Lochmaben facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lochmaben |
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 The town centre showing Lochmaben Town Hall and the statue of Robert the Bruce |
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 Lochmaben
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| Population | 2,180 (2020) |
| Language | English |
| OS grid reference | NY081824 |
| Council area | |
| Lieutenancy area | |
| Country | Scotland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Lockerbie |
| Postcode district | DG11 |
| Police | Dumfries and Galloway |
| Fire | Dumfries and Galloway |
| Ambulance | Scottish |
| EU Parliament | Scotland |
| UK Parliament |
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| Scottish Parliament |
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Lochmaben (in Scottish Gaelic: Loch Mhabain) is a small town in Scotland. It's famous for its historic castle. The town is about 4 miles (6.4 km) west of Lockerbie, in an area called Dumfries and Galloway.
Around the 1100s, the Bruce family became important landowners here. Later, in the 1300s, King Edward I of England rebuilt Lochmaben Castle. The castle was later captured in 1384 or 1385 and was left empty by the early 1600s. Lochmaben itself became a special "Royal Burgh" town in 1447.
Contents
History of Lochmaben
What's in a Name?
The name Lochmaben likely comes from an old Roman name, Locus Maponi. This name is from an ancient language called Brittonic.
The first part, Loch, means "marshy water" or "lake". You might know the word "loch" from Scottish Gaelic. The second part, Maben, comes from Mapon. This was the name of a god who meant "Great Son" or "Youth". So, the name could mean "the place of Mapon" or "the lake of Mapon".
Early People in Lochmaben
People have lived in Lochmaben for a very long time. It was a good place to live because it was on important routes between England, Scotland, and Ireland. It also had small lakes (lochs) and good farming land.
Some of the first people might have lived in crannogs. These were homes built on artificial islands in the lochs.
After the Romans left the area, different groups came to Lochmaben. These included the Picts, Saxons, Scots, and Danes. Around 890 AD, a Scottish king named Giric mac Dúngail won an important battle against the native Britons near Lochmaben.
The Bruce Family and Annandale
By the year 1160, the de Brus (Bruce) family, who were Anglo-Normans, became the powerful Lords of Annandale. Robert de Brus was a key person in the court of King Henry I of England. He became good friends with Prince David of Scotland.
When Prince David became King David I of Scotland in 1124, he gave Robert de Brus the Lordship of Annandale. This meant the Bruce family owned a lot of land in southern Scotland. By the 1400s, the Lordship was held by Alexander Stewart, Duke of Albany. After he died in 1485, the castle and lands of Lochmaben became part of the Scottish Crown in 1487.
Lochmaben's Castles and Battles
The Bruce family built a castle in Lochmaben sometime in the 1200s. This was probably a strong tower, and its remains are now under a golf course. Many people believe that Robert the Bruce, a famous Scottish king, was born there. This is why the town's motto is "E Nobis Liberator Rex," meaning "From us is sprung a liberator king." However, he might have been born at Turnberry Castle instead. Robert the Bruce certainly fought against the English in this area during the Wars of Scottish Independence.
Around 1300, the English King Edward I built a much stronger castle at the south end of Castle Loch. You can still see its strong ruins today. In 1384 or 1385, Archibald Douglas, Lord of Galloway, captured Lochmaben Castle from the English after a nine-day siege. He then "razed it to the ground," meaning he completely destroyed it.
A battle called the Battle of Lochmaben Fair took place on July 22, 1484. About 500 horsemen led by Alexander Stewart, Duke of Albany and James Douglas, 9th Earl of Douglas tried to invade Scotland but were defeated.
Lochmaben Castle remained important and saw many conflicts until the early 1600s. After its last siege, it was slowly abandoned.
The Town of Lochmaben
The town of Lochmaben grew and became a special "Royal Burgh" in 1447. This gave it certain rights and importance. It received a new Royal Charter in 1579.
As peace became more common, the town's importance lessened. However, it was still wealthy enough to build a large town hall, known as Lochmaben Town Hall, in 1723.
Lochmaben has a wide main street and is surrounded by beautiful countryside. The railway arrived in 1863, connecting Lochmaben to Dumfries and Lockerbie. This made travel and trade much easier. The passenger train service stopped in 1952, and freight trains stopped in 1966.
How Lochmaben is Governed
Lochmaben is part of the parliamentary area called Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale. The current MP (the person who represents the area in the UK Parliament) is David Mundell from the Conservative Party.
For the Scottish Parliament, Lochmaben is in the Dumfriesshire area, which is part of the South Scotland region. The MSP (the person who represents the area in the Scottish Parliament) is Oliver Mundell, also from the Conservatives.
Healthcare in Lochmaben
Lochmaben Hospital first opened in 1905 to treat infectious diseases. Today, these diseases are much less common. The hospital is now a modern facility with 16 beds. It helps people with both physical and mental health needs in the community.
Education in Lochmaben
The town has its own school for younger students: Lochmaben Primary School.
Fun and Recreation
Lochmaben has an 18-hole golf course that goes around the Kirk Loch, right on the edge of town. The town is surrounded by three main lochs: Kirk Loch, Castle Loch, and Mill Loch. There are also two smaller ones: The Blind Loch and the Upper Loch.
These lochs are great for activities like sailing and fishing all year round. In very cold winters, when the lochs freeze over, people sometimes go curling on them, especially on the Kirk Loch.
A long walking path called the Annandale Way opened in 2009. It's about 53 miles (85 km) long and follows the River Annan from its start to the sea. The path goes through Lochmaben and along the side of Castle Loch. It's a great way to explore the area on a day walk from Lochmaben.
Lochmaben's Economy
Arla Foods has a factory in the town. This factory helps provide jobs and supports the local economy.
Notable People from Lochmaben
- Angus Douglas (1889-1918) - A Scottish international footballer.
- David Harvey (born 1948) - A footballer who moved to Lochmaben in 2020.
- William Jardine (1784-1843) - He helped start a big company in Hong Kong called Jardine, Matheson & Co.
- Sir William Paterson (1658-1719) - He was one of the people who founded the Bank of England. He also strongly supported the Darien Scheme, which was a plan that unfortunately didn't work out.
- Maitland Pollock (born 1952) - A professional footballer.
- William Wright Smith (1875-1956) - A famous botanist, someone who studies plants.
See also
Images for kids
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The Kirk Loch at sunset
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The ruins of Lochmaben Castle
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Lochmaben Castle in an 1886 etching
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