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East Kilbride
Scottish Gaelic: Cille Bhrìghde an Ear Scots: East Kilbride
Scottish Parliament	East Kilbride
UK Parliament	East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow CC
European Parliament	Scotland
List of places: UK • Scotland

East Kilbride (Cille Bhrìghde an Ear in Scottish Gaelic) is the largest town in Scotland, according to GRO Scotland's 2004 estimates. Scotland's largest new town, it is the fifth largest Scottish settlement by population size (73,820) - larger than Paisley (72,970).

East Kilbride is on high ground, about 15 km (9.5 miles) south east of Glasgow city centre. The Rotten Calder (River) flows along the east side of East Kilbride, northwards towards the River Clyde.

Contents 1 East Kilbride, New Town 2 Background & History 3 Town Centre & Shopping 4 Transport 5 Significant Buildings 6 Parks & Sports 7 Residential Precincts of East Kilbride 8 Famous Residents 9 Local Government District 10 East Kilbride Constituencies 11 Twin towns 12 References 12.1 Primary Sources 13 External links 14 Further interest 14.1 New Towns

East Kilbride grew from a small village of around 900 inhabitants in 1930.to become eventually a large burgh . After the Second World War Glasgow was suffering from chronic shortages of housing, which were partially due to bomb damage from the war. Prior to the war, the city was suffering from severe overcrowding, particularly in areas such as the Gorbals. As a direct result the Greater Glasgow Regional Plan 1946 allocated sites where satellite new towns were to be constructed to help alleviate the problem through an overspill agreement. Glasgow would also undertake the development of its peripheral housing estates. East Kilbride was the first new town to be designated in 1952 (Cowling 1997)

East Kilbride is often jokingly referred to by Glaswegians as "Polo Mint City", owing to the high concentration of roundabouts in its road system. The town has been subdivided into residential precincts, each with its own local shops, primary schools and community facilities. The housing precincts surround the town centre which is bound by a ringroad. Industrial estates are concentrated at sites to the north, west and south, on the outskirts of the town.

The earliest evidence of habitation in the area dates back to ancient graves found near the Kype Water to the south of the district. Roman coins and footwear have also been found in the area.

East Kilbride takes its name from an Irish saint, St Bride (or Brigit) who founded a monastery for nuns and monks in Kildare, Ireland in the 6th century. Irish monks introduced her cult to Scotland. Kil, from the Gaelic cill, means church or burial place.

The area of East Kilbride is home to a river valley which, apart from the Avon Gorge, is unique in the way it was formed. A river usually starts off narrow, fast-flowing, with steep cliffs, and in the hills. This is the youth of the river. Later once the river reaches flat land it begins to widen and meander and flow slower. This is the river's middle age. Calderglen is interesting in that it flows fast, has steep cliffs and is fairly narrow (youth stage) but also meanders. The Rotten Calder therefore has its river youth after its middle age, as the river source is on flatter land and is meandering and slow flowing.

Calderglen was in the past celebrated as a picturesque wooded valley. It was the home of a noble family known as the Maxwells of Calderwood who resided in Calderwood Castle. The remnants of Calderwood Castle were demolished in 1955.

The original parish church was located on the site of a pre-Christian sacred well, which is possibly the origin of the association with St. Brigit, since the well was dedicated to the Celtic goddess whose traditions the reverence of St. Brigit has continued. Over the centuries the church has been destroyed and rebuilt several times. As a result its current location deviates from its original site by about 50m. The original site, and site of the sacred well, ironically lies under a property that was until recently an off-sales/liquor store.^{[citation needed]}

The presence of the oystercatcher bird in the coat of arms arises because this bird was considered sacred to both St. Brigit and her pre-Christian antecedent.

The town is occupied by a large shopping centre comprising 6 linked malls, developed in phases. The malls are known by local residents as "The Town Centre". This holds the title of the 2nd largest indoor shopping centre in Scotland after Silverburn shopping centre within Glasgow city itself.

The six malls are The Plaza (development started in 1972), Princes Mall (1984), Olympia (1988), Southgate (1989), Princes Square (1997) and Centre West (2003). The shopping centre has come under recent criticism for losing major retail chains in light of rising rental prices. This coupled with the Centre West expansion and decreasing shopper numbers has allowed swathes of properties within the centre to remain closed for months at a time, notably on the first floor of Centre West and the Plaza.

A £400m redevelopment of East Kilbride town centre has been given the go-ahead by South Lanarkshire Council. The plan would demolish some existing buildings to create a new civic centre, a state-of-the-art health centre, a library and shopping facilities ^{[1] [2]}.

It would also see a "landmark" arts and culture complex with a 1,000-seat theatre, a 500-seat conference centre, a museum and a new town square.

