Lesmahagow (Abbey Green)
South Lanarkshire

The former mining village of Lesmahagow lies 6 miles (9.5 km) southwest of Lanark on the River Nethan. Named after St Machutus, a 6th Century missionary, the site developed through a priory (1144) where monks from Kelso became well-known for their fruit-growing industry; today the area is still a fertile farming region. Though the priory was destroyed in the Reformation there are remains near the present parish church (1803); like many nearby villages, the village had a strong presence of Covenanters in the 17th century.

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