Hamilton, Scotland
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Hamilton_Mausoleum.jpg
Hamilton is a town in Central Scotland. It sits on the junction of Avon Water and the River Clyde in the county of Lanarkshire. An ancient seat of the Duke of Hamilton, the town has many links to a historic past.
The ruins of Cadzow Castle lie in a country park outside the town.
The Dukes of Hamilton, premier dukes in Scotland, lived until 1900 in the Hamilton Palace, one of the most elegant houses in the United Kingdom. Unfortunately, coal mining caused severe subsidence, and the palace was demolished (It is thought by some local historians that the subsidence was in fact a fabrication, and that it was actually demolished for financial reasons) The Dukes built a mausoleum (pictured right) in the town near the old palace, as well as a hunting lodge in Chatelherault Country Park, which is at Ferniegair on the outskirts of Hamilton.
More recently the town has become a seat of power for local government. The Edwardian Town Hall building sits overlooking Cadzow Street and the County Buildings tower over the area as the seat of South Lanarkshire council.
Hamilton is home to Hamilton Academical Football Club.It was also home to a famous regiment the Cameronian Scottish Rifles until they were disbanded in 1968.
The 2001 Census recorded a population of 48,546 in Hamilton, and the town is twinned with Châtellerault, in France. This connection dates from the 16th century, when the title Duc de Châtellerault was conferred on James Hamilton.
On February 7, 2005, Hamilton was granted Fairtrade Town status.
Areas of Hamilton:
Burnbank, Cadzow, Eddlewood, Fairhill, High Earnock, Hillhouse, Laighstonehall, Little Earnock, Low Waters, Meikle Earnock, Silvertonhill, Udston, and Whitehill.
Towns near Hamilton:
Communication Links:
Location and getting there
Hamilton is on the Hamilton Circle Railway line and can be reached in 30 minutes from Glasgow Central station. By road it is to the west of the M74 motorway, which is the main southerly link to England. From Edinburgh and the northern areas of Scotland Hamilton is reached via the M8 Motorway which connects to the M74 at Uddingston. The nearest commercial airport is Glasgow Airport.
Hamilton District
| Hamilton District 1975-96 | |
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During the 1975-96 period Hamilton had lent its name to a local government district within the Strathclyde Region.