Lanark – Home to Many Historical Attractions

Lanark has a railway and a coach station, with frequent services to Glasgow. Some residents commute to work in Glasgow and Edinburgh. There is very little industry in Lanark. The shops in Lanark serve the local agricultural community and surrounding villages. Also on the outskirts of Lanark there is a large modern livestock auction.

Celebrations are frequently hosted in Lanark and are very traditional. One such festival is the Lanimer celebration, involving the town’s schoolchildren who parade in fancy dress with decorated vehicles, pipe bands and a Lanimer Queen who is elected from the local children. A music program was also started in Lanark in 2000 to bring a variety of quality live music performances to the town.

Also worth noting in the town of Lanark are some of the old buildings along with some fine parks. Something not to miss is the Falls of Clyde near New Lanark that offer a spectacular view. The town park of Castlebank lies near the former site of Lanark Castle and allows access to the River Clyde and the Clyde Walkway. You may also want to see the Corehouse Nature Reserve that has a large boating lake, so you can enjoy a slow ride down the river. Another point of historical interest in Lanark is that St. Nicolas’ Parish Church, which is thought to have the oldest church bells in the world that date from 1130. Also, you can see the ruins of St. Kentigern’s that date back to 1180.

St. Kentigern’s church was built upon the site of an earlier church. It is said that this is the church in Lanark where William Wallace got married to Marion Braidfute. It is very possible that William Wallace attended St. Kentigern’s church. When St. Nicholas’ Parish Church was renovated some skeletons were found and amoung them was the skeleton of a lady who would have been alive about the same time as William Wallace. Also discovered was pottery from the time.

It would be worth your while to come and visit this most interesting town.

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