Braidwood, a village and an ancient barony in the SW of Carluke parish, Lanarkshire. The village stands on the line of the Roman Watling Street, ½ mile SW of Braidwood station on the Caledonian railway, this being 1¼ mile SSE of Carluke station, and 7 miles WNW of Carstairs Junction; its public school, with accommodation for 168 children, had (1879) an average attendance of 104, and a grant of £76,9s. Here in 1861 died Andrew Anderson, champion draught-player of Scotland. A standing stone, supposed to have been a milestone on Watling Street, is at the village, and a stone hatchet, flint and bone arrow-heads, remarkably small-bowled pipes, and numerous coins of the English Edwards and of later monarchs, have been found in its neighbourhood. Limestone of excellent quality is worked in its vicinity, and largely exported from its railway station. The ancient barony belonged to the Earls of Douglas; passed to successively the Earls of Angus, Chancellor Maitland, the Earl of Lauderdale, the Douglases again, and the Lockharts of Carnwath; and belongs now to various parties holding of the Lockhart family. Its ancient fortalice bears now the name of Hallbar Tower; stands 1½ mile SSW of the station; and is a structure of the 11th century, 52 feet high and 24 wide, with walls 10 feet thick. Braidwood House, on part of the ancient barony, occupies a commanding site overhanging the Vale of Clyde, and is a handsome modern edifice.
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