Darvel
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Darvel is a small town in East Ayrshire, Scotland. It is sometimes referred to as "The Lang Toun" due to its quaint appearance on Ordnance Survey maps.
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[edit] Location
Darvel is situated on the A71 road and is nine miles east of Kilmarnock. It is also surrounded by other villages such as Newmilns and Galston. The town was once linked with Strathaven by railway, passing by Loudoun Hill with a viaduct. The service started in 1905 but in the 1970s, it was stopped. In 1986, the bridge was destroyed, leaving only the piers remaining.
[edit] History
Although the modern town of Darvel is said to have been established in the late 1700s, Roman settlements have been found at the base of Loudoun Hill. The land on which the town was built was owned by Earls of Loudoun and it was the fourth earl of Loudoun who began the modern town in 1754 as an income for the estate. By 1780, the population had increased to over 400. The current population of the town is 3522.
In 1876, the art of lace-making was introduced to the town and many mills were built to keep up with the demand. Market dried up in the 1900s and many factories were forced to close. Darvel is also famous for being the birthplace of Sir Alexander Fleming, who discovered penicillin in 1928. The pharmacologist was born in nearby Lochfield farm and grew up there along with his eight siblings.
Also of note in the town is Scotland's only 24-hour telephone museum, run by retired engineer Max Flemmich.
Resident in Darvel since childhood is the composer and conductor Gordon Cree, who still contributes to the musical life of the town.
The local football team, Darvel F.C., based at Recreation Park, play in the Stagecoach Ayrshire District League.
[edit] Trivia
- The town's Latin motto, "Non sebi sed cunctis", means "Not for ourselves, but for others".
[edit] External links
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