History And Heritage

The Royal Burgh of Lanark is steeped in tradition

It has been an important market town in Scotland since medieval times when King David I granted Lanark Royal Burgh status in 1140 and the town is proud of its rich heritage.

Lanark is located at the head of the Clyde Valley - famous for its historic soft fruit production - and sits uphill from New Lanark, one of Scotland's six UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Lanark has had several important figures in its long history, such as Robert Owen the important social reformer at New Lanark Mills. The town also has stronger ties to the William Wallace legacy than you might think. He is believed to have married a Lanark lass, Marion Braidfute, and he first drew his sword in Lanark in 1297.

There are a variety of landmarks across the area. Lanark once had its own Racecourse near the Loch which was a bustling scene in its heyday and home of the Silver Bell, which is one of the oldest sporting trophies in the world and is still held to this day. It was also the venue for Scotland’s first ever airshow in 1910 where over 250,000 people came to watch the spectacle.