About Bothwell

Feb 19 2008 By Richard Mooney

Bothwell is one of the most sought-after places to live in Scotland.

It is a former mining village and is about 10 miles South East of Glasgow. The town lies on the right bank of the Clyde, adjacent to Hamilton.

A suspension footbridge crosses over the river Clyde to join Bothwell and Blantyre. Underneath this lies a Weir system which was once used to power a spinning mill.

There is another bridge in Bothwell which crosses the Clyde and this was setting of a great 17th century battle. In 1679 the Battle of Bothwell Bridge was fought between the Royalists, led by the duke of Monmouth and the Covenanters. The Covenanters lost around 500 men and approximately 1200 prisoners.

Bothwell is also the birthplace of Joanna Baillie (1762-1851), a famous Scottish poetess and dramatist.

The town’s castle holds a striking position in Uddingston. It is shaped very much like a rectangle and is cared for by Historic Scotland. The medieval bastion was originally owned by Sir Andrew de Moray, then later by Archibald Douglas.  Throughout the 16th century the castle was owned predominantly by the Crown and was then past onto the Earls of Forfar in the late 17th century.

Modern times have been very good for Bothwell’s reputation. It is the home of several local celebrities and many Old Firm football players and is one of the most expensive places to live in Scotland.