The Village, East Kilbride

The Village is the current name of the oldest known settlement of East Kilbride in South Lanarkshire, Scotland, dating back to well before its designation as a new town in the mid-20th century. The Church at the core of the village is first attested in a late twelfth century record pertaining to matters in the early twelfth century, and which describes the church as already possessed 'of old' by the Bishops of Glasgow by that time. The village, originally known as the Kirkton of Kilbride (various spelling forms), latterly fell within the estate of Kirkton and was later called Kirktonholm. Some newer village areas to the north fall within the lands of Bosfield. The small estate, inclusive of the village was elevated to Burgh of Barony Status by a royal charter granted by William III in 1702 (commonly misquoted as a charter of Queen Anne) This granted the right to hold markets and seasonal fairs, which facilitated the proto-urbanisation of the village area. Further urban growth and the rise of public utilities were catalysed in the late 1700s by the advent of turnpike roads to the parish, and the subsequent arrival of the railway to the village in 1868. Of a more traditional character in comparison to the modern facilities in 'the town centre' area, the Village hosts several small pubs, restaurants, hairdressers, cafes, tanning salons and shops. In the oldest part of The Village there is a re-imagined cobbled street and a large original pub, the Montgomerie Arms. This building, originally called the Montgomery Arms Inn and later the Montgomery Arms Hotel, and more colloquially as the 'Heid Inn', dates back to 1719, or was built very shortly following that time. However, long uncorrected folklore has since mythologised its origins back to the 1650s based on spurious misrepresentation of earlier property deed information, partly to promote an olde worlde charm in the 1950s-60s. This idea still permeates some official research resources. The "Loupin'-on-Stane", a vernacular stone mounting block, was used originally by inn patrons for mounting their horses. This still stands outside the premises and is believed to be contemporary with the inn.