'The Village' is the modern but long-established and formal name for the oldest known nucleus of settlement in East Kilbride, South Lanarkshire, Scotland. This 'old town' component was partially preserved and is distinguished in character from the large 'new town' which surrounds it. It serves as the facilities and retail nucleus at the heart of the pre-planned new-town neighbourhood of 'Mains', whose Modernist housing components were developed around the settlement's periphery and partly within it.East Kilbride Development Corporation, 1950 Master Plan, (East Kilbride: Internally published, 1950) These modern developments, spread across a broad area, were later distinguished in two halves separated by West Mains Road; West Mains in the west, and East Mains in the east, with most of the old village falling within the latter zone.East Kilbride Development Corporation, 'East Kilbride', within the Annual Reports of the New Towns, [various issues - 1940s-50s] (London: H.M.S.O., 1947-1953)
The historic core of the old village is designated as a historic and architectural Conservation Area, observed under the planning regulations of South Lanarkshire Council.South Lanarkshire Council, Planning & Building Standards, Conservation Area Maps: https://www.southlanarkshire.gov.uk/downloads/download/844/
Origins and early history The Village, originally called the 'Kirkton' or 'Kirktoun' of Kilbride, developed many centuries before the area was designated for new town development in the 1940s.Scottish Record Office, Indexes-No. 66: Index to Particular Register of Sasines for Sheriffdom of Lanark, Vol. I - 1618-1720 (Edinburgh: H.M.S.O., 1971) numerous entries The church at the core of East Kilbride Village is first attested in a late twelfth century record whose contents partly pertain to matters in the early twelfth century, in which period the church was possessed 'of old' by the Bishops of Glasgow.Innes, C. (ed.) Origines Parochiales Scotiae, vol. I (Edinburgh: Bannatyne Club, 1851) pp. 99-100 A stratum of settlement in the village area before the Middle Ages may be evidenced by the since destroyed large tumulus or cairn of Knocklegoil, which existed at Lymekilns just west of the village, and which may have a Hiberno-Scandinavian association indicated by its place-name reference to the Gall-Ghàidheil.Ure, D., The History of Rutherglen and East-Kilbride (Glasgow: David Niven, 1793) p.211 Occupation of some form during the Romano-British period may be evidenced by the discovery in circa 1900 of a Roman-style oil lamp found during ground works on the lands of Bosfield.Scottish Notes & Queries, vol. II, second series, Iss: July 1900, p. 09
Some level of early proto-urban growth is evidenced by the various trades like innkeepers, weavers, fleshers, traders, blacksmiths, wrights, legal writers, masons and more, that are testified in 'Kirkton of Kilbride' by early seventeenth century conveyancing records.Scottish Record Office, Indexes-No. 66: Index to Particular Register of Sasines for Sheriffdom of Lanark, Vol. I - 1618-1720 (Edinburgh: H.M.S.O., 1971) numerous entries However, the church of Kilbride certainly served the inhabitants of the wider rural parish using a dedicated vicar for the 'cure of souls', at least as early as 1417 AD.Innes, C. (ed.) Origines Parochiales Scotiae, vol. I (Edinburgh: Bannatyne Club, 1851) p.100
Certainly by the late-18th century, the Kirkton of Kilbride consisted principally of 71 dwelling houses, forming one chief street and two lanes, inhabited by 167 families that comprised 524 people in total.Ure, D., The History of Rutherglen and East-Kilbride (Glasgow: David Niven, 1793) p.147 Historical accounts and maps indicate that the 'one chief street' referred to was the combined axes of what would become Glebe, Montgomery and Parkhall Streets', while the two lanes represented a short urbanised stretch of Maxwellton Road (village end of what is now Maxwell Drive), and the western end of what would become Kittoch Street.Board of Ordnance (W. Roy), Military Map of Scotland (Lowlands), c. 1747-1752, British Library Charles III collectionNiven, T. E., East Kilbride: History of Parish and Village (Glasgow: Wilson, Guthrie and Lang, 1965) pp. 111-118
