavy industry, having a long coal mining tradition which died out by 1950. J&J White’s Chemical Works (later ACC Chrome&Chemicals) in Shawfield, which was in existence from 1820 to 1967, produced more than 70% of the UK’s Chromate products including chromic acid, chromic oxide pigment, sodium and potassium chromate and dichromate.
Transport
Rutherglen Main Street is served by Rutherglen railway station and there are also numerous bus links into Glasgow City Centre. Completion of the A74(M) and M74 motorways means that there is a motorway going through the town, that will allow easier access to Glasgow Airport and the cities of the south.
Media
- Newspaper: The Rutherglen Reformer.
Sport
- Football: Rutherglen Glencairn FC, formed in 1896
Close by too is Hampden Park, the main stadium of the Scottish League. Queen's Park FC's home ground is nearby as is as Cathkin Park (home of the defunct Third Lanark FC. A little north is Celtic Park, the home ground of the famous Celtic FC.
Clyde Football Club used to play here before moving to Cumbernauld.
Outside links
References
Books
- Rutherglen Lore by W. Ross Shearer, printed in 1922