STRATHAVEN, a market-town and burgh of barony,
in the parish of Avondale, Middle ward of the
county of Lanark, 16 miles (S. S. E.) from Glasgow,
and 42 (W. S. W.) from Edinburgh; containing 385'2
inhabitants. It appears to have derived its origin from
the erection of a castle here by Andrew Stuart, grandson
of Murdoch, Duke of Albany, to whom James IH.
granted the barony of " Avendale," of which that nobleman
made this place the principal seat. The castle,
whose imposing and venerable ruins occupy the summit
of a rocky eminence rising from the small and beautiful
river Pomilion, appears to have been of great strength,
and accessible only by a drawbridge over that stream,
by which it was entirely encircled. During the usurpation
of Cromwell, Anne, Duchess of Hamilton, to whose
ancestor this barony had been given in exchange, fled
for refuge into the castle, where she continued to reside
till after the Restoration; but since her death, in 1716,
it has fallen into decay, and at present is only a mouldering
ruin, adding much, however, by its picturesque
appearance, to the interest of the surrounding scenery.
The TOWN is pleasantly situated on the road from
Edinburgh to Ayr, at the termination of a ridge of rising
grounds, and on the banks of the Pomilion, by which
Strathaven is divided into two nearly equal parts. It
has an aspect of considerable antiquity, more especially
in the immediate vicinity of the castle, which was probably
the earliest portion. The streets in this part of
the town are very narrow and irregularly formed, and
the houses mean; but in that part which is of more
recent erection, the houses are generally neat and commodious,
and the streets wide and reg\dar. In the environs
are some handsome villas, the residence of the
more opulent families. The thoroughfares are lighted
with gas by a company lately formed, consisting of the
principal inhabitants; and the town is well supplied
with water. The chief manufacture carried on, both in
the town and parish, is weaving; there are three breweries,
and many persons deal extensively in cheese and
cattle, in which more business is transacted here than,
with the exception of Glasgow, in the whole of the rest
of the county. Branches of the Bank of Scotland and
the Union Bank of Scotland are established; the post
is frequent, and the general trade of the place is much
promoted by the facility of communication with Edinburgh,
Glasgow, and the principal towns in the neighbourhood.
In 1S46, an act was passed authorizing the
construction of a railway of fifteen miles and a quarter
from the Glasgow and Neilston line near Pollockshaws
to Strathaven; also an act for a branch to Strathaven
from the Glasgow, Kilmarnock, and Ayr railway near
Blair. In the following year, an act was obtained for a
branch from the Clydesdale Junction railway to Strathaven
and Douglas. The market is well supplied with
butchers' meat and every article of dairy-produce; and
great quantities of veal are sent from this place to Edinburgh
and Glasgow, where it is in high repute, and obtains
a good price. Fairs are held on the first Thursdays
in January, March, and November, and the last
Thursdays in June and July; there are also markets
for hiring servants held twice a year, in April and October.
The inhabitants had formerly an extensive common,
but within the last few years it has all become
private property. Strathaven was erected into a burgh
of barony in 1-1.50, and is governed by a bailie appointed
by the Duke of Hamilton; who, however, for some years
has not been resident. Upwards of forty houses, the
brewery of Mr. Vallance, and the large tan-works of
Mr. Semple, were burnt down on November 1st, 1844.
There is a place of worship for members of the Free
Church. See Avondale.