Cambusnethan is a parish in the middle ward of Lanarkshire. It is bounded on the north by Shotts parish, on the east by Linlithgowshire, on the south by Carnwath, Carstairs, Carluke, and Dalserf parishes, and on the west by Dalserf, Hamilton, and Dalziel. (1867: The Imperial Gazetteer of Scotland, by John Marius Wilson).
Bonkle, Cambusnethan, Chapel, Clydesdale Rows, Colness, Kirk, Kirknow, Morningside, Newmains, Overton or Overtown, Shotts Ironworks, Stane, Stewarton, Waterloo, Wishaw, Wishawton
Allanton, Coltness
PRE-REFORMATION GOVERNANCE:
POST-REFORMATION GOVERNANCE:
The church of Cambusnethan was dedicated to St Nechtan. It belonged to the Abbey of Kelso. There were three chapels in the parish - the chapel at Auchter Water, St Michael's at the Manor Place of Cambusnethan, and St Diarmad's, or Diarmad Kirk, at Darmead Linn. There were also the holy wells of St Columba and St Aidan. In 1845 the parish church was removed to a site in the middle of the parish. There is now at Cambusnethan a mission chapel of St Columba.
Disjoined Quoad Sacra Parishes:
Calderhead. A chapel already existing here was rebuilt in 1860. The parish of Calderhead was disjoined from Shotts and Cambusnethan, 8 July 1872.
Coltness Memorial, previously Newmains. For some years services were held here in the school at Newmains. In 1878 James Houldsworth of Coltness built a church in memory of his eldest son. As a further memorial of his son he proceeded to endow the parish. Coltness was disjoined form the parish of Cambusnethan, 17 March 1879.
Overtown. The parish of Overtown was disjoined from Wishaw, 17 July 1876.
Wishaw. A church was built here in 1837. On 29 May in that year a chapel constitution was granted to the district. The parish of Wishaw was disjoined from Cambusnethan, 25 September 1855. There are mission chapels within the bounds at Sunnyside and Berryhill.
Includes ministers, licentiates, assistants, readers, and clerks.
Cambusnethan (QO)
Calderhead (QS)
Coltness Memorial (QS)
Overtown (QS)
Wishaw (QS)
(1928: Fasti Ecclesiæ Scoticanæ, by Hew Scott, D. D.)
Parish registers turned over to the Registrar-General, as a result of the Registration of Births, Deaths, and Marriages (Scotland) Act of 1854. The letters B. D. and M. indicate Births (or Baptisms), Deaths (or Burials), and Marriages (or Proclamations of Banns) respectively. Numbers indicate separate volumes or books. Note: These records are by no means complete or without damage; consult the Detailed List of the Old Parochial Registers of Scotland (1872) to learn more about the condition of the records.
| OPR and RD Numbers | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date Range | Name | Number | Type |
| 1634-1854 | Cambusnethan | 628 | OPR |
| 1855-1967 | Cambusnethan | 628 | RD |
| 1968-1971 | Motherwell and Wishaw | 628 | RD |
| 1972-2006 | Motherwell and Wishaw | 570 | RD |
| 2007-2008 | Motherwell and Wishaw, North Lanarkshire | 570 | RD |
| 2009 | North Lanarkshire; Motherwell and Wishaw | 570 | RD |
| 2026 | (Cambusnethan) North Lanarkshire Council; Cambusnethan Community Council | ||
| 2026 | (Motherwell) North Lanarkshire Council; Forgewood Community Council North Motherwell Community Council Ladywell Community Council Glencairn Community Council Calder Valley Community Council | ||
| 2026 | (Wishaw) North Lanarkshire Council; Central Wishaw Community Council Craigneuk and Wishawhill Community Council | ||
(2009: Parishes and Registration Districts of Scotland - Old and New, National Records of Scotland)
Local community councils (2026) are provided as a potential source of additional information for settlements within the original boundaries of the parish. (Source)
Statistics from informal and official censuses
Brown, Gray, Hamilton, Muir, Paterson, Reid, Russell, Smith, Thomson, Wilson
Note: Names appearing in research materials, other than censuses. Simple names (First name, surname only) have been omitted unless they appear associated with large properties. All women's names, and men's names with occupations, military ranks, or peerage titles are included.
By the Reverend Mr John Lockhart.
"The number of souls in 1791 was 1684, of whom 409 were in the villages. There were 772 males and 912 females; of whom 459 were under age 10. There were 1070 members of the Established Church, and 614 Dissenters, chiefly Burgher-Seceders.
The late increase of inhabitants is partly owing to the proximity of the Omoa ironworks, in the parish of Shotts, but chiefly to the convenient situation of a village on the lands of Wishaw and Coltness. This village had no existence 20 years ago. In consequence of its erection, there are few cottages attached to particular farms, and another village, less conveniently situated, which was formerly of considerable extent, is fast going into decay. Of the tradesmen, who inhabit the village, and indeed the parish at large, there are few employed by manufacturing companies.
The inhabitants of this parish, have given a good specimen of their character and taste, in the institution of two libraries, supported by an annual subscription, and containing a judicious selection of books, entertaining, historical, moral, and religious."
(This section contains excerpts, at times restructured or paraphrased, from an article appearing in Statistical Account of Scotland, Sir John Sinclair, 1791-1799)
Primary Sources:
Statistical Account of Scotland (1791-1799), Volume 12, p. 568
New Statistical Account of Scotland (1834-1845), Volume 6, p. 608
See Parish Page Sources for all source information and links.
