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Population : 2,202 (2001 census)
Biggar is a pleasant medieval town in the scenic southern uplands within the Clyde Valley, lying in the east of Lanarkshire. It is only 30 miles from Edinburgh along the A702 which follows the route of the ancient Roman road which linked the Clyde Valley with Musselburgh. Biggar lies close to Lanark, Peebles and the River Tweed as well as the Clyde and there are many scenic walks in the area, through the Biggar Country Path network.
A Brief History of Biggar
Biggar is a town with a rich and varied history. In the 12th century a Norman motte and bailey was built and the first permanent bridge across the Biggar burn was constructed. Its attractions have won numerous awards, including Best Tourist Town in Scotland, Scotland in Bloom and individual awards to its museums.
The roots of the burgh date back centuries and there is evidence that Biggar common was inhabited during Mesolithic times.
Later on in Biggar's history, in the early 1900's a farmer, who lived in Biggar, founded Albion Motors as a small business which eventually grew into the largest truck country in the British Empire. The archives of Albion Motors can in fact, still be found in Biggar.
Biggar received its Royal Charter in 1451. It was created as a free Burgh of Barony by King James III as a mark of favour to Lord Fleming, the landowner. Biggar still has its medieval layout. A few buildings date back to the 17th and 18th centuries, but the majority of Biggar's prominent buildings are Victorian. One of Biggar's key buildings, the 450 year old Biggar Kirk, was built by the Flemming Family of Biggar.
Its vibrant local traditions and festivals have contributed to Biggar's development into a thriving community, with a range of facilities and activities. During Victorian times, a railway line ran through Biggar which resulted in an increase in holidaymakers. The station and signal box are still standing but the railway line has since gone but leaving a scenic walk between Biggar and Peebles, as well as a variety of activities for visitors to the historic town.
Biggar for example has several museums for the curious visitor to explore. Choose from the Moat Park Heritage Centre, Gladstone Court Museum, Greenhill Covenanters Museum, and the Biggar Gasworks Museum. Additionally, Biggar has Scotland's only permanent puppet theatre, Biggar Puppet Theatre, which is run by the well known Purves Puppets family.
Currently Biggar enjoys an annual Arts festival, the Biggar Little Festival celebrating five branches of the Arts, such as dance, arts and crafts, drama, literature and music. As well as these annual festivities the residents of Biggar celebrate Hogmannay with a huge Bonfire, every year.
Famous faces from Biggar
John Buchan wrote over fifty books including the well-known novels Greenmantle, Prester John, Witchwood and perhaps most famous of all, The Thirty Nine Steps.
Buchan was a Minister of Parliament who went on to be Governer General of Canada. Born in Perth he spent much of his childhood in the village of Broughton near Biggar, where a museum commemorating his work is maintained by Biggar Museums Trust.
Doctor Christopher Grieve was better known as Hugh MacDiarmid, the pen name under which he founded a Scottish literary renaissance. The poet lived just outside Biggar in Brownsbank Cottage for the last twenty-six years of his life. Brownsbank Cottage has been preserved by Biggar Museum Trust and is now used as a base for a writer-in-residence for most of the year.
things to do
New Lanark World Heritage Site
- Beautifully restored 18th century cotton mill village in Southern Scotland, close to the Falls of Clyde and less than an hour from Edinburgh and Glasg
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Scotkart - indoor kart racing
- Established in 1991 ScotKart was the first indoor karting centre in Scotland and continues to provide one of the best karting experiences in well main
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