Social
History
- Politics
Politics
List of Parish Council Representatives
District, Regional and County
Representatives
Representatives of Stonehouse in
Parliament
Leaseholders and Citizens Improvement
Association
Politics
Local Government in the modern sense was administered by the Sheriff
Courts and the Church of Scotland, with the principal landowners,
(‘heritors’) of the parish until 1845. Prior to the establishment of
any distinctive form of Local Government, Justices of the Peace and
‘quarter sessions’ (originating from England in the reign of Edward
III) administered local affairs.
With wide ranging administrative and judicial powers, quarter sessions
were the main predecessors of county councils. Established from 1587 by
James VI, quarter sessions should have met in each county in March,
May, August and October, but in reality these meetings were irregular.
Without the powers of their English counterparts, their authority was
continually hindered by wealthy heritors and prominent dignitaries of
the day. From around 1756 the main functions of the quarter sessions,
apart from licensing was in the provision of poor relief and highways.
In 1667 a committee of prominent landowners in each county was
established, known as the Commissioners of Supply. Initially appointed
by the Privy Council, the commissioners were regarded as an independent
voice in county matters. By the 18th century the commissioners were
also responsible for the maintenance of roads, which were later taken
over by the turnpike roads and statute labour trusts. A statute of 1724
also enabled commissioners to impose a tax to apprehend and prosecute
criminals. This eventually led to the formation of county police forces.
Disruption of the Church in 1843 resulted in the administration of the
poor relief by the parish churches becoming unworkable. The statutory
provision to the poor dates to the 15th and 16th centuries, whereby
local parishes were made responsible for its own poor. By the end of
the 18th century the main source of funding for the poor (outwith
burghs) was primarily through church collections. Thus in 1845
Parochial Boards were established, comprising of members of the kirk
session and owners of property of a rateable value of £20.
Parochial Boards were responsible for the local affairs of the village,
including, the levy rate for poor relief, provision of burial grounds,
registration of births, deaths and marriages, vaccinations and public
libraries. Until its dissolution, the Parochial Board of Stonehouse was
chaired by Major General Lockhart (Vice Chair, Robert Naismith).
The Local Government Act of 1894 abolished Parochial Boards and
established Parish Councils. Parish Councils took over the
responsibilities of Poor Law Boards and some additional powers
including acquiring buildings and land for public offices and
recreational use, the administration of rights of way and the
maintenance of churchyards (previously the responsibility of heritors).
The Parish Council minutes of 1895-1916 state the average number of
‘paupers’ numbered around 45 annually, each having to apply for poor
relief. A contract dating to 1864 provided for the erection and
maintenance of a poorhouse in Boghall Street. This was dispensed with
by the end of the century; the Parish Council stating it had a tendancy
to attract ‘vagrants’. Several residents provided rooms for the poor
with a Combination Poorhouse in Hamilton assisting with accomodation. A
clock valued at 30/- by Larkhall watchmakers Lang, was formerly located
in this dwelling, sold to a Mr james Kilpatrick for 10/- in 1896.
In 1929 Parish Councils were abolished and their functions were
transferred to the County Councils, as were the responsibilities of
Commissioners of Supply, District Committees and Education Authorities.
The County Council came into existence in 1890 under the provisions of
the Local Government (Scotland) Act, 1889, encompassing the powers of
Commissioners of Supply, County Road Trusts and some administrative
powers of Justices of the Peace. The members of the County Council were
elected by the landward ratepayers. The Council were responsible for
the collection of land tax, highways and administering of public health
laws.
The 1889 statute also ensured each county, unless it had fewer than six
parishes, was divided into districts, with corresponding district
committees. Composed of county councillors, together with
representatives of parochial boards and burghs, their responsibilities
were restricted to roads and public health. In Lanarkshire three wards
were established; Upper, Middle and Lower, with each ward (district)
having its own district headquarters; Lanark, Hamilton and Glasgow
respectively. The County Council’s headquarters at that time were
situated in Hamilton. The Parish Councils transferred their
responsibilities of allotments, parks, right of way and parish trusts
to district councils.
