Dalserf

{{short description|Village in South Lanarkshire, Scotland}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}} {{Use British English|date=July 2025}} {{Infobox UK place |static_image_name= DalserfChurch2.jpg |static_image_caption= Dalserf Kirk |country = Scotland |official_name= Dalserf |scots_name= |gaelic_name= |population= 52 |population_ref= ''(2001)'' |os_grid_reference= NS7950 |map_type=UK |coordinates = {{coord|55.735|-3.914|display=inline,title}} |pushpin_map= Scotland South Lanarkshire#Scotland North Lanarkshire |civil_parish= Dalserf |unitary_scotland= South Lanarkshire |lieutenancy_scotland= Lanarkshire |constituency_westminster= Lanark and Hamilton East |constituency_scottish_parliament= Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse |historic_county= |post_town= LARKHALL |postcode_district = ML9 |postcode_area= ML |dial_code= 01698 }}

'''Dalserf''' is a small village of only a few streets in South Lanarkshire, Scotland. It lies on the River Clyde, {{convert|2|mi|0}} east of Larkhall and {{convert|7|mi|0}} south east of Hamilton.

Dalserf is also a traditional civil parish. It includes Ashgill, Larkhall, Netherburn, Rosebank and Shawsburn. The parish has a population of 17,985 (mostly from Larkhall's near 15,500 population<ref>{{cite web |title=Extract of the 'Index of Populated Areas in Scotland' [settlements above 500 people] |url=https://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/files//census/1991/index-pop-tab1.pdf |work=1991 Index of Populated Areas in Scotland |publisher=National Records of Scotland |date=2006 |access-date=6 August 2018 }}</ref>).

The name of the village comes from the Gaelic ''dail'', meaning "field", and Serf, the name of a 6th-century saint who dwelt here. Of old, it was also known as ''Machan'' or ''Machanshire'', from the Gaelic ''Maghan'' meaning "small plain".

The village kirk, built in 1655, is dedicated to Saint Serf, and may be built on the site of an early church founded by him. The church dates from The Killing Time, when the rebel Covenanters were persecuted for their faith, and was a centre of Covenanter activity. John M'Millan, the controversial preacher and first post-Revolution minister of the United Societies, is buried in the kirkyard. The kirk is Category A listed.

A ferry once operated across the Clyde at Dalserf, although this has long since been superseded by the nearby Garrion Bridge. Dalserf railway station once served the village.

==See also== *Listed buildings in Dalserf

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== {{commons|position=left}} *[http://www.dalserf.org Dalserf Parish Church Website] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20060128094508/http://www.moirbooks.homestead.com/Dalserf.html Dalserf Village] *[http://hsewsf.sedsh.gov.uk/hslive/portal.hsstart?P_HBNUM=5170 Dalserf Parish Church Listing] *[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FfT4nuMxL3Q Video footage of the Dalserf hog-backed stone]. *[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZjKcDlBmie0 Video footage of Dalserf Kirk]

Category:Villages in South Lanarkshire Category:Parishes in Lanarkshire