| The Village Cambusnethan is a village and a parish in the Middle Ward of Lanarkshire, Scotland. The village stands about one mile WSW of Newmains and 1-1/2 miles NE of Wishaw. The parish contains also the towns and villages of Wishaw, Newmains, Overtown, Coltness Iron-works, Clydesdale-Rows, Chapel, Stane, Morningside, Waterloo, Bonkle, and part of Shotts Iron-works. The first recorded visitors to this Lanarkshire parish were the Romans. The time of their arrival can only be guessed at, but their visit to this part of Scotland is marked by the Roman road which passes through the town of Wishaw. This road was used for centuries and, although little of it remains now, it is interesting to watch how closely our modern roads have followed its course. Until recently there was a Roman tumulus, some distance from Garrion Bridge, which also testified to this visit of the Roman Eagle. Today the spot where this tumulus stood is marked by an oak. There was a superstition about this tumulus, which held that, if anyone tried to remove it, a terrible storm would sweep the country. Cambusnethan parish rises in a narrow strip from the Clyde to the borders of Lothian. The South Calder forms a chief part of its northern boundary. The Auchter water and the Garrion burn flow through it. Its shape is rather like a sand-glass, and stretches from east to west. Its length from the old kirk on the Clyde, at the west, to Badallan beside Breich Water on the east, is nearly 12 miles. The widest part at the west end, from Garrion on the south, to Calder near Swinstie on the north, is 4 miles and 1 furlong; and the widest part on the east, from Aughterhead on the south, to Calder at Dykehead on the north, is nearly the same. In the centre, from Bogside on the south, to Bridgend on the north, it is scarcely 2 miles. The landscape possesses many interesting features and in the Clyde lowlands, the wooded private estates, the plant seeker will meet with a varied flora. The private estates, by their very privacy, allow many rare species to grow undisturbed in their deep glens and gills. Since Cambusnethan is in part industrial, its fauna is restricted. Badgers and otters have been seen by gamekeepers and farmers at very long intervals. The ubiquitous fox still frequents the parish, and the lesser carnivores, the weasel and the stoat, are common. Voles, horseshoe bats and the occasional red squirrel may be included in the fauna. On the west boundary are the Haughs of Motherwell, an area rich in aquatic birds, and Cambusnethan often had visitors from these parts. Rainfall is abundant, yielding 35 -40 inches a year. The climate is more severe than in the lower levels in the valley in and around Glasgow. Snow may be more frequent and frost more intense, but the fog, that so often lies in the lower levels and in the city, stops short, as a nile, at Motherwell. The tract along the Clyde is low and level, consisting of beautiful fertile haughs, and sinking to less than 100 feet above sea-level; the surface thence has a general eastward rise, attaining 950 feet on Auchterhead Muir. It was in the year 706 AD that the parish took the name of Cambusnethan. At that time Scotland was made up of many small Kingdoms and Nethan was a Pictish king of the time. He was a monarch who had his royal seat at Abernethy, anciently known as Abernethyn. Whether he ever resided at the southern extremity of his domains is not known, but his name has been commemorated through the centuries here. "Cambus" signifies either the land enclosed by the bend of a river or the steading within such a bend. The prefix is familiar in Cambusmore and Cambuskenneth on the Forth, and in Cambuslang further down the Clyde. Cambusnethan, therefore, signifies "the steading in Nethan's bend" of the Clyde. Nethan, however, played a more important part in the history of Scotland than the mere naming of it, for historians record that this same Nethan was the person through whom Catholicism came to Scotland. This king was famed alike for learning and piety and was visited by Roman priests. Anxious to further his knowledge, Nethan received them, and through flattery was converted to the Roman religion. In those far-off days the subjects followed the king's example, and thus one of the most important districts in Scotland became Catholic. In ancient times, the peasantry were little better than serfs, and chroniclers devoted their attention almost exclusively to the fortunes of the landowners. Consequently, we learn practically nothing about the parish for many centuries, except the names and some of the exploits of successive lords of the manor. As in many other things about the parish, there is great obscurity surrounding the date of the first parish church. It was not until the twelfth century that its name first appeared in church records as part of the diocese of Glasgow, when around this time the barony of Cambusnethan was gifted to William Finnemund during the reign of William the Lion. In the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, we find the