Netherlee

Netherlee
Ormonde Crescent, with a view towards Glasgow and the Campsie Fells in the distance
Netherlee  Netherlee shown within East Renfrewshire
Population	4,562 [1]
OS grid reference	NS575585
– Edinburgh	43 mi (69 km) ENE
– London	342 mi (550 km) SSE
Council area	East Renfrewshire
Lieutenancy area	Renfrewshire
Country	Scotland
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	GLASGOW
Postcode district	G44
Dialling code	0141
Police	Scottish
Fire	Scottish
Ambulance	Scottish
EU Parliament	Scotland
UK Parliament	East Renfrewshire
Scottish Parliament	Eastwood
List of places UK Scotland

Coordinates: 55°48′07″N 4°16′12″W / 55.802°N 4.270°W

Netherlee is a suburban residential area in East Renfrewshire, Scotland. Part of the Greater Glasgow conurbation, it is situated on the west bank of the White Cart Water about 4 miles (6.5 km) south of Glasgow city centre, and just outside the city boundary.

Originally a small rural hamlet dependent upon the mills along the river, Netherlee became extensively urbanised in the 20th century, developing into an affluent commuter suburb. In a 2014 Royal Mail survey, the G44 postcode – which includes Netherlee – was rated as the most desirable area of Scotland to live in.^[2] As of the 2011 Census, the area has a population of 4,562.

Netherlee is served by a parish church, primary school and library, as well as a number of local shops. Cathcart Cemetery also falls within the boundaries of the area.

History

In the medieval era, the area of modern Netherlee and Clarkston was known as the Lands of Lee, centred on Lee Castle. The small hill on which the castle stood is now the park behind Netherlee Post Office. In the 15th century, the Lands of Lee were split up into Netherlee, Midlee (now Stamperland) and Overlee (now part of Clarkston).^[3] From the 1660s onwards, the Maxwell family of Bogton (modern Muirend) developed the original Williamwood House and the surrounding Williamwood Estate. The house was built adjacent to the site of Lee Castle, the latter being demolished around this time.^[4]

Up until the latter part of the 19th century, Netherlee was a small rural village along the main road from Glasgow to Clarkston (the present day Netherlee Road). Many local residents were employed in the printworks on the bank of the River Cart. The early years of the 20th century saw the first phase of urbanisation, with the development of the present line of Clarkston Road and the shifting of the settlement's focus westwards along this new route from Cathcart and Muirend to Clarkston. From this time onwards, new housing developments, typically red sandstone terraces, began to eat up former agricultural land. Due to building restrictions as a result of the First World War, however, it was not until the 1920s that the majority of residential streets off the main artery were fully developed as they appear today.

Governance

Although now contiguous with Glasgow, Netherlee remains outwith the city's boundary in the unitary authority area of East Renfrewshire. For local electoral purposes, Netherlee was formerly a ward electing a single councillor to East Renfrewshire Council, however it has now been grouped with Stamperland and Williamwood as a larger multi-member ward electing three councillors. Netherlee and Stamperland together form one of East Renfrewshire's community council areas.

Historically, the Netherlee area was part of the county of Renfrewshire. Although Renfrewshire was abolished as an area of local government in 1975, it continues to exist as both a Lieutenancy area and registration county, with Netherlee included in both. At a lower level, Netherlee also formed part of the ancient parish of Cathcart, which formed the lowest tier of local government between 1845 and 1930.

Following the abolition of the counties in 1975, Netherlee became a part of the new Eastwood District within Strathclyde Region under the two tier system of local government which lasted until the creation of the present unitary authorities in 1996.

In the Parliament of the United Kingdom, Netherlee is represented in the House of Commons as part of the county constituency of East Renfrewshire. Kirsten Oswald of the SNP was elected as MP for East Renfrewshire in the 2015 General Election. For the Scottish Parliament, Netherlee forms part of the Eastwood constituency within the West of Scotland electoral region. As such it is currently represented by Kenneth Macintosh (also Labour) as the constituency Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) in addition to the seven regional list MSPs.

Geography

Education

There is one non-denominational primary school in the area, Netherlee Primary School, opened in 1933 to serve the growing population. It was extensively modernised and expanded in the 1990s. In December 2005 it became the first school in Scotland to achieve a top-level “excellent” rating following inspection by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Education.^[5] It acts as a feeder for Williamwood High School in Clarkston which is consistently in the 'top two' highest performing State Schools in Scotland.

Netherlee also caters well for children with the 278th Boys Brigade Company, the 91st Scout Group and the Girl Guides to attend. There is also a football pitch, swing park and Shokokai Karate Club held in the Pavilion, all behind the primary school.

Additional Information

Lee McConnell resides in Netherlee. She is a retired (April 2014) Scottish athlete, who competed in the 400 metres. She is a triple-Olympian having competed for Great Britain at the 2004, 2008 and 2012 Olympics and is a nine-time medalist at major championships.

Voted Scottish Athlete of the Year in 2002, 2003 and 2007, McConnell is the joint record holder for the 4 × 400 metres relay times for both Great Britain and Scotland.

References

1. Census 2011
2. "UK's 'most desirable' postcodes revealed". BBC News.
3. Nisbet, Douglas (2007). Old Clarkston and Netherlee. Catrine: Stenlake. p. 3. ISBN 9781840333893.
4. "Netherlee". Canmore. Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland. Retrieved 11 February 2014.
5. "School celebrates as Scotland gets best-ever report card". The Scotsman (Edinburgh). 25 October 2006. Retrieved 27 January 2016.

External links

• (http://www.scotcities.com/cathcart/whitecartwalk.htm White Cart Walk to Netherlee