LAN ARK, the county town of Lanarkshire, is situated on the northern bank of the Ciyde, on an elevated situation, 32 miles south-west of Edinburgh, and 25 miles south-east from the city of Glasgow, in 55' 34' of North Latitude, and 3' 5' of West Longitude from Greenwich.
Lanark is a place of great antiquity. It is supposed to be the Colania of Ptolemy, a Roman road having passed either through or near the town to the site of its castle, formerly a station of that people, in the direction of Lon don-hill into Ayrshire. At an after period, it seems to have been a place of some importance; for here, accord ing to Buchanan, Kenneth 11. in the year 978, held a par liament, or meeting of the estates of the realm, the first mentioned in Scottish history.
Lanark was erected into a royal burgh by Alexander the First, whose charter, together with those granted by Robert I. and James V. were confirmed by Charles I. in 1632. These charters, from the ample privileges they confer upon the burgesses, prove that it was at least, in the time of Alexander, the principal place in this district of the country, and even then, the county town, and as such, its inhabitants had the sole right of carrying on com mercial business within the shire, all others being prohibit ed from buying " wool or leather within our said sheriff dom of Lanark, or exercising any other merchandize,"— " or making and dyeing cloths"—" except burgesses of our said burgh."—Charter of Alexander I.
In 1244, Lanark, according to Fordun, was almost en tirely destroyed by fire, but from what cause it proceeded is now unknown.
At this town, in 1297, Wallace made his first effort to redeem his country from a foreign sway, by taking the place, with a few of his friends, and killing Hesilrig, the governor or sheriff, and upwards of 200 of his countrymen, in consequence of his wife having been unjustly put to death by Hesilrig's orders. The castle of Lanark, which was erected upon the site of the Roman station, or castel lum, has undergone several sieges. It was built by David I. and, at times, was the residence of that monarch. From this castle, in the year 1197, is dated the charter granted by William the Lion to the town of Ayr, erecting it into a royal burgh. In the negociation which took place between Philip of France and John Baliol, relative to the marriage of Philip's Deice to Baliol's son, Baliol, in security of the lady's jointure, mortgaged this castle along with his estates in France and some other lands.
Lanark has, from a very remote period, had the privi lege of keeping the standard for all weights that are used in Scotland, as appears from several authentic documents ; particularly an act of parliament in 1617, narrating, that of old, the keeping and outgiving of the weights to the burghs and others was committed to•this town. and again of new
committing to it " the care of the weights," for the public use of the realm. In consequence of enjoying this privi lege, new standard weights were sent from London to La nark at the Union, by which the other weights in Scotland should be regulated.
This town is built nearly in the form of the letter K, its streets diverging from the centre in a similar manner: These are, the High Street, which runs east and west in a line with tilt Bloomgate, and terminates at the cross—a little below which the Bloomgate begins, and extends west to the extremity of the town—the Wellgate, which branches from the cross in a south-east direction—and the castle gate and Broomgate, which likewise diverge from the same point towards the south-west.
Lanark is governed by a provost, two bailies, a dean of guild, and 13 councillors; and has seven incorporations. It is classed with Linlithgow, Selkirk, and Peebles, in sending a member to the British senate. The number of inhabitants has increased greatly since the introduction of the cotton manufacture, and amount at present to about 3000. The general aspect of the town is now much supe rior to what it was formerly, such new houses as are built being erected in the modern style, and in every re spect more agreeable and commodious. In Lanark are several public buildings, such as a town-house, near the centre of the town, with a county-hall, a council-room, court•hall, and weigh-house. Immediately adjoining is the prison, containing the office of the town-clerk, &c. The parochial church is situated in the centre of the town. It was erected in 1772, and is a large modern building, with a square spire, and two bells. The grain mar school in Broomgate Street has, besides a commo dious teaching room, a large room, containing a library for the use of the inhabitants, bequeathed by the late Dr. William SineIlie, a gentleman well known For his skill in the obstetric art. In addition to these, may be men tioned the public mai kets and the county inn, the last of which is situated in Bloomgate Stret, and was built by the subscription of a number of gentlemen interested in the county, the magistrates of the town, and several others. At Lanark are also two cites, or meeting-houses, be longing to such of the inhabitants as are of the Burgher or Relief pet suasion.