Cambuslang Parish in Lanarkshire, Scotland

‘Two brilliant cousins leave a tiny village in the west of Scotland sharing a mission: to make the world a better place.’ € This is a quote from the Kindle description of The Claudians: gardens, landscapes, reason and faith: John Claudius Loudon and Claudius Buchanan by Tom Turner, (Kindle, 2024). 

More about the parish of Cambuslang

Cambuslang was the birthplace of John Claudius Loudon and his cousin Claudius Buchanan. The below account of Cambuslang is extracted from The Statistical Account of Scotland: Drawn Up from the Communications of the Ministers of the Different Parishes, Volume 5, Sir John Sinclair, W. Creech, 1793

‘Cambuslang is situated in the county of Lanark, the Presbytery of Hamilton, and the Synod of Glasgow and Ayr. It is something less than 3 miles square, and may be stated as containing about 8 square miles in superficial extent.’

‘“Cambus,” in the Gaelic language, signifies a crooked torrent or rivulet. “Lang,” was the name of a saint, famous for being the founder of many monasteries. The present kirk, which occupies the very spot where the old kirk stood, is situated on the bank of a remarkably rapid and crooked rivulet.’

‘Though beautifully diversified with hill and dale, there are no high grounds in the parish, except Dichmount Hill and Turnlea Hill.  [Gilbertfield Castle on the north slope of Dechmont Hill, belonged to the Hamilton family.] The parish is distinguished by its beautiful scenery, and from the top of Dichmount, there is certainly one of the finest inland prospects in Scotland. Amidst the amazing variety of objects, which here present themselves to the eye of the spectator, the most striking are, the windings of the river, and its banks adorned with villages, towns, and gentlemen's seats; the extensive woods and plantations about Hamilton; the magnificent ruins of Bothwell castle; but above all, the large and populous city of Glasgow, with its numerous spires and venerable cathedral.’

‘The wages of labourers here, as in other places, vary according to circumstances. A labourer gets from 10d. to 1s. a-day without victuals. A mason or carpenter, from 1s. 6d. to 1s. 10d.; a woman, from 4d. to 6d Masons get 2s. and other tradesmen 1s. 8d. for a day's work, without victuals.’

‘Somewhat more than 100 acres are kept in pasture. Every other part of the parish is arable. The usual course of crops is 1. Fallow; 2. Wheat, or Barley, or Oats, with Grass Seeds; 3. Hay or Pasture for 2 or 3 years. The lands are well enclosed with thorn hedges and a great many stone dykes.’

‘In the beginning of this century, there were very few, if any looms, in the parish. They are now (1793) increased to 112. The trade in every branch of the cotton manufacture is so brisk, that many weavers are employed in weaving muslin, jaconets, lawns, cambrics, and such like. But by far the greatest number, in weaving plain and corded dimities. Many of the women and children are employed in flowering the muslin webs, before they are sent to the market.’

‘Several seams of excellent coal run through this parish. The most common kind is the Smithy coal, which sells at the work, for about 3d. Several waggon ways have been made for the convenience of carrying it away; but there is none yet made to the Clyde, for want of a safe and commodious quay, on that part of the river. At present, about 100,000 cart loads are drawn annually to Glasgow and the neighbourhood.’

‘In a parish so populous as this, the number of poor, who, either in whole or in part, are supported by the kirk-session, is considerable. About 40 are in this situation. Some of these are completely indigent; but many, from their connection with friends and relations, could do with little or no assistance from the public, were it not for the heavy and unavoidable burden of high rents. Were it not also for this burden, a great number of day-labourers would at present be in comfortable circumstances; but now their wages are scarcely sufficient to maintain their families in the necessaries of life.’

‘It has been observed, that the inhabitants of this parish live to a considerable age; but there are now many middle-aged persons in it, who never tasted of ale or porter. Every householder, however, makes use of small beer for his family. So great is the force of prejudice, that no woman is allowed to milk a cow, that has calved for the first time; it being a general belief, that this would dry up the milk.’