names of William Finnemund and Rudolph de Cler, Norman barons who had fought their way northward and secured a footing in Strathclyde. Rudolph granted to the monks of Kelso the privilege of grinding their corn at Garrion Mill. The ancient manor of Cambusnethan probably at one period comprehended the whole parish. In later times the parochial district was made up of the barony of Cambusnethan; the lands of Auchtermure, belonging to the abbey of Arhroath; and the lands of Watsoun and Watsounhead, an old possession of the family of Hamilton. During the greater part of its history the Manor of Cambusnethan was associated with the Sommervilles, the first of whom married the heiress to the estates in 1392. The fortunes of the family varied and parts of the parish were split up among others, including the Belhaven family and the Stewarts of Allanton and Coltness. As we enter the millennium, Cambusnethan is now a small village overshadowed by the town of Wishaw. If we had lived at the beginning of the nineteenth century, the town of Wishaw did not exist. Wishawtown was one of several inconsiderable villages scattered over the broad slope from the Clyde to the moors, which for a thousand years had borne the honourable name of Cambusnethan. Wishaw is the upstart product of industrialism. Cam'nethan, in the comparative obscurity of modem days, can console itself on a long pedigree. The old church of Cambusnethan stood in a most romantic spot at the southwest point of the whole parish, very near the river Clyde. It had certainly been built there for the accommodation of the Baron of Cambusnethan, so near his mansion house, and probably at his sole expense, there being no other heritor in the parish then but himself. The date of its erection is unknown but it was long before the barony was separated, and long before Thomas Lord Somerville gave to Lord Yester his first interest in the parish. It had a choir, and from the remains of it still visible, must have been a much more magnificent structure than the present one. It was, however, inconveniently situated for the parish at large, many of the parishioners, particularly those beyond Redmyre, having to travel from six to twelve miles to attend it. Barony (Early History) It was not until the twelfth century that the Cambusnethan name first appeared in church records as part of the diocese of Glasgow, when around this time the Barony of Cambusnethan was gifted to William Finnemund during the reign of William the Lion. In the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, we find the names of William Finnemund and Rudolph de Cler associated with the land. These were Norman barons who had fought their way northward and secured a footing in Strathclyde. Rudolph, for example, granted to the monks of Kelso the privilege of grinding their corn at Garrion Mill. According to the Wishaw manuscript, the lands which were to comprise the Barony of Cambusnethan eventually came into the possession of a family of the name of Baird. In about 1315, thee warrior king Robert the Bruce, formally granted the Barony to his knight, Robert de Barde (1st Baron of this creation), Sheriff of Lanark . He built a building some twenty foot square and four stories high, which was still standing in the same form and fashion until the year, 1661, when it was demolished by Sir John Harper, when he rebuilt the house of Cambusnethan." After Robert Baird's death, it came into the hands of Sir Alexander De Stewart (2nd Baron) of Darnley, who had married the heiress to the property, Jean Baird, in 1360. In 1392, the Barony of Cambusnethan was granted to Sir Thomas de Somerville of Carnwath (3rd Baron) by King Robert III in terms of a Crown Charter dated in July 1391. He was married to Janet Stewart, the daughter of Sir Alexander and Lady Jean. The payment or 'tribute' due to the King for the Barony was a pair of gilt spurs. Thomas Somerville, Baron of Cambusnethan, was a close associate of King James I and attended the Scots Parliament held at Perth in 1434-35. In a charter of 1439, Thomas is described as a lord or "dominus". Thomas de Somerville (sometimes called the first Lord Somerville) was born in about 1370. He was the son of Sir William de Somerville of Linton and Carnwath who in 1386 granted a foundation for the chapel of St. Michael at Cambusnethan. (Sir William hod been one of the hostages (in 1354 and 1351) for the release of the Scots king, David II. who had been captured by the English after the Battle of Neville's Cross.) He was Justicar of Scotland south of the forth. He died in December 1444 was buried in the choir of Cambusnethan church, beside his wife, and was the first of the name who was buried there. He was succeeded by his eldest son, William (4th Baron). This ancient and valuable barony remained in the hands of the Sommervilles for six generations. During this period, much of it was disposed to other heritors: particularly, the lands of Crindledyke and Branchellburn, to the Laird of Lauchope; the lands of Coltness, Wishaw, Watstein and Stain, were purchased