Under the provisions of the Local Government (Scotland) Act, 1929,
County Councils were reconstituted with representatives of burghs
included within the County members. County Councils became responsible
for education, registration of births,
deaths and marriages, some areas
of Public Health relating to infectious
diseases, planning in terms of
the Town Planning (Scotland) Act, 1925, and classified roads, etc. The
number of districts in the County was increased from three to nine,
each district having its own district council responsible for certain
functions. Stonehouse became part of Fourth District, which included,
Avondale, Dalserf, Glassford and Hamilton. In 1936 Stonehouse lost out
to Larkhall in a narrow vote of seven to six to establish the central
office of Forth District in the village, though sub-meetings were often
held in Stonehouse to deal with local affairs. The County Council later
reduced in number to eight district councils, there being fifty three
electoral divisions in the landward part of the County. Lanarkshire
House in Glasgow became the headquarters of the County Council until
the County Buildings, Hamilton, was opened in 1964.
In terms of the Local Government (Scotland) Act, 1973, County Councils,
Town Councils and District Councils ceased to exist in May 1975.
Lanarkshire County Council was replaced by Strathclyde Regional and
District Councils, of which Stonehouse came under the authority of
Hamilton District Council.
In 1999 Local Government reorganisation resulted in the loss of the
Regional and District Councils and the establishment of South
Lanarkshire Council. Changes in the new authority boundaries also saw
Stonehouse divided into two wards, with the North-East of the village
called Larkhall South. These changes also resulted in residents on the
opposite side of several streets being represented by different
councillors.
Nationally, Stonehouse has been a politically active community
throughout the past two centuries, represented by various parties and
an ever changing boundary. In researching past representatives of the
village, identifying such, has been both time consuming and difficult
due to constant boundary changes and seeking references. However I have
been able to compile a fairly accurate account of our political
representation, from the early years of an independent Scottish
Parliament, to Westminster, and more recently, the return of a devolved
Scottish Parliament in 1999.
The first Scottish Parliament was in the reign of Queen Margaret in
1290. However the earliest representative of the county I can locate
dates to 1357. Until 1707 members of parliament were appointed directly
by town councils. Thereafter, all burghs (except Edinburgh) were
combined for parliamentary purposes into groups with members chosen by
a single commissioner from each burgh. Burghs were introduced into
Scotland by David I and by 1400 over 70 had been created, the majority
by the crown, with a third by Royal Charter. Royal burghs were more
heavily taxed, though enjoyed considerably more commercial privileges,
especially with regards to foreign trade. By 1707 there were 66 Royal
burghs, which ceased to be created due to the Union. Lanark was crowned
a Royal Burgh between 1153 and 1159. Burghs of barony continued to be
created until the 1820’s and were reformed in 1833. Prior to the Union,
Parliament was represented by Dukes, Marquesses, Earls, Viscounts,
Lords and Commissioners of Royal Burghs.
Around the middle of the 18th century the population
of the county had
increased to such an extent that the county was subdivided into three
wards, in place of the two medieval divisions. These divisions were the
Upper, Middle and Lower wards, of which Stonehouse belonged to the
Middle Ward, comprising of Blantyre, Bothwell, Cambusnethan, Dalserf,
Dalziel East Kilbride, Glassford, Hamilton, New Monkland, Old Monkland
and Shotts.
From the Union of 1707, until 1868, Lanarkshire as a county had only
one representative in Parliament. In 1868 the county was split into
North and South Lanarkshire, each with one member. In the twenty years
following, the population of Scotland through industrialisation
increased by 50% and the county as a result was aligned into six
divisions, of which Stonehouse was attached to South Lanark. These
boundary changes were to last until 1918. With ever increasing
industrialisation, Lanarkshire was again partitioned in 1918, into
seven electoral divisions, comprising of burghs, civil parishes and
districts of the county. Lanark Division encompassed the whole Upper
Ward county district, including the burghs of Lanark and Biggar,
together with the parishes of Avondale, East Kilbride, Glassford and
Stonehouse.
