{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2019}} [[File:Avon Bridge from the Old Avon Bridge (geograph 3040423).jpg|thumb|View from {{ill|one bridge|de|Old Avon Bridge}} crossing the Avon Water from Ferniegair to Barncluith, looking towards {{ill|the other bridge|de|Avon Bridge}}]] '''Barncluith''' is an area of Hamilton in South Lanarkshire, Scotland. Barncluith forms the south-eastern part of the town, between the urban centre and the Avon Water. It lies either side of Carlisle Road (A72), which leads out of Hamilton to Chatelherault Country Park, Larkhall and the Clyde Valley. The name derives from "Baron's Cleugh", a cleugh being a ravine.<ref name=armorial>{{cite web |url=http://hamilton.rcahms.gov.uk/demolition34.html |title=Armorial carved stone from Hamilton Palace, now in gardens of Barncluith House, Hamilton, South Lanarkshire |work=Hamilton Palace: a virtual reconstruction |publisher=Virtual Hamilton Palace Trust |accessdate=16 March 2012}}</ref>
Barncluith Primary School closed in the 1990s. The school building stands at the corner of Miller Street and Townhead Street, and is now the ''Barncluith Business Centre''. The parish church is St. John's Centre on Duke Street.
==Barncluith House and gardens== {{Infobox historic site |name=Barncluith |image= |caption = |locmapin = Scotland South Lanarkshire |map_caption = Location in South Lanarkshire |coordinates = {{coord|55.7674|-4.0258|region:GB_type:landmark|display=title}} |designation1 = category A listed building |designation1_date = 12 January 1971 |designation1_number = {{Historic Environment Scotland|num=LB12522 |short=yes}} |designation1_offname = {{ill|Terraces and Summerhouse, Barncluith|de|Barncluith House}} |designation2 = Inventory of gardens and designed landscapes |designation2_offname = Barncluith |designation2_date = 1 July 1987 |designation2_number = {{Historic Environment Scotland|num=GDL00048|short=yes}} }} To the south of the area, alongside the Avon Water, are Barncluith tower house and Barncluith House. The tower house dates to the 16th century, while the house is of 18th-century origin. The terraced gardens which run down to the river, which date from the 17th century,<ref>Scottish Garden Buildings by Tim Buxbaum</ref> are a category A listed building,<ref name=listed>{{Historic Environment Scotland|num=LB12522 |desc=TERRACES AND SUMMERHOUSE, BARNCLUITH |cat=A |access-date=27 December 2018}}</ref> and are included on the Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes in Scotland, the national listing of significant gardens.<ref name=gardenhist>{{Historic Environment Scotland|num=GDL00048 |desc=BARNCLUITH |access-date=27 December 2018|fewer-links=yes}}</ref> The house and tower are both category B listed, having been extensively restored in the 20th century.<ref>{{Historic Environment Scotland|num=LB12481 |desc=BARNCLUITH HOUSE |cat=B |access-date=27 December 2018|fewer-links=yes}}</ref><ref>{{Historic Environment Scotland|num=LB12521 |desc=BARNCLUITH |cat=B |access-date=27 December 2018|fewer-links=yes}}</ref>
===History=== The lands of Barncluith were held by the Machan family, of Norman origin. In 1507 Anne Machan married William Hamilton of Rossmoor, kinsman of the Duke of Hamilton. Their son fought and died at the Battle of Langside (1568), and Barncluith was subsequently inherited by their grandson John Hamilton. The tower house of Barncluith dates to around this time, and was probably built by John Hamilton along with the gardens.<ref name=gardenhist/> The building of the terraces along the river is thought to date to the 17th century.<ref name=armorial/><ref name=gardenhist/> The garden was laid out as seven "hanging terraces" leading down to the River Avon.<ref>Scottish Garden Buildings by Tim Buxbaum p.26</ref>
Another John Hamilton of Barncluith was Sheriff of the Lower Ward of Lanarkshire from shortly after 1707. He is said to have held his court within the pavilion in the terrace garden, and to have carried out executions at a nearby oak tree.<ref name=gardenhist/> In the 1730s, the involvement of the architect William Adam in works at Barncluith is suggested by surviving correspondence with his clerk of works.<ref name=gardenhist/>
Ownership of Barncluith passed from the Hamiltons to the Ruthven family in the 19th century. At this time the gardens at Barncluith were renowned as an example of an old Scots garden, and were popular with visitors to the area.<ref name=armorial/>
In the 19th century the mound on which the castle had originally stood was levelled and enclosed by a stone balustrade by David Bryce. By 1900 the main garden had been reduced from seven to five terraces but including summerhouses and gardenhouses, a fountain and "the Duke of Hamilton's bath" and was described by Sir Robert Lorimer as "the most romantic little garden in Scotland".<ref>Scottish Garden Buildings by Tim Buxbaum p.26</ref>
The estate was bought in 1908 by lawyer James C. Bishop, who restored the gardens. In 1927 Hamilton Palace was demolished, and Bishop secured a number of fragments of carved masonry which he brought to Barncluith and re-used as garden ornaments.<ref name=gardenhist/> These include a large carving of the Hamilton coat of arms.<ref name=armorial/><ref>{{Historic Environment Scotland|cat=PLA |num=203227 |num2=NS75SW 1.2 |desc=Hamilton, Barncluith House, Terraced Gardens And Summer Houses |access-date=23 June 2025|fewer-links=yes}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== {{Commons category-inline|Barncluith}} *[http://www.stjohnshamilton.org.uk/ St John's Church Hamilton]
Category:Hamilton, South Lanarkshire Category:Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes in South Lanarkshire Category:Populated places in South Lanarkshire