Parking spaces in the town centre would increase from 3,000 to 8,700 spaces. The first stage of the plan could start in 2006, with completion of the major elements in 2012/2013. It is hoped the project - the various phases of which will require full planning permission - will create up to 3,000 temporary jobs over the 10-year construction programme and 2,000 permanent jobs.

The new civic and health facilities would be created at the site currently occupied by Plaza Tower, which would be demolished, with the theatre and arts facilities being created at the adjoining Olympia Centre.

The current civic centre and the adjoining Hunter Health Centre would be demolished to make way for the first phase of development, which would include a major food retail store.

East Kilbride is connected to Glasgow by bus and rail. East Kilbride Bus Station, at the town centre, was recently rebuilt and provides modern facilities. East Kilbride train station is situated in the Village. Trains depart to Glasgow Central railway station every half hour, with a journey time of 30 minutes. The town is also served by Hairmyres train station.

East Kilbride's primary bus operator is First Glasgow which provides regular services to Glasgow, Motherwell and Airdrie, and the surrounding area. Stagecoach West Scotland provide a half-hourly to hourly service to Ayr, McKindless provide an hourly service to Wishaw, Carluke and Lanark, and smaller bus operators provide links to other destinations such as Strathaven and Newarthill.

Similar to other New Towns in Scotland and England, the road network within the town is populated by numerous roundabouts giving rise to the nickname "Polo Mint City".

Dollan Baths
One of the most significant buildings of an earlier phase of development was Dollan Baths leisure complex (opened 1968) which has Grade A listed status.

Duncanrig Secondary School
In 1950 Lanarkshire County Council commissioned Basil Spence & Partners to build a new secondary school on a green-field site, nine miles south of Glasgow. Opened in September 1956, Duncanrig was the first school built for the new town of East Kilbride.

The internal wall of the two storey foyer was covered with a colourful mural by William Crosbie representing the history of the Clyde.

The building is due to be demolished in 2007.

Hunter House Museum
See below under Famous Residents.

East Kilbride Thistle F.C. are the town's main football club. (It is the largest town in Scotland without a senior football team.)

East Kilbride RFC, are based at Calderglen Country Park. East Kilbride Lawn Tennis Club is one of the oldest tennis club in Scotland. East Kilbride Pirates play in the British American Football League.

East Kilbride Cricket Club, founded in 1962, is also based at Calderglen Country Park.

Athletics in the town is covered by 3 athletics clubs. Whitemoss, East Kilbride 'Number 1' and Calderglen. Both Whitemoss and East Kilbride Athletic Club are based at the John Wright Sports centre.

v • d • e Areas of East Kilbride
Birniehill · Calderwood · College Milton · Crutherland · East Mains · Gardenhall · Greenhills · Hairmyres · Kelvin · Kingsgate · Lindsayfield · Mossneuk · Murrayhill · Nerston · Newlandsmuir · Peel Park · Philipshill · St Leonards · Stewartfield · The Murray · The Village · West Mains · Westwood · Westwoodhill · Whitehills

Former and current residents include musicians Roddy Frame (Aztec Camera), the Reid brothers (The Jesus and Mary Chain) and Andrew Montgomery (Geneva), footballers Ally McCoist, Scott McDonald and Paul Wright, television presenter Lorraine Kelly, actor John Hannah, actress Blythe Duff (Taggart) and actress Dee Hepburn (Gregory's Girl). East Kilbride was also the hometown of 18th century pioneering medical brothers William Hunter and John Hunter; their birthplace is now the Hunter House Museum in Maxwellton Road. Actor David Duchovny (X Files) spent summer holidays in East Kilbride in his youth, visiting his uncle who lived in the town.

East Kilbride District 1975-96

From 1975 East Kilbride lent its name to a local government district in the Strathclyde region. In 1996 administrative functions were taken over by the South Lanarkshire unitary council. (See: Subdivisions of Scotland)

There is an East Kilbride constituency of the Scottish Parliament. Since the opening of the Scottish Parliament, the constituency has been represented by Andy Kerr MSP (Labour).

East Kilbride was formerly a constituency of the UK Parliament. In 2005 it was replaced by the constituency of East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow. The seat has been held since 1987 by Adam Ingram.

• Ballerup, Denmark

1. ^ East Kilbride Town Centre redevelopment [1]
2. ^ BBC News (2006) New town could get £400m facelift [2]

• Cowling, D (1997) An Essay for Today: the Scottish New Towns 1947-1997 (Rutland Press, Edinburgh)

• East Kilbride Rep Theatre Company
• Interactive picture guide of East Kilbride
• East Kilbride's Shopping Centre
• Business and Community
• Local Theatre Company
• Local Pipe Band
• Community and Local Events

• "The Disappointing New Towns of Great Britain
• "New Towns: Can They Be Given New Life?"
• "Building Towns for the future"

Coordinates: 55.77140° N 4.19504° W