LARKHALL, a quoad sacra district (for a time), in
the parishes of Dalserf and Hamilton, Middle ward
of the county of Lanark; containing, with the village
of Millheugh, 2453 Inhabitants, of whom 1609 are in the
village of Larkhall, 3^ miles (S. E.) from Hamilton.
The district comprised the lands of Broomhill, West
Machan, and Meadowhill; a portion of Dalserf lying
between those lands and the river Avon; and considerable
strips of the parish of Hamilton to the north and west.
The village of Larkhall, which is situated in the Dalserf
portion of the district, and on the great road from
Glasgow to Carlisle, is of modern erection, built on a
regular plan, and has latterly very much increased in
population. It is the largest village in Dalserf parish,
and mostly inhabited by weavers. In its vicinity are
several hamlets, rows of houses, and other dwellings,
the whole so approximating with It as to be considered
parts of one town. Within the last few years, a postoffice,
subordinate to Hamilton and Glasgow, has been
established; and other facilities are fast tending to the
Improvement and importance of the place. A small fair
is held in the month of June. The river Clyde flows at
a distance of two miles on the north-east. Ecclesiastically
Larkhall is within the bounds of the presbytery of
Hamilton, synod of Glasgow and Ayr; and the patronage
is vested in the male communicants: the stipend of
the minister is £80, derived from seat-rents. The
church, built by subscription, aided by the General
Assembly's extension fund, was opened for divine service
In Januarv, 1836, and contains 720 sittings, of
which thirty are free. There is also a place of worship
for the United Presbyterian Synod, containing about
700 sittings. A parochial school is held, in which,
besides the usual branches of education, Latin is taught;
the master has an annual salary of £5, with a house,
schoolroom, and garden, and the school-fees. The same
branches are taught in another school. A library, instituted
in the year 1S09, contains upwards of 500
volumes.