After the ‘radical risings of 1820’, Stonehouse saw the emergence of
several political parties in the community. It was said that the Parish
Church bell was rung to proclaim a ‘Blue’ (Tory) victory, whilst the
Free Church bell would ring in celebration of a ‘Red’ (Liberal-radical)
victory. The Stonehouse Liberal Party was formed in 1875 and was
prominent in campaigning for local and national issues of the day. The
Liberals were also actively supported in South Lanarkshire by the Irish
Nationalists who had strong support in the Irish communities of which
Stonehouse had a notable contingent in the Boghall Street area.
It is unclear when the Conservative Party first emerged in Stonehouse,
but they were equally active in the community around the same time as
the Liberals were present. Some may still remember an incident which
took place in the Public Institute, when Conservative candidate for the
General Election of 1950, Sir Alec Douglas-Hume enraged Labour
supporters during his speech, when he and his supporters were forced to
leave the building via a side door.
Labour emerged at the turn of the century and first contested the local
seat in 1918. The local party was established around this time, as part
of the South Lanark Branch. A Stonehouse branch of the British
Socialist Party was also present during this period, as was an
‘Anti-Socialist’ group, established by James Hamilton in 1910, in an
attempt to counter the rising strength of Socialism nationally. The
Communist Party established a branch in Stonehouse around 1943, of
which, Tom Brown (Vicars Road) was a founder member of the Communist
Party of Britain. The local branch was to disappear around 1954. The
Stonehouse Scottish Nationalist Party was formed in 1950, and along
with the Labour Party, are the only active political organisations in
the village today.
In 1973 the Scotland Act established Community Councils throughout
Scotland, to represent and campaign for the views and concerns of
residents in local affairs. Stonehouse Community Council was
established in 1977, and has played an active role in campaigning for
local needs and services, such as the A71 bypass, increased facilities
and preservation of jobs.
Nominated and elected by the people, the organisation is non-political,
with no delegated powers. The Community Council has thrived as a voice
of the village under the able chairmanship of several residents,
including, John Haston (interim chair), Charlie Stevenson, John Morgan,
Andrew Wilson, Andrew Clark and George Smith. Membership of the
organisation is on a voluntary basis, with the sole purpose of
benefiting the future of Stonehouse and its inhabitants.
List of Parish Council
Representatives
2nd April 1894 Election of
Parish Councillors for Stonehouse (first meeting of council
April 1895)
William Millar (Chair - Baker, Trongate), Major General Lockhart CB,
James Hamilton (Hamilton farm), John Frood (1894-1898, Chair 1898 -
Blacksmith, 4 Queen Street), Thomas Gray (Labourer, 12 Cam’nethan
Street), William Gilmour (1894-1905 - Shoemaker, King Street), Gavin
Hutchison (Hill Road), William Loudon (Butcher, 82 King Street),
William Letham (Crofthead farm) (In 1896 General Lockhart was
disqualified and Archibald Hamilton elected to replace him. William
Letham was replaced by George W. Barr)
1898 Election of Parish
Councillors for Stonehouse
George W. Barr, Alex Borland (1899-1922, Chair until 1920), John Craig
(1898-1925), George Hamilton, John Frood , William Gilmour, Thomas
Gray, Walter Millar (1898-1908), Alex Murphy
Parish Councillors
representing Stonehouse during early 1900’s
John Davidson, Gilbert C. Dyer (1899), John Thomson, Alexander McIntosh
J.P. (1916-1930, Representative to the Middle Ward District Committee
1929), Mungo Shearer (1930), Robert Millar (1905-1917), Daniel Sym
(1900-1922), G. Lawrie (1901-1920), William Scott (1916-1919), James C.
Plenderleith (1923-1930), David Smith (1923-1930), Thomas Wilson J. P.
