STEWARTON-AND-WISHAWTON, a village, in the
parish of Cambusnethan, Middle ward of the county of
Lanark, 3i miles (E. by S.) from Hamilton; containing
2149 inhabitants. These places adjoin each other, and
form a considerable village, situated in the western
quarter of the parish, on the high road from Carluke to
Hamilton, on both sides of which the houses are for the
most part built. The population is principally engaged
in manufactures, and in the collieries of the neighbourhood.
A large distillery has been lately erected at the
west end of the village by Lord Belhaven, with sheds
for feeding cattle, and other buildings, the whole of the
best masonry, and in complete uniformity, presenting a
handsome range. On the estate of Wishaw a tile-work,
also, is in operation; and the vicinity is altogether important
as a mineral district. The Wishaw and Coltness
railway, for which an act was obtained in 1829, extends
from the termination, in the parish of Old Monkland, of
the Monkland and Kirkintilloch railway, southward to
the estates of Wishaw, Coltness, and Allanton, all in this
parish. An act was passed in 1849 authorizing the sale
of this railway to the Caledonian railway company.
Wishaw House, the seat of Lord Belhaven, stands on the
river Calder, about a mile from the village, and is a fine
mansion in the castellated style, the outline much varied
by the different heights and projections of the towers
and embattled walls. The apartments are suitable to
the extent of the building; and several of them, remarkable
for their elegance, contain family and other
portraits. Around the house are extensive orchardgrounds
and gardens. A school in the village is well attended.