by Hamilton of Uddsten, the predecessor of Lord Belhaven; Greenhead was purchased by John Robertson, and Overtown and Pather, became the property, first of Lord Belhaven, and latterly of Sir David Stewart of Coltness. William Somerville was created a Lord of Parliament in 1445. He carried out many diplomatic missions for the Scots Kings and witnessed at least 62 charters granted by King James II. As a special favour to him, the small town of Carnwath was in 1451 created as a free burgh of barony with many commercial privileges. Lord Baron William Somerville died in 1456 apparently from a "surfeit of fruit". His son, John (5th Baron), succeeded as the second Lord Somerville (of the peerage creation). John Somerville had been one of the leaders of the Scottish forces which defeated the English army at the Battle of Sark in 1449. In 1456, he was declared as the heir to his father in the Barony of Cambusnethan and many other estates. There is a curious instance in 1459 when be received a pardon under the King's Great Seal for forging a receipt for money. Lord John was with James II at the siege of Roxburgh in 1460 when the King was killed by an exploding cannon. In 1466, John Somerville took part in the abduction of the young king James III for political advantage. John died in 1491 and was succeeded as Lord Somerville by his young grandson, also called John (born about 1484). However, the Barony of Cambusnethan was gifted by the second Lord Somerville to a younger son, Sir John Somerville of Quothquan (born about 1457) (6th Baron). This John Sommerville received a charter of the Barony from his father, with his mother's consent, under reservation of their liferent confirmed in 1488. He married in 1489, Elizabeth Carmichael, Lady Cambusnethan, daughter of John Carmichael of Balmeadie, and they had daughters Helen Somerville (Lady Boyd) and Agnes Somerville (d. 1541/3), who was first married to John, 2nd Lord Fleming, and later George Leslie, the Earl of Rothes. Sir John, Baron of Cambusnethan, fought with King James III at the Battle of Sauchieburn against the traditional English enemy (when the king was killed). Afterwards, he became an intimate friend of James IV and entertained the King very lavishly. Sir John and his family were, because of their great feastings, called the "Pudding Somervillles". In return, the King presented Sir John of Cambusnethan with gifts of horses, crane, wild geese, plovers and live dotterels. This was an age of chivalry and knightly tournaments when great valour went hand in hand with extreme brutality and lawlessness. John had control of his nephew, the incompetant third Lord Somerville, and used this for his own financial advantage. At the same time, he was able to improve the family estates. John, Baron of Cambusnethan, fell at the Battle of Flodden against the English army along with the renaissance king James IV and the nobility of Scotland on 9 September 1513. Disastrous as it was, the defeat at Flodden did not much effect the development of Scotland. The country's spirit was unbroken and the infant king, James V. was duly crowned. However, the rivalries between the remaining nobles continued. In 1520, for example, there was a bloody fight in the High Street of Edinburgh (known as the "Cleanse the Causeway" affair) in which the Douglas faction beat up their rivals, the Hamiltons, and also James Beaton, Archbishop of St. Andrews. Taking part in this fracas was John Somerville (7th Baron) (b.c. 1490), Baron of Cambusnethan, who had succeeded after his father's death at Flodden. He was knnwn as "Red Bag" from his wearing of a pouch covered with red satin to hold his hawk's meat. The Scottish historian, George Buchanan, describes him as "juvenis nobilis et magni enimi" (a young noble of great courage and spirit) and says that he had previously led an attack on Sir James Hamilton at the raid in Jedwood Forest in 1519, slew five of the Hamilton family and put the rest to flight. For a time, he was punished by the government with the forfeiture of his estates, but these were restored to him in 1525. John, who was married in 1510 to Margaret Graham, died in 1553 and the Barony estate of Cambusnethen went to his son John (8th Baron), called "Lord of the Plaides." John married Catherine Carmichael, and their son, James (b 1540), called "Velvet Eye," became the 8th Baron. James married Katherine, daughter of Patrick Murray of Philipaugh, co. Selkirk. Their son John, called "Harry Hot Spurs," became the 9th Baron. John married Mary Hamilton. Their daughter Margaret married Gilbert, the Lord Somerville, while their son James, the 9th Baron, inherited the title. In 1648, the Barony was sold by James Somerville to his cousin the ninth Lord Somerville (known as James Somerville of Drum) (10th Baron). The last Somerville Lord Baron of Cambusnethan (the ninth lord) was was born in about 1595. He served in the armies of France and of the Republic of Venice. Returning to Scotland, he was with the protestant Covenanting army and at the siege of Edinburgh Castle