(1904-1929, Chair from 1920), Alexander Anderson J.P. (1908-1916,
Served as Clerk to Parish Council for 49 years), Robert J. Naismith
(1914-1917), Mr A. F. Thomson (1911-1912), James Frood (1905), James
Hamilton (1905-1922), William Wilson (1919-1930), John Walker
(1928-1930), Matthew Surgeon (1923-1930), James Whyte (1923-1927),
Thomas Dando (1919-1923)
District, Regional and County
Representatives
| Major General
Lockhart |
County
Councillor
|
?
|
1890-1892
(inc. Glassford & Chapelton)
|
| William Sym |
County
Councillor |
Liberal |
1897- (Served
for 30 years. JP) |
| Robert Millar |
Councillor |
? |
Served in 1912 |
| William Gracie |
District
Councillor ? |
? |
Served in
1934+ |
| Thomas Wilson |
County
Councillor |
Labour ? |
Served
1930-45 (Parish Councillor for 20 years) |
| David Smith |
District
Councillor |
? |
Served
1936-44? |
| Nathaniel
T.P.W. Mains |
County
Councillor ? |
? |
Served in 1945 |
| Robert
L.Brodie |
County
Councillor |
Labour |
Served
1946-1958 |
| William Melvin |
District
Councillor
|
Labour
|
Served in
50’s to 1958
|
| John McEwan |
Forth Dist.
Councillor |
Labour |
1958-67 |
| Thomas Barr |
Forth Dist.
Councillor |
Labour |
1958-67 (JP) |
| Gordon Stewart |
County
Councillor |
Labour |
1970-73 |
| Moyra Burns |
County
Councillor |
Indep. |
1967-70 &
1973-76 (Stonehouse & SJustice of Peaceandford
Division) |
| Fred McDermid |
Forth Dist.
Councillor |
Indep. |
1967-1970 |
| Helen Chalmers |
District
Councillor |
Labour |
1970-73 |
| Mary (Ann)
Gilmour |
District
Councillor |
Indep. |
1973-76
(Stonehouse & Sandford Div.) |
| Richard
(Dick) Gibb |
District
Councillor |
Labour |
1976-2000 (JP) |
| Robert (Bob)
Wilson |
Regional
Councillor |
Labour |
1974-1992 |
| John (Jackie)
Burns |
Regional
Councillor |
Labour |
1992-1996 |
| John (Jackie)
Burns |
Authority
Councillor |
Labour |
1999- Present |
| John R. Young |
Authority
Councillor |
SNP |
2001-2002 |
| John McInnes |
Authority
Councillor |
Labour |
2003- Present |
| CSBP |
Commissioner
for Small Barons to Parliament |
| CCE |
Commissioner
to Convention of Estates |
| CS |
Commissioner
of Supply |
| JP |
Justice of
Peace |
Representatives of Stonehouse in
Parliament
| Andrew
Adamson |
Commissioner
to
General
Council |
1357
|
Lanark |
|
| Andrew Pomfret |
Commissioner
to General Council |
1357 |
Lanark |
|
| Malcolm
Clerkson |
Commissioner
to General Council |
1444 |
Lanark |
|
| Patoun
Lockhart |
Commissioner
to General Council |
1444 |
Lanark |
|
| William
Bertram |
Commissioner
to ParliamentPolitics |
1468 |
Lanark |
|
| Sir Stephen
Lockhart of Cleghorn |
Commissioner
to Parliament |
1485, 91, 92,
93 |
Lanark |
|
| Thomas Brolton |
Commissioner
to Parliament |
1540-1541 |
Lanark |
|
| William Pender |
Commissioner
to Parliament |
1544 |
Lanark |
|
| William
Bannatyne |
Commissioner
to Parliament |
1545 |
Lanark |
|
| Roland Muir |
Commissioner
to Parliament |
1579 |
Lanark |
|
| William
Wilkie of Provanside |
Commissioner
to Parliament |
1581, 1593 |
Lanark |
|
| David Brunton |
Commissioner
to Parliament |
1585 |
Lanark |
|
| Robert
Livingston |
Commissioner
to Parliament |
1587 |
Lanark |
|
| Sir John
Lindsay of Dunrod |
Com. Small
Barons to Parliament |
1593 |
Lanarkshire |
CSBP to CCE
1596 |
| Sir Jas.
