Mossend
Mossend is a town on the A775, in North Lanarkshire, Scotland, to the east of its sister town Bellshill, and to the west of the large town of Motherwell.
The town is the site of a major railway freight terminal.[1] The yard is primarily used by DB Schenker Rail (UK) formerly EWS. Mossend formed around the steel industry, with Clydesdale Steel Works once dominating the east end of the town. It is also home to the famous Mossend Football Club, a local community football club for children from the age of 6 to 21 years old.
Early Map References
Mossend first appears on an early Timothy Pont map at the end of the 16th century as Mossid (Moss-Side), but the name most likely originates from the area being at the end of Moss land. The name 'Mossend' appears in the Roy Lowlands 1752-55 map series. Mining is the reason why the town began to expand. The arrival of Iron and Steel working industry and the attendant railway put Mossend on the map.
19th century developments
The creator of the revolutionary hot blast process -J B Neilson, opened the first iron works in the area in 1839 -Mossend Iron Works. The plant became one of the largest producers of malleable iron in Scotland and other iron works followed in the surrounding area. Clysedale opening in 1870 and Milnwood in 1872. Steel production using the open hearth process began in Mossend in 1880 and expanded in following years.
Local Schools
Mossend has a public school 'Mossend Primary School' and a Roman Catholic School 'Holy Family Primary School.'
In 1868, the Rev. James Milne built a new chapel-school having an attendance of 140 pupils and dedicated to the Holy Family. Miss Mary McCluskey was appointed the headmistress. In 1883, the Rev. Micheal Fox erected a large addition to the chapel-school providing accommodation for 400 pupils. Under the inspiration and guidance of the Rev. John Scannell, it was realised in 1904 that a modern school was needed to cope with the increasing roll. The foundation stone wad laid on the 7th of October 1906 by archbishop Maguire and the three story, red sandstone building formally dedicated and opened on Sunday 27 January 1907. By 1916 numbers had rapidly increased and once again classrooms in the old school had to be used. In May 1923 the school roll reached 1,819.
Mossend Public school situated on the Calder Road was opened in the later part of 1880 as a single story building. In 1923 the building suffered serious damage due to underground mineral workings. In February 1924, a decision was made to demolish the building and build an entirely new school on the same site in brick and roughcast with a stone base. During the rebuild, the pupils attended school on a part-time bases in the canteen of the former projectile Works at Mossend cross. In May 1926 the school was practically ready for occupation and was formally opened by Mr William Robb, H.M. Inspector and later became known as Mossend Primary School.
Holy Family RC Church
In 1868 a chapel school was built to seat up to 500 parishioners, a chapel-house was soon added in 1872 and a large addition to the chapel-school in 1883. These buildings are still standing and form what is now the Parochial Hall. In 1883 work began on the erection of a new church which was formally opened on the 16th November 1884. The church was at the time described in the Scottish Catholic Directory as "A very beautiful church designed by Messrs Pugin and Pugin, Westminster ... one of the neatest, most chaste and elegant in this part of the country... accommodating upwards of 800 worshipers." Holy Family Parish Website
References
- Mossend Magic (dead link)
Further reading
- Shannon, Paul (9–22 September 1998). "Mossend - A yard rejuvenated". RAIL. No. 339. EMAP Apex Publications. pp. 30–34. ISSN 0953-4563. OCLC 49953699.
External links
Coordinates: 55°49′13″N 4°00′29″W / 55.82030°N 4.00810°W