in 1640. On the invasion of England, he was appointed Governor of Durham. In 1651, Somerville was present at the coronation of King Charles II at Scone near Perth. He later retired to Edinburgh and died in 1677. He was buried in the Abbey Church of the Palace of Holyroodhouse. Lord Somerville was the proprietor for only a short time. In 1653, the Barony estate was "apprised" from him in lieu of debts and in 1661 the estate was sold to Sir John Harper (11th Baron), Sheriff-Depute of Lanarkshire. Sir John Harper rebuilt the mansion house of Cambusnethan in 1661, which burnt down in 1819. He sold the superiority of the Mains of Coltness, and also the temple lands of Goukthraple to Sir Thomas Stewart of Coltness. Later History Upon the death of Sir John Harper, the lands of Cambusnethan were sold to the Lockharts of Castlehill, in favour of James Lockhart of Castlehill (1677-1691)(12th Baron). He was the son of Sir John Lockhart (d.1694), Lord Castlehill, a Lord of Session, son of James, 12th of Lee. James died without heirs, so the estate of Cambusnethan was left by the first purchaser of the name of Lockhart to his sister, Martha (1668/9-1752), Lady Castlehill, spouse of Sir John Sinclair (d. 1726) (13th Baron), the 4th Nova Scotia Baronet of Sinclair of Stevenson. Martha had previously been married to Cromwell Lockhart of Lee, her first cousin. When he died, they having no children, she married Sir John, and descendants of this marriage took the name Lockhart of Castlehill, Stonehouse and Cambusnethan (or Sinclair-Lockhart). The lands were incorporated into a free barony, called the Barony of Cambusnethan by a charter under the Great Seal, dated 26th July 1695. The superiorities of the estates in the parish of Stonehouse, were also formed into a barony by a charter under the Great Seal called the Barony of Castlehill. Sir John was succeeded by his oldest son, Sir Robert, who became the 5th Nova Scotia Baronet of Stevenson. He, in turn, was succeeded as Baronet by his oldest son, five year old John Gordon Sinclair (1790-1863), the 6th Baronet Stevenson. However, after Lady Castlehill's death, the lands of Cambusnethan and Castlehill came into the possession of the third son of Lady Castlehill and Sir John, George Lockhart of Castlehill (14th Baron), one of the Seretaries of the College of Justice under the title Lord Woohhall. In 1764, Captain James Sinclair (15th Baron) in 1764, nephew of Lord Woodhall, obtained the barony lands. He in turn passed the barony and land of Cambusnethan to his son, Robert Sinclair-Lockhart of Castlehill, Cambusnethan and Stevenson (16th Baron). The mansion house of the Barony of Cambusnethan was rebuilt by this baron by 1819. Called Cambusnethan Priory, it occupied a beautiful raised site overlooking the River Clyde. It was one of the architect James Gillespie Graham's best gothic buildings. Robert Lockhart was then succeeded by his son, Sir Graeme Alexander Sinclair-Lockhart (17th Baron) (b. 1820). Sir Graeme also succeeded as the 10th Baronet of Stevenson after his second cousin once removed, Sir Robert Charles Sinclair (d. 1899), 9th Baronet of Stevenson, died. At his matriculation in the Court of the Lord Lyon, on 5 May 1901, he took the title Sir Graeme Alexander Sinclair-Lockhart Bt. Major-General Sir Graeme Alexander Sinclair-Lockhart of Cambusnethan served in the Persian campaign and at the Indian Mutiny. Sir Graeme was mentioned in dispatches for his gallantry at the Battle of Lucknow, and created a Companion of the Most Honorable Order of the Bath. He was Colonel of the 78th Highlanders (the Ross-shire Buffs) and his decorations are in the museum of that regiment's depot, Fort George, Inverness. He died in 1904. His heirs had, by this time, gone to live in New Zealand. Sir Graeme was succeeded by his nephew, Sir Robert Duncan Sinclair-Lockhart, 11th Baronet (b. 1859). Sir Robert, in turn, was succeeded by his son Sir Graeme Duncan Power Sinclair-Lockhart, 12th Baronet, who was succeeded by his brother, Sir John Beresford Sinclair Lockhart, 13th Baronet. At the death of Sir Muir Sinclair-Lockhart, 14th Baronet, Cambusnethan Priory was sold, but the estate was retained. Sir Simon Sinclair-Lockhart, 15th Baronet (b. 1941) succeeded to the title on the death of his father in 1985. In 2002, the Barony passed into the hands of Dr. Daniel S. Harrop. The entry in Burke’s Peerage is: DANIEL SMITH HARROP OF CAMBUSNETHAN, Baron of Cambusnethan, Co Lanark, so recognised by Ld Lyon King of Arms in letter 10 Dec 2002 and bought 28 Feb 2002 from Sir Simon Sinclair-Lockhart, 15th Bt (qv) [Daniel Harrop of Cambusnethan, 204 Taber Ave, Providence RI 02906-3335, USA]; b Warwick Rhode Is 15 June 1954; educ Brown U RI (BA 1976, MD 1979) and Heriot-Watt U (MBA 1997); Clinical Assist Prof Psychiatry and Human Behaviour Brown U Med Sch 1985–, Instr Psychiatry Dept Psychiatry/Consolidated Harvard U Med Sch 1996–; Fell: American Coll Forensic Examiners 1996, American Assoc Integrative Med 2001; Memb: American Med Assoc, RI Psychiatric Soc, RI Gp Psychotherapy Soc. |
