Longriggend

Longriggend is a village in North Lanarkshire, Scotland, with a population of approximately 200.

Main Street, Longriggend

Derelict Church, Longriggend

Moor at Longriggend

Lanarkshire Sheet III.SE 1896 extract, showing Longriggend and the location of the football ground

Geography

It is situated on moorland 8 km north-east of Airdrie, in the parish of New Monkland. It is roughly halfway between Upperton and Caldercruix.

History

The village appeared on a map by Timothy Pont, under the name of Langrodge. It was published in 1596 but the letters are difficult to read.^[1] The toponymy is listed along with other -rigg placenames.^[2] Longriggend is also shown on another map by Roy c1754.^[3] Slamannan Railway joined Longriggend with Airdrie and the Union Canal in 1840, but its gauge prevented its connection with the Edinburgh & Glasgow Railway. Coal pits in the area used the railway extensively,^[4] and by 1895 there was a station at Longriggend.^[5] By 1901 its population had reached over 1500, and it had a post and telegraph office, and an inn nearby.^[6]

Education

The Ordnance Survey in 1867 recorded a Roman Catholic school in the village.^[7]

Sport

The village hosted a senior football club, Longriggend F.C., between 1897 and 1902. Its greatest honour was winning the Coatbridge Express Cup^[8] in 1897–98, beating Albion Rovers in the final.^[9]

Longriggend Fever Hospital and Remand Institution

Historically, there was a tuberculosis sanitorium in the part of the village now known as Upperton.^[10] The hospital was converted into Longriggend Remand Institution which has now been closed^[11] and demolished.^[12]

• 
  Blaeu's map from 1654^[13] based on Pont's original c.1596^[14] "The East Central Lowlands (Stirling, Falkirk & Kilsyth) - Pont 32" map depicting Langrig west of Slamannenn
• 
  Longriggend from Blaeu's map^[15] based on Pont's original^[16] It is near the top right of the map and Langrodge is about three squares left of the Black Loch.