Lesmahagow

Lesmahagow (Gaelic: "Lios MoChuda") is a small town on the edge of moorland, near Lanark in the central belt of Scotland, and is also known as Abbey Green.

Etymology

The name is possibly a corruption of "Church of St Machutus". The saint was born in Wales and may originally have been known as "Mahagw" prior to emigrating to Brittany where he became known by the Latinised form of the name and also as "St Malo". It is also possible that the first syllable may mean "garden" rather than "church", although Mac an Tailleir (2003) believes the former was altered from the latter in Gaelic. [ [http://www.lesmahagow.com/history/annals/CH01/01001.htm "Chapter 1 - Derivation of Name.."] lesmahagow.com. Retrieved 14 February 2008.] [cite web| url=http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/vli/language/gaelic/pdfs/placenamesK-O.pdf| title=Placenames| author=Iain Mac an Tailleir| publisher=Pàrlamaid na h-Alba|format=PDF| accessdate=2007-07-23]

Religion

Lesmahagow was a site of the ancient Celtic Church of Scotland. The monks of the Priory were nearly all excommunicated for practicing the 'Celtic Rite' which was seen as heresy.

The town has two Christian congregations in the Church of Scotland, namely Lesmahagow Old Parish Church and Abbeygreen Church, plus churches of other denominations.

Lesmahagow Priory, founded by Benedictine monks in 1144, no longer stands but its foundations were excavated in 1978 and can be seen next to the Old Parish Church off Church Square.The Scottish branch of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness operates from Lesmahagow.

Jim Holton, renowned Scottish football centre-half, was born in Lesmahagow in 1951.He died in October, 1993, aged 42, after suffering a heart attack at the wheel of his car.

Population in 2007 stands at 8,453.

Twin towns

Clydesdale International Twinning Association (CITA) was set up in 1975 to promote the benefits of twinning to all sections of the local community. Lesmahagow falls under the Clydesdale community and consequently became linked to Hemmingen in Lower Saxony, Germany; and Yvetot, in Normandy, France. Every year many people from all over Clydesdale get the chance to visit these beautiful places. In return, residents of Hemmingen and Yvetot have the opportunity to visit Lesmahagow and the surrounding towns and villages.

*Yvetot in France

Yvetot is a town in Normandy, in the north of France. Clydesdale has been twinned with Yvetot since 1975. In 1986, a street in Carluke was named Yvetot Place, in honour of the continuing relationship.

*Hemmingen in Germany

Hemmingen is a town in the Lower Saxony region of Germany. We have been twinned with them since 1984. Many people from all over Clydesdale have been lucky enough to go to Hemmingen.

References

External links

* [http://www.lesmahagow-cc.org/ Lesmahagow Community Council]
* [http://www.lesmahagow.com/ Lesmahagow Community Website]
** [http://www.lesmahagow.com/history/annals/annals.htm The Annals of Lesmahagow]