By the Victorian era, the main thoroughfares of the village had been formed much as they exist today: Kittoch Street, Parkhall Street, Main Street, Montgomery Street, Hunter Street, Glasgow Road/Kirkton Avenue (Old Coach Road), Stuart Street, Maxwell Street (Maxwell Drive), and Glebe Street.Ordnance Survey, Third Edition 25 inch-to-mile maps, East Kilbride Parish [several sheets], 1912-1914 Although, these streets did not have their names assigned until the early 1900s.Niven, T. E., East Kilbride: History of Parish and Village (Glasgow: Wilson, Guthrie and Lang, 1965) pp. 111-118
Landed estate identity Most of the village or Kirkton of Kilbride fell within the small estate of Kirkton, later called Kirktonholm after its mansion seat, which occupied a holmland by the Kittoch Water adjacent to what is now Kirktonholm Park.Ure, D., The History of Rutherglen and East-Kilbride (Glasgow: David Niven, 1793) p. 147Ordnance Survey, 25 inch-to-mile first edition series, Lanarkshire XVI.4 (East Kilbride) [surveyed 1857] The estate was originally a secular possession of the Church of Glasgow in their role as landlords, and it contributed to the support of the Chantors of Glasgow who resided in Kilbride from time to time.Register House, Register of the Great Seal of Scotland, [16th century volumes, various entries] (Edinburgh: General Register House)Wilson, J. A., 'East Kilbride Parish', in A Contribution to the History of Lanarkshire (Glasgow: J. Wylie & Co., 1936) The estate was later sold, passing through several families before becoming the property of a branch of the Montgomerie family.Ure, D., The History of Rutherglen and East-Kilbride (Glasgow: David Niven, 1793) p.147Robinson, G. et al (eds.), College of Glasgow v. Earl of Eglinton, &c., Decisions of the Court of Session (Edinburgh: Adam and Charles Black, 1839) p. 602
Some later 18th and 19th century annexes to the north, originally called Stewarton or the Newton of Kilbride, fell within the western part of the territory of Bosfield rather than Kirkton, whereas some of the Markethill and Graham Avenue properties occupied a portion of the territory of Lymekilns.Ure, D., The History of Rutherglen and East-Kilbride (Glasgow: David Niven, 1793) p. 147Robinson, G. et al (eds.), College of Glasgow v. Earl of Eglinton, &c., Decisions of the Court of Session (Edinburgh: Adam and Charles Black, 1839) p. 602Scottish Record Office, Register of the Great Seal of Scotland (Edinburgh: General Register House)
The small estate of Kirkton, under the Montgomeries, and inclusive of the village, was elevated to Burgh of Barony status by a royal charter granted by William III in 1702 (commonly misquoted as a charter of Queen Anne).Ure, D., The History of Rutherglen and East-Kilbride (Glasgow: David Niven, 1793) p. 147Niven, T. E., East Kilbride: History of Parish and Village (Glasgow: Wilson, Guthrie and Lang, 1965) pp. 22-23 This granted the right to hold markets and seasonal fairs, which further facilitated urbanisation of the village area. However, this should not be confused with the universal rights to hold common markets and fairs on the former Commonty, which was attached to the Kirkton of Kilbride.Ure, D., The History of Rutherglen and East-Kilbride (Glasgow: David Niven, 1793) pp. 203-204
Early Modern development Further urban growth and the rise of public utilities were catalysed in the late 1700s by the advent of a turnpike road system to the parish, and the subsequent arrival of the railway to the village in 1868.Niven, T. E., East Kilbride: History of Parish and Village (Glasgow: Wilson, Guthrie and Lang, 1965) pp. 222, 229-230, 236-237
