Stirling
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Stirling (Sruighlea in Gaelic) is a city in the Stirling area of central Scotland.
Stirling is an ancient burgh, clustered around a large castle and mediæval old-town. It is a centre for government, retail, and light industry. Its population (as of the 2001 census) was 41,243.
A former capital of the Kingdom of Scotland, Stirling was a royal burgh until 1975. In 2002, as part of Queen Elizabeth's Golden Jubilee, Stirling was granted city status.
History
Originally a Stone Age Settlement, Stirling has been strategically significant since at least the Roman occupation of part of Britain, due to its easily defensible hill (latterly the site of Stirling Castle) and its commanding position beside the River Forth. It is supposed that Stirling is the fortress of Iudeu where Oswiu of Northumbria was besieged by Penda of Mercia in 655.
A ford, and later bridge, of the river at Stirling brought wealth and influence, as did its port. The town was chartered as a royal burgh by King David in the 12th century, with charters later reaffirmed by later monarchs (the town then referred to as Strivelyn). Major battles in Scotland's long conflict with England took place at the Stirling Bridge in 1297 and at the nearby village of Bannockburn in 1314.
The place-name is of unknown origin.
The town motto, which was adopted in 1296, is:
- The Britons stand by force of arms
- The Scots are by this cross preserved from harms
- The Castle & Bridge of Stirling town
- Are in the compass of this seal set down.
During the Civil War the Battle of Stirling (1648) took place in the centre of Stirling on 12th September 1648.
The fortifications continued to play a strategic military role during the 18th century Jacobite Risings. In 1715, the Earl of Mar failed to take control of the castle. In January 1746, the army of Bonnie Prince Charlie seized control of the town but failed to take the Castle. On their consequent retreat northwards, they blew up the church of St. Ninians where they had been storing munitions; only the tower survived and can be seen to this day.
Economically, the River Forth port facilities at Riverside supported trade, including tea trade with India and timber trade with the Baltic. The coming of the railways started the decline of the river trade, not least because a railway bridge downstream made access for shipping more awkward. By the mid 20th century the port had ceased to operate.
Famous residents have included Mary, Queen of Scots, King James VI of Scotland, Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman (former British Prime Minister), documentary film pioneer John Grierson, film music composer Muir Mathieson, animation pioneer Norman McLaren, and TV presenter Kirsty Young.
The Barnwell brothers, Frank and Harold, worked at Grampian Motors in Causewayhead, and in 1909 they designed and flew the first powered flight in Scotland. Frank Barnwell went on to design aircraft including the Bristol Blenheim. A small monument to the brothers' pioneering achievement has been erected at Causewayhead roundabout.
The University of Stirling opened in a 1967 greenfield site outside the town. It has grown into a major research centre, attracting students from nearly 80 countries.
Local sporting teams include the football team Stirling Albion F.C., and the rugby union team Stirling County. Footballers Billy Bremner and Duncan Ferguson were born in Stirling, as was rugby internationals Kenny Logan and Allister Hogg, jockey Willie Carson, and cricketer Dougie Brown.
Stirling is also famous for its many hauntings, like the Pink Lady of the Castle, seen by many a Soldier and the Settle Inn near the Castle which is one of the most haunted places in Scotland
Areas of Stirling
- Bannockburn
- Braehead
- Broomridge
- Cambusbarron
- Cambuskenneth
- Causewayhead
- Cornton
- Kings Park
- Raploch
- Riverside
- St. Ninians
- Top of the Town
- Torbrex
Population
The city of Stirling had a population of 41,243 at the 2001 census, which has risen to 44,460 according to mid-2004 population estimatesSettlement Population Estimates 2004[General Register Office for Scotland, 2004]. The wider Stirling Council area had a population of 86,370 in 2004. The city is reputed to be the third fastest growing area of Scotland in terms of populationStirling Council City Profile [Stirling Profile]. According to the 2001 censusScotland's Census Results online [Results for the Stirling locality, 2001], 52.7% of the population was female compared to 47.2% male. Stirling had both a smaller proportion of under 16's, at 16.7% compared to the Scottish average of 19.2% and a smaller proportion of those of pensionable age - 17.8% - compared to the Scottish average of 18.6%. The highest proportion of the population, at 24.3% was concentrated in the 16-29 age group. Stirling also had a higher proportion of non-Scottish born residents at 16.5% compared to the Scottish average of 12.8%. The population was also slightly younger than the Scottish average - the median age for males was 34 to the national average of 37; and the median age for females was 36, to the national average of 39.Government and Politics
There is a Stirling constituency of the Scottish Parliament and a Stirling constituency of the House of Commons.Twinned Cities
- Villeneuve d'Ascq, France
- Dunedin, Florida, United States
- Obuda, Hungary
- Summerside, Prince Edward Island, Canada
Notes and References
See Also
External links
- [Stirling Council Website]
- [Stirling Castle] (Historic Scotland)
- [Mapping the Town]: the history of Stirling, presented by Julian Richards (BBC Radio 4) (RealAudio format)
- [Stirling Online]
- [University of Stirling]
- [Photos of Stirling]
- [More photos of Stirling] - Taken by Stuart Gillespie, Pastor of Calvary Chapel Stirling
- [Cambusbarron Village] - Local website with lots of information about the village and the Stirling area
- from Wikitravel
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