AIRDRIE, a town (of extent and importance), in the
parish of New-Monkland, Middle ward of the county
of Lanark, 11 miles (E. by N.) from Glasgow, and 32
(W. by S.) from Edinburgh; containing, in 1841, as
many as 12,418 inhabitants, of whom 25.56 were in the
then quoad sacra parish of East Airdrie, 3213 in that of
West Airdrie, 4666 in that of South Airdrie, and 1983
in that of High Church. This place stands on the principal
line of road between Glasgow and Edinburgh, and
occupies a slightly rising ground sloping westward, but
presenting no marked or interesting features. Little
more than a century ago, there was but a solitary farmhamlet
on the site of this large, well-built, manufacturing
and commercial town. Within the last fifteen years,
the place has increased in wealth and population to an
extent unequalled by any other burgh in Scotland. It
owes its rapid growth to the rich and extensive beds of
ironstone and coal which surround it, and the consequent
opening of iron-works and collieries in the neighbourhood;
whilst the situation of the town within a
moderate distance of the western metropolis of Scotland,
and other principal towns, has also given it a large
share in the weaving orders of the Glasgow manufactures.
In 1831, the population of the burgh amounted
to about 6000, and of the whole parish of New Monkland
to 9S67; according to the census taken in 1841,
the population of the burgh amounted to 12,418, and
that of the whole parish to 20,511. Airdrie enjoys the
benefit of both railway and canal communication. The
streets are lighted with gas, and well paved; the town
is watched by a party of police, and there is a company
called the Airdrie and Coatbridge water company. A
market for grain is held every Thursday, and fairs are
held on the last Tuesday of May, and third Tuesday of
November. Branches are established of the National
Bank, the Bank of Scotland, and the Western Bank of
Scotland.
The town was erected mto a free burgh of barony in
1821, by the act 1st and 2nd of George IV., cap. 60; and
by the general act 1st and 2nd of William IV., cap. 65,
it was made a parliamentary burgh, to share with Falkirk,
Hamilton, Lanark, and Linlithgow in the return
of a member to the house of commons. In 1S49 an
act was passed to extend and partly repeal the former
of these statutes; to provide for the municipal and
police government of the burgh; and the better paving,
watching, lighting, and cleansing of the place. Airdrie
is governed by a provost, three bailies, a treasurer, and
seven councillors, assisted by a town-clerk and a procurator-
fiscal. The town-hall is a neat edifice, comprising
also a police office, and a small prison for the
temporary confinement of offenders previous to their
committal to the Airdrie bridewell, a large and wellconstructed
building. There are, besides, different public
halls connected with the trade of the town, and a
theatre. Ecclesiastically this place is in the presbytery
of Hamilton, and synod of Glasgow and Ayr: the East
church, containing 631 sittings, was erected in 1797,
and the West church, containing 1200 sittings, in 1835.
There are two places of worship for members of the
Free Church, two in conne,\ion with the United Presbyterian
Synod, and places of worship for other denominations.
A town school is under the patronage of the
magistrates of the burgh, and the managers of the East
parish; it is attended by about 120 pupils in summer,
and SO in winter. Chalmers is of opinion that Airdrie
is the Ardenjtii of the British triads, on the heights of
which Rydderech the Bountiful, King of Strathclwyd,
in 577 defeated Aidan the Perfidious, King of Cantyre,
and slew Gwenddolan, the patron of Merlin, who was
also engaged in the battle. Near Airdrie is a mineral
well of a sulphureous quality, called Monkland Well.