 Lanark
History & Information
Lanark
Lanark may trace its beginnings to Roman times and beyond. St
Kentigern preached here (the ruins of a church erected later in
his name may still be seen), but the place first came into
history when David I (1124-1153) built a castle on a steep bank
above the Clyde and Lanark was made a royal burgh. According to
local tradition William Wallace married Marion Bradfute in the
Church of St Kentigern, lived in the town, brawled with the
English and, after they had murdered his wife, started the Wars
of Independence.
Robert the Bruce probably enlarged the castle, which was more a hunting lodge than
a fortress, founded a chapter of Franciscans and
encouraged the building of St Leonard's
Hospital, some remains of which are
still visible although the castle has vanished, leaving its name only in Castlegate. There are, however, more tangible
relics of Brace's days in the 'Pease
tree', an oak, which he planted near
Lee Castle when he gave those lands
to the Lockharts; and the Lee Penny or 'Talisman', made famous by Sir Walter
Scott in his novel of this latter
name.
This is a semi-precious stone set in an Edward 1 shilling which Simon
Lockhart of Lee is said to have taken from a Moor
in Spain when he accompanied Sir James Douglas on his
journey with Brute's heart to the Holy Land.
The Leee Penny still In the possession of the Lockharts of
carnwath, was until quite recent
times believed to have magical powers
in curing skin diseases.
Lanark has two other
treasures, both in bell
form: the Old Bell, in the tower of the parish church,
is said to have been first founded in 1110,& recast in 1659
and 1740, broken in 1838 and re-founded
at the expense of James Murray, Chronometer Maker to the Admiralty, who was born
in Lanark:
and the Silver Bell, the oldest horse-racing trophy in the world. The
silver for this may have been given by William the Lion, but it
definitely dates from 1590 to 1600, as proven by its marks (RD.XID.HL.). The RD represents Robert Denneistoun or
Danielston, a Freeman Goldsmith of Edinburgh in 1597; the 'HL' Henry
Lindsay, admitted a Goldsmith at Edinburgh in 1587; and
the XID means 11 deniers.
The Bell, competed for
each September over fourteen mile horse race has a small
shield attached for each winner, and the
earliest of these is that of Sir Johne Hamilton of Trabourn in 1628: in 1953, when the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh paid
a Coronation visit to Lanark,
they saw the shield recording that the Silver Bell was won by her
father. King George VI. in 1946 with a horse called Kingstone.
Lanark's final link with its historic past is the Festival of Lanimers,
dating from its first Charter, held on a Thursday between 6 and 12
June', and
including among its festivities and processions the Riding of
the Marches. |