Hamilton of Crawfordjohn |
Commissioner
to Parliament |
1600
|
Lanarkshire |
C. to Small
Barons |
| Sir James
Lockhart of Lee (4) |
Commissioner
to Parliament |
1607
|
Lanarkshire |
|
| Sir William
Baillie Lamington (1) |
Commissioner
to Parliament |
1612 |
Lanarkshire |
|
| Robert
Lockhart |
Commissioner
to Parliament |
1612 |
Lanarkshire |
|
| Sir John
Hamilton of Lettrick |
Commissioner
to Parliament |
1612, 1617,
1621 |
Lanarkshire |
CSBP 1605 CCE
1617,1625 |
| James Gray |
Commissioner
to Parliament |
1617
|
Lanark |
|
| Gavin Blair
of Braxfield |
Commissioner
to Parliament |
1617, 1621 |
Lanark |
CSBP 1593,94
CCE 1596,09,17 |
| Sir James
Maxwell of Calderwood |
Commissioner
to Parliament |
1617, 1621 |
Lanarkshire |
|
| Sir Robert
Hamilton of Goslington |
Com. to
Convention of Estates |
1625
|
Lanarkshire |
|
| Gideon Jack |
Commissioner
to Parliament |
1628-33, 39,
44-47, 48-49 |
Lanarkshire |
CCE 1630,
1643-44 |
| Sir James
Lockhart of Lee |
Commissioner
to Parliament |
1628-33,
45-8, 61-3, 69-70 |
Lanark. |
(son of 4)
CCE 1630,65,67
|
| Sir Walter
Stewart of Minto |
Commissioner
to Parliament |
1639-1641 |
Lanarkshire |
|
| Sir William
Baillie Lamington (2) |
Commissioner
to Parliament |
1639-41,45-47,48 |
Lanarkshire |
(son of 1) |
| James Winram
of Wiston |
Commissioner
to Parliament |
1640 |
Lanarkshire |
Colonel
|
| James Lindsay
of Belstanes |
Com. to
Convention of Estates |
1643-1644 |
Lanarkshire |
|
| William
Hamilton of Dalserf |
Commissioner
to Parliament |
1644-1645 |
Lanarkshire |
|
| Alexander
Tenent |
Commissioner
to Parliament |
1649 |
Lanark |
CCE 1644 |
| John Dickson
of Busbie |
Commissioner
to Parliament |
1649 |
Lanarkshire |
|
| John Hamilton |
Commissioner
to Parliament |
1649
|
Lanarkshire |
|
| Sir John
Chiesly of Cresswell |
Commissioner
to Parliament |
1649-1650 |
Lanarkshire |
|
| Sir Daniel
Carmichael of Mauldslie |
Commissioner
to Parliament |
1649-50,
89-90 |
Lanarkshire |
|
| Sir James
Hope of Hopetoun |
Commissioner
to Parliament |
1650 |
Lanarkshire |
|
| Patrick Bisset |
Commissioner
to Parliament |
1661-63,
69-72 |
Lanark |
|
| Gavin
Hamilton of Raploch (3) |
Com. to
Convention of Estates |
1665, 1667 |
Lanarkshire |
|
| Gavin
Hamilton of Raploch |
Commissioner
to Parliament |
1667 |
Lanarkshire |
(son of 3) CCE
1665 CS JP |
| Sir John
Harper of Cambusnethan |
Commissioner
to Parliament |
1669-1674 |
Lanarkshire |
|
| Sir William
Lockhart of Lee |
Commissioner
to Parliament |
1672 |
Lanarkshire |
|
| Thomas
Stoddart |
Com. to
Convention of Estates |
1678 |
Lanark |
|
| William
Wilkie of Provanside |
Commissioner
to Parliament |
1681 |
Lanark |
|
| Cromwell
Lockhart of Lee |
Commissioner
to Parliament |
1681, 1685-86
|
Lanarkshire |
CCE 1678 CS |
| Sir George
Lockhart of Carnwath |
Commissioner
to Parliament |
1681, 1685-86
|
Lanarkshire |
|
| James Weir |
Commissioner
to Parliament |
1685-1686 |
Lanark |
|
| Thomas
Hamilton |
Commissioner
to Parliament |
