Libberton Parish Church, South Lanarkshire, side view

Libberton is a village and historical parish in

South Lanarkshire gd, Siorrachd Lannraig a Deas , image_skyline = , image_flag = , image_shield = Arms_slanarkshire.jpg , image_blank_emblem = Slanarks.jpg , blank_emblem_type = Council logo , image_map ...

. The village is approximately 2 miles (3.2 km) north of

Quothquan Quothquan (also formerly spelled Couth-Boan, meaning "the beautiful hill"; gd, A’ Choitcheann, pronounced , meaning "the common") is a village in Libberton parish, South Lanarkshire, Scotland. It is northwest of Biggar, and southeast of La ...

and 2.3 miles (3.68 km) south-east of

Carnwath Carnwath (Gaelic: ''A' Chathair Nuadh''; English: "New Fort") is a moorland village on the southern edge of the Pentland Hills of South Lanarkshire, Scotland. The village lies about south of both Edinburgh and Glasgow. It is bounded by the Nort ...

. The nearest rivers are the

South Medwyn River South Medwin is a river in the Lanarkshire region of Scotland. Along with the confluence of the North Medwin River it forms the Medwin water basin. The South Medwin flows westward to join the River Clyde a mile (1.5 km) south of Carnwath C ...

, the North Medwyn River and the

River Clyde The River Clyde ( gd, Abhainn Chluaidh, , sco, Clyde Watter, or ) is a river that flows into the Firth of Clyde in Scotland. It is the ninth-longest river in the United Kingdom, and the third-longest in Scotland. It runs through the major cit ...

which lies the east of the village.

History

Libberton Parish Church, South Lanarkshire

There are several prehistoric

Hillfort A hillfort is a type of earthwork used as a fortified refuge or defended settlement, located to exploit a rise in elevation for defensive advantage. They are typically European and of the Bronze Age or Iron Age. Some were used in the post-Roma ...

s in the area, including West Whitecastle. However, over centuries, West Whitecatle has been extensively disturbed by ploughing and tree planting. A carved stone dating to the late 13th or early 14th century has also been found within the fort at West Whitecastle Farm (just to the west) of Libberton. A camp earthwork with a circular enclosure lies to the east of the village at Bowmuir. Another earthwork is also near Libberton at Craigieburn. A polished greenstone axe was found there circa 1900 and this was purchased by the National Museum of Antiquities of Scotland. Libberton has a long history as an agricultural settlement. In 1660, the village was incorporated as a parish with Quothquan. Much of the parish was historically owned by the Lords Dalzell before being sold to Sir George Lockhart in 1676. In 1811, the population of the village was recorded as 749 and by 1831 this had risen to 773. There were two Smithies in the town, the buildings are now in residential use. In 1854, Liberton Mains farmhouse was built. The adjacent housing development at Libberon Mains was built after 2007 following an archeological survey. The surrounding area has several

Cropmark Cropmarks or crop marks are a means through which sub-surface archaeological, natural and recent features may be visible from the air or a vantage point on higher ground or a temporary platform. Such marks, along with parch marks, soil marks an ...

s. The village red telephone box is of the K6 design. It dates to 1935 and is Category B listed.

Church

Libberton parish church was built in 1812. The church is a congregation of the

Church of Scotland The Church of Scotland ( sco, The Kirk o Scotland; gd, Eaglais na h-Alba) is the national church in Scotland. The Church of Scotland was principally shaped by John Knox, in the Scottish Reformation, Reformation of 1560, when it split from t ...

. The church interior was refurbished in 1902. The 2 story manse was built in 1824 and is also Category B listed. In 1892, a medieval bronze cauldron was found near the Church and is now in the

National Museum of Scotland The National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh, Scotland, was formed in 2006 with the merger of the new Museum of Scotland, with collections relating to Scottish antiquities, culture and history, and the adjacent Royal Scottish Museum (opened in ...

Education

Libberton Primary School is located just outside the village on the Muir road to Quothquan.

References

{{coords, 55.66969, N, 3.60769, W, type:city(100)_region:GB, display=title Villages in South Lanarkshire