Orangeism in Airdrie

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Prior to the establishment of Airdrie District, two Lodges were in operation in the town. From the "Table of Incidents Involving Irishmen in Lanarkshire Coalfields," we read that on the 13th July 1835 "A Procession of Airdrie's two Orange Lodges was attacked by Catholics". The two Lodges concerned would be Airdrie Purple Heroes and Drumgelloch Bible and Crown. Another report on the incident is given in the book "Orangeism in Ireland and throughout the Empire," which states:- At Airdrie, matters turned out much more serious. A large procession of Orangemen was furiously attacked by a powerful body of their opponents who had come from Glasgow for the purpose. In the battle that ensued the Orangemen got badly beaten. At the last moment the authorities interfered and had twenty of the disturbers taken into custody.

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In 1894 manuscripts were sent  by Mr Wallace Anderson, J.P., who was then resident in London, to the Provost of Airdrie, Mister Gavin Motherwell. These give an eyewitness account of an incident which took place in 1837. They read as follows:-

"The12th of July this year was a sad one for the Catholics. The Orangemen were parading through the town singing and the bands were playing, when opposite a house in the High Street the Catholics fired some shots. No one was hurt but after the incident there was a regular chase. Some of the Catholics ran down Welwynd, others into Bell Street, with the remainder going into Pump Lane.

On Sunday night about eleven o’clock, I was in bed and my father sat smoking by the fire. Suddenly the town’s bell began to ring. My father went outside to learn the cause of the alarm. The Catholics he was told, were marching from Glasgow to kill us all and burn the town. I got on my clothes and went out with my father to fight the battle of Drumclog over again, as our Covenanting forefathers did in 1679, when they beat old Claverhouse. Of course our sudden rising did not allow us to have guns but each took what was nearest to hand. My father had a weaver’s beam and I had a hammer. Others had pitchforks and spikes as well as guns, pistols and swords. We were determined to punish those whose forefathers had burned George Wishart at St Andrews in 1545.

We all met at the Cross, the bell still ringing and we were put in line. The order was given to halt till the patrols returned from Coatdyke with their report. At last they came to say that they saw nobody. So we were again told to march to the Royal Hotel.

This was all very well for us, but for those who had remained at home it was a sad night. Some went to Rochsoles Wood and were there all night. Others used chests of drawers as barriers. But all these precautions were quite unnecessary. When the sun rose the next morning there was no sign of the reported "army" marching from Glasgow to destroy Airdrie. And after that there was a great calm".

Orangeism in Airdrie