As stated, the street names of the main thoroughfares were mostly assigned in the early 1900s. Their etymologies are as follows:Niven, T. E., East Kilbride: History of Parish and Village (Glasgow: Wilson, Guthrie and Lang, 1965) pp. 222, 229-230, 111-118
Auldhouse Road (later Brouster Hill): This road connected Kilbride village with Auldhouse hamlet in a more southerly part of the parish.Niven, T. E., East Kilbride: History of Parish and Village (Glasgow: Wilson, Guthrie and Lang, 1965) pp. 222, 229-230, 111-118
Glebe Street: From the glebe lands of the parish church, which this road led to.Niven, T. E., East Kilbride: History of Parish and Village (Glasgow: Wilson, Guthrie and Lang, 1965) pp. 222, 229-230, 111-118
Hunter Street: After the important medical pioneers born in the parish - Drs William and John Hunter.Niven, T. E., East Kilbride: History of Parish and Village (Glasgow: Wilson, Guthrie and Lang, 1965) pp. 222, 229-230, 111-118
Kittoch Street: After the close-by Kittoch Water (a small river)Niven, T. E., East Kilbride: History of Parish and Village (Glasgow: Wilson, Guthrie and Lang, 1965) pp. 222, 229-230, 111-118
Main Street: A later designation for the inner village urbanised portion of the Glasgow to Muirkirk Turnpike, which became the principle urban thoroughfare which attracted this moniker. An earlier name for part of this section was New Line, representing the new line of buildings erected along it.Niven, T. E., East Kilbride: History of Parish and Village (Glasgow: Wilson, Guthrie and Lang, 1965) pp. 222, 229-230, 111-118
Markethill Road: After the hill summit a short distance north of the village, which the road passes, where temporary markets were held during plagues in past centuries, to help prevent inter-urban transmission.Niven, T. E., East Kilbride: History of Parish and Village (Glasgow: Wilson, Guthrie and Lang, 1965) pp. 222, 229-230, 111-118
Maxwell Street / Maxwell Road: After its older name Maxwellton Road, both being references to the Maxwells of Calderwood, whose estate this road led through.Niven, T. E., East Kilbride: History of Parish and Village (Glasgow: Wilson, Guthrie and Lang, 1965) pp. 222, 229-230, 111-118
Montgomery Street: After the hereditary proprietors of much of the estate of Kirkton - The Montgomeries of Kirktonholm.Niven, T. E., East Kilbride: History of Parish and Village (Glasgow: Wilson, Guthrie and Lang, 1965) pp. 222, 229-230, 111-118
Glasgow Road / Kirkton Avenue / Old Coach Road: Originally the late-18th century Turnpike road connecting Glasgow with Muirkirk via Kilbride, and later urbanised near the village to create Kirkton Avenue - nod to the Kirkton of Kilbride. New Town development led to truncation and adoption of the conveyancing moniker 'the coach road' as Old Coach Road.Niven, T. E., East Kilbride: History of Parish and Village (Glasgow: Wilson, Guthrie and Lang, 1965) pp. 222, 229-230, 111-118
Graham Avenue: After the proprietors of most of that area, the Grahams of Lymekilns.Niven, T. E., East Kilbride: History of Parish and Village (Glasgow: Wilson, Guthrie and Lang, 1965) pp. 222, 229-230, 111-118
Parkhall Street: After the small territory of Parkhall which may have been a portion of the western half of the lands of Bosfield and possibly a part of Kirkton. The name refers to the park (field) of or associated with a haughland, possibly those in the vicinity of Kirktonholm.Niven, T. E., East Kilbride: History of Parish and Village (Glasgow: Wilson, Guthrie and Lang, 1965) pp. 222, 229-230, 111-118Stuart-Stevenson estate, Papers concerning Parkhall. Residual Estate Archive of Torrance: EK&DH Archive
Stuart Street: After the Stuarts of Torrance, key proprietors of large areas in the parish and village vicinity.Niven, T. E., East Kilbride: History of Parish and Village (Glasgow: Wilson, Guthrie and Lang, 1965) pp. 222, 229-230, 111-118
To these were later added the other main streets of: