Street Name History

Aberdeen - (ab-uhr-DEEN) - A city of northeast Scotland, Gampian Region, on the North Sea at the mouth of the Dee River. It is known as “the Granite City” because stone from local quarries is used in many of its buildings. It is also known as 'Houston of the North' and 'The Flower of Scotland' for its profitable oil industry and many roses. Aberdeen's rugged character is now softened by commercial & cultural development. Population, 212,542. Read more about the history of Aberdeen.

Applecross - The name of which is a corruption of Apor Crossan (mouth of the river Crossan) is one of the earliest Christian communities in Scotland. In the year 671, an Irish monk named Maelrubha, a disciple of Columba, arrived at Toscaig on the southern shore of the Applecross Peninsula and two years later, established a monastery. An area of 6 square miles around the monastery was declared a sanctuary. On the site of the monastery, there now stands Clachan Church.

In 1850 nearly 3,000 people lived in the scattered townships of the peninsula. Now there are less than 300. The clearances were responsible for much of the depopulation, but lack of local opportunities and work also contributed. The remains of previously thriving settlements can be seen in many areas. Until 1976, the only road access to Applecross was by the famous Bealach na Ba (Pass of the Cattle), and the only access to many areas of the peninsula was either by footpath, bridle path or sea.

Along the coast of the Peninsula, lighting was by paraffin lamp until electricity was finally introduced around the time the coast road was built. Even today, there are a few remote cottages where access is still only by foot or by sea. The coast road now provides alternative access for those wishing a more relaxing journey than that offered by the Bealach na Ba, the highest road in Scotland.

Applecross Bay - One of the largest sandy inlets in the Western Highlands and is ideal for sailing, boating and sail boarding. Kayaking can also be organized locally. The beautiful sandy bay at Sand (very appropriately named!) is popular with holidaymakers, but is never busy. Sea and loch fishing are available for the angler. The award winning Applecross Inn offers excellent local seafood, and there is a well stocked village store, post office and filling station. Fresh shellfish can be purchased from local fishermen.

Wildlife abounds and includes pine martens, otters and red deer. Many varieties of bird life inhabit the peninsula and, for the lucky, and observant, the Golden Eagle may be seen. Porpoises and occasionally whales can be seen in the Inner Sound. The scenic beauty of sea and mountains combined is arguably unmatched anywhere in Scotland. The views across the Inner Sound, where the water is influenced by the Gulf Stream, are spectacular - the rugged profile of the Cuillins of Skye, Raasay, Rona and the islands of the Outer Hebrides. The north coast of the peninsula provides views over Loch Torridon towards the Torridon mountains. St Maelrubha established Applecross as a sanctuary over thirteen hundred years ago and today it still provides sanctuary for those wishing to escape the pressures of modern life.

The tranquility of the Western Highlands is evident throughout the peninsula. For the more adventurous, there is also boating, sailing, kayaking, hill walking and climbing in some of the quietest mountain areas of the Western Highlands.

• Home to the giant Singer Sewing Machine Company, built on a green field site in Kilbowie between 1882 and 1884. The factory, however, got bombed in 1941 during the war.
• A major German Lutwaffe target because of its strategic role in heavy shipbuilding. Clydebank became a depressed area after heavy industry such as shipbuilding declined, but new investment is taking place with firms involved in bio-engineering and electronics.
• First railway was completed on 18th August 1863 with trains to and from Scotland's biggest city, Glasgow.
• Home to a brass band with a long history: The Clydebank Burgh Band traces its origins to the Spinners band that was established in Duntocher circa 1829. In the mid-1870's this band became the Duntocher Brass Band and is still in existence to this day. They were the first Scottish band to make a radio broadcast. 
• Gerry Rafferty, who had a big hit with Baker Street, and is also remembered for the band Stealers Wheel.
• If you want the ultimate in Fish and Chips, try McMonagles - a 'chippie' on the River Clyde!

Coatbridge - A large industrial town or 'burgh' in the Monklands district, located in the heart of the Strathclyde region of Scotland. In keeping with much of Scotland, the area has an interesting past: In the year 1162, King Malcolm IV gifted, by Royal Charter, to the Cistercian Abbey of Newbattle, all the land that was later to became known as Monklands. In 1224 this was the land that lies along the River Clyde at Carmyle.

It lies 9 miles (14 km) east of the city of Glasgow (area map). The town's industrial prosperity was originally based on local coal production for the Glasgow market. The arrival of the Glasgow, Garnkirk and Coatbridge Railway in 1843 helped fuel the local economy. The important iron and steel industry, which became centered on Coatbridge, developed in the early 19th century when iron deposits were discovered near the coal. The Scottish ironmaster James Baird (1802-1876) was primarily responsible for developing this iron industry. Coatbridge became a burgh in 1885. The manufacture of tinplate, tubes, and wire rope has diminished significantly now but still remains economically important.

Today, Coatbridge has shaken much of its heavy industrial past and 50% of its workforce is now employed in the service industry, with 38% in manufacturing and 11% in the construction sector. A 70-year old world-famous audio manufacturer, Tannoy Professional, has its home here. The city features many amenities such as Coatbridge College, Coatbridge Outdoor Sports Complex Track and even a Time Capsule, plus a museum, indoor bowling center, ten-pin bowling club, and golf and cricket clubs. Coatbridge had a population of about 45,000 as of 1999.

Deveron - In Scotland, the river Deveron (also spelled Devron) is a salmon fishing river on the east side of Scotland flowing roughly south to north and exiting at Banff. This area to the north of Aberdeen is steeped in history. The earliest hunter-gatherers colonized the area some 8,000 years ago after the end of the last Ice Age. By about 4,000 BC the people began to adopt a more settled farming culture during a period when the climate was relatively balmy, with higher average temperature than those of today. By about 2000 BC copper, bronze, and gold working and a new pottery style were introduced as the Beaker Folk migrated into the area. A thousand years later the Iron Age arrived and with it came the Celts. With the transition from BC to AD came the arrival of the Romans who established a marching camp to the south called Devana, which is known today as Aberdeen.

Today, the area is still as wild and beautiful as ever and is popular with tourists. Ardoch Lodge provides a good example of warm Scottish hospitality. Following the river north to the coast brings you to the North Sea where you can spot minke whales, white-beaked dolphins, pilot whales, killer whales and Risso’s dolphins from the shore and further out to sea.

The river is mentioned in a famous Scottish balled 'Tramps and Hawkers', that has been recorded by many well known Scottish bands including Hamish Imlach & Ian MacKintosh Live and by a famous Irish band, the Dubliners. Several distilleries have turned the Devron’s pure Scottish water into Scotland’s well-known national drink – whiskey. One famous whiskey is called Glen Devron, so perhaps this West Highland street is possibly named after a scotch, rather than a river! To find out more about this region of Scotland, visit this Guide to Northeast Scotland.

Donsmere - 'Mere' is chiefly British and means an expanse of standing water (lake, pool).

Kelvingrove - Kelvingrove is a beautiful park built in 1851 in an exclusive area in the heart of the City of Glasgow’s west end. Covering many square miles, the park has many attractions, including Glasgow’s famous Botanical Gardens and a popular Bandstand. The park also features a fountain built as a memorial to the engineering triumph that brought the water from Loch Katrine to supply the whole city with pure highland water.

At the edge of Kelvingrove Park is the world-famous Kelvingrove Art Gallery And Museum situated in a purpose-built red sandstone building opened in 1902. The Art Gallery & Museum contains great paintings by Botticelli, Rembrandt, Millet, Monet, Van Gogh, Derain and Picasso; stimulating new work by living artists; historic and modern silver, jewelry, glass and ceramics; magnificent European arms and armour, prehistoric and non-European tools, weapons and ceremonial objects and the Natural History of Scotland. There is also an extensive temporary exhibition programme derived from Glasgow's collections and from institutions and artists worldwide.

In the early 1950’s the Kevingrove Art Gallery was host to Glasgow’s Amateur Photographic Society. One member was recognized as Photographer of the Year in 1955 and several black and white photographs including one of his 4-year old son were exhibited in the Gallery. The photographer’s son, Lawrence, now lives in West Highlands and is one of our neighbors!

Glasgow is one of the UK’s most visited cities. The city that hosted the highly popular Glasgow Garden Festival in 1988, was European City of Culture in 1990, and mounted the spectacular Glasgow Festival of Visual Arts in 1996, welcomes over 2 million tourists from all over the world each year who are drawn by its wealth of cultural attractions and activities. Visit Glasgow’s Web-Cam for Live action!

Loch Lomond - The largest of the Scottish lochs (body of water), lying across the southern edge of the Highlands. It forms part of the boundary between Strathclyde and Central regions. The scenery ranges from rugged, glaciated mountains above 3,000 ft (900 m) in the north to softer, well-wooded hills and islands in the south. It extends about 24 mi (39 km), widening south in the shape of a triangle. Although its surface is only 23 ft above sea level, its glacially excavated floor reaches a depth of 623 ft. It drains by the short River Leven into the Firth of Clyde at Dumbarton. Within very easy reach of the metropolitan region of Glasgow, it is a favorite resort for the urban dwellers. It is also a popular tourist region for its associations with the 18th-century outlaw Rob Roy.

Stornoway - A burgh and largest town and port of the Outer Hebrides, Scotland. It lies on the island of Lewis and Harris; the quickest sea-crossing from the mainland takes just under 3 hours from Ullapool, and there are air services from Glasgow and Inverness. It grew from the 18th century as a fishing town; but herring fishing has declined, and the chief industry now is the manufacture of Harris tweed. It is the seat of the Western Isles region and district authority. Pop. (1981) 13,409.

Tweed - A river in southern Scotland, flowing eastward for 97 miles (156 km) and forming for 17 miles (27 km) the border with England, in which country lie the last 2 miles (3 km) of its course. The river rises at Tweed's Wells and flows northeast in a flat-floored valley; it receives among its tributaries Talla Water, now dammed for Edinburgh's water supply, and the Lyne. Flowing eastward through the Southern Uplands in a gorgelike valley to Melrose, the Tweed receives the Leithen, Gala, and the Ettrick-Yarrow system. From Melrose the Tweed flows through the broad agricultural basin of the Merse and at Kelso is joined by the Teviot. It empties into the North Sea at Berwick-upon-Tweed in England. The towns of the Tweed valley are woolen manufacturing and market towns, with several famous abbeys.

Source 1 The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Third Edition, by Houghton Mifflin Company.

Source 2 Encyclopedia Britannica Online

Source 3 Native Resident of Glasgow and West Highlands neighbor.