1689-1702 |
Lanark |
CCE 1689 |
| Sir William
Baillie Lamington |
Commissioner
to Parliament |
1689-1701,1703-07
|
Lanark. |
(son of 2)
Voted against Union |
| James
Hamilton of Aitkenhead |
Commissioner
to Parliament |
1690-1701,
1703-07 |
Lanarkshire |
Voted against
Union |
| Sir William
Denholm |
Commissioner
to Parliament |
1690-1702 |
Lanarkshire |
|
| Sir John
Lockhart of Castlehill |
Commissioner
to Parliament |
1693 |
Lanarkshire |
|
| Richard
Lockhart of Lee |
Commissioner
to Parliament |
1695
|
Lanarkshire |
|
| Sir William
Stewart of Castlemilk |
Commissioner
to Parliament |
1696-1702 |
Lanarkshire |
CS |
| George
Jerviswood |
Commissioner
to Parliament |
1703-1707 |
Lanarkshire |
|
| William
Carmichael of Skirling |
Commissioner
to Parliament |
1703-1707 |
Lanark |
Voted in
favour of Union |
| Sir John
Sinclair of Stevenson |
Commissioner
to Parliament |
1703-1707 |
Lanarkshire |
Against Union
CS 1690, 96, 04 |
| Lord
Archibald Hamilton |
Member of
Parliament
|
1708-1710
|
Lanarkshire |
(App.Lord of
the Admiralty in 1729) |
Sir James
Hamilton
|
Member of
Parliament (Tory) |
1710-1715 |
Lanarkshire |
(Supporter of
Pretender) |
| James
Lockhart of Lee |
Member of
Parliament (Whig) |
1715-1718 |
Lanarkshire |
(No. of
voters 1715-1754 about 70) |
| Lord
Archibald Hamilton |
Member of
Parliament |
1718-1729+ |
Lanarkshire |
|
| Lord William
Hamilton |
Member of
Parliament |
1734-35
|
Lanarkshire |
(Said to be
supporter of Pretender) |
| Sir James
Hamilton |
Member of
Parliament |
1735-1750 |
Lanarkshire |
|
| Patrick Stuart |
Member of
Parliament (Whig) |
1750-1754 |
Lanarkshire |
(A retired
Army Officer) |
| James Vere |
Member of
Parliament |
1754-1760 |
Lanarkshire |
(parents
belonged to Covenanting family) |
| Daniel
Campbell |
Member of
Parliament |
1760-1768 |
Lanarkshire |
(Joined navy
in 1778) |
| John Lockhart
Ross |
Member of
Parliament |
1768-1774 |
Lanarkshire |
|
| Andrew
Stuart |
Member
of
Parliament |
|
1774-1784 |
Lanarkshire |
(Claimed to
be brother of Pretender) |
| Sir James
Denham Steuart |
Member of
Parliament |
|
1784-1802 |
Lanarkshire |
|
| Lord
Archibald Hamilton |
Member of
Parliament |
|
1802-1828 |
Lanarkshire |
(Colonel in
Lanark Militia) |
| John Maxwell |
Member of
Parliament |
Whig (Liberal) |
1832-1837 |
Lanarkshire |
|
| Alexander M.
Lockhart |
Member of
Parliament |
Conservative |
1837-1841 |
Lanarkshire |
(won by one
vote over Liberal) |
| William
Lockhart |
Member of
Parliament |
Conservative |
1841-1857 |
Lanarkshire |
|
| A. Cochrane |
Member of
Parliament |
Conservative |
1857 |
Lanarkshire |
|
| Sir Edward T.
Colebrooke |
Member of
Parliament |
Liberal |
1857-1868 |
Lanarkshire |
(County
divided into 2 in 1867) |
| J.G.C.
Hamilton |
|
Liberal |
1868-1874 |
South Lanark
Division |
|
| Sir W.J.
Anstruther |
|
Conservative |
1874-1880 |
South Lanark
Division |
|
| J.G.C.
Hamilton |
|
Liberal |
1880-1886 |
South Lanark
Division |
(Lanark. -6
members) |
| James H.C.
Hozier |
|
Conservative |
1886-1906 |
South Lanark
Division |
|
| Sir Walter
Menzies |
|
Liberal |
1906-1913 |
South Lanark
Division |
|
| William Watson |
|
Conservative |
1913-1918 |
|
Bye election
due to death of above |
| W.E. Elliot |
|
Coalition |
1918-1923 |
Lanark |
|
| Tom S. Dickson |
|
Labour |
1923-1924 |
|
|
| S. Mitchell |
|
Conservative |
1924-1929 |
|
|
| Tom S. Dickson |
|
Labour |
1929-1931 |
|
|
| Lord Dunglass |
|
Conservative |
1931-1939 |
|
|
| T. Steele |
|
Labour |
1945-1950 |
|
|
| Lord Dunglass |
|
Conservative |
1950-1951 |
|
|
| P.F. Maitland |
|
Conservative |
1951-1959 |
|
Stood as
Independent Conservative 1955-59 |
| Judith Hart |
|
Labour |
1959-1987 |
|
|
| Jimmy Hood |
|
Labour |
1987- Present |
|
|
| Karen Gillon |
|
Labour |
1999- Present |
|
|
Leaseholders and Citizens Improvement
Association
The ‘Leaseholders and Citizens Improvement
Association’ was initiated by Mr Thomas Sorbie of 55 Lockhart Street.
The organisation became established when Mr Sorbie brought to the
attention of Mr Nathaniel Mains (Secretary of the local Labour Party),
a situation in connection with the Hamilton Memorial Church
Congregation and the Ministers Manse in Vicars Road relating to the
lease. This issue was also said to affect a good number of households
within the coming 30 years. An Association was thus formed in 1911 with
a view to having the Land Laws amended.
The minute books (1944-1955) of this Association are to be found in the
archives of the Mitchell Library in Glasgow (cash book also available).
Meetings were held in the Miners Institute, New Street with a
membership of 211 residents in 1944. The committee of 1944 consisted;
Mr Robert Brodie (President), Mr Samuel Hutchison (Vice President), Mr
Nat Mains (Secretary) and Mr Archibald Macfie (Treasurer).
With strong ties to the Labour party the committee campaigned to
improve and raise issue with many local concerns including; the
condition of buildings, sanitation, rubbish dumping, roads, the local
library, mail services, street lighting, overcrowding and transport
issues. In many respects this organisation resembles the present
Community Council of today.
During the years available (minute books) the committee primarily
campaigned to improve leaseholders rights. Many householders were bound
by ancient 999 year leases, which favoured the side of the heritors.
Whilst the landlords (land superiors) were guaranteed their share in
rent, the tenants who often built and improved properties on the
landowners ground had no security in law if the landlord chose to
foreclose the lease. The Association fought a long and ultimately
successful campaign through the national press and Westminster. It
would appear from the minute books that the Association, primarily
through Mr Robert Brodie, were at the forefront of this national
campaign, meeting with local members of Parliament and the Secretary of
State for Scotland on several occasions, both in Westminster and at the
subsequent Public Inquiry in Edinburgh. Representation was made to the
Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Bill in 1947 with regards to this
matter.
Among other aspects of the outdated leases, the Association sought to
bring householder leases in line with those of farms. This meant that
at the end of the natural lease the tenant instead of the paying a
reversion fee, should be able to take the superior to a tribunal to
determine compensation for improvements made to the leased property. In
what was a very passionate issue, many leaseholders were threatened
with eviction, though government action prevented so until the matter
could be addressed through new legislation.
In the Kings speech of 1950 he intimated the government intended to
introduce leaseholders legislation to address concerns North of the
border (a separate campaign was fought in England). In 1952 it was
stated that there were 107 properties in Stonehouse affected by the
original leaseholder agreements (999 year leases). This included a
clause stating no Roman Catholic chapels should be built on the land
belonging to the superiors within the parish of Stonehouse. However, on
contacting the Arch Diocese in Motherwell in the year 2000 he intimated
that they had no knowledge of such a clause. In 1954 the Long Leases
(Scotland) Act was passed.
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