How Tillicoultry was named?
- there are at least 3 stories pertaining to this.
Firstly a Highlandman was taking
a herd of cattle along the old road and when passing through Tillicoultry
Burn none of the cattle took a drink. He exclaimed "There's Tiel
a coo try" (Deil a coo dry - with the pronunciation of "D"
like "T") and so the name evolved or
According to the Statistical
Accounts of Scotland the origin of the "Tillicoultry" is
purely Celtic and is made up of 3 words - Tullich- Cul-Tir which means
the mount or hill at the back of the country or the hill behind the
stretch of land.
Thirdly the Rev W. Osborn suggests
a Latin derivation - Tellus culta - the cultivated land
When Sidney Platfoots's son got married a house was built for
him on the Dollar Road which from the air is said to resemble
a butterfly - the motif of the Devonvale Paper Mills
|
In the 1930's there was a football team in known as Tillicoultry
Glen Albion FC
|
|
James Bond used to live in Tillicoultry
The year was 1936, long before Sean Connery dreamt of becoming
a secret agent when in Tillicoultry the real life James Bond became
president of Tillicoultry Bowling Club
|
Tillicoultry Co-operative Society was founded
in 1839 and merged with the Tillicoultry Baking Company in 1905.
The enlarged society employed about 70 people and had a number
of specialised departments throughout the town including a drapery
and a chemist
|
In the 1800's there was a plan to build a railway line to the
top of Ben Cleuch.
|
The population of Tillicoultry has grown over
the years
1755 - 787 | 1801 - 916 | 1837 - 1803 |
1851 - 4686 | 1881 - 5544 | 2003 estimated population
for Tillicoultry, Devonside & Coalsnaughton 6367
|
Did you know that Tillicoultry used to have another bowling green
- The Public House Working Men's Club situated opposite the Community
Centre on the land now occupied by Kirkcare. This club was formed
in the late 19th century but went out of existence during the
Great War. They won the Balfour Trophy in 1894 and 1896 and were
runners up to the Tillicoultry Club when they first won it in
1902.
|
The first Post Office opened in Tillicoultry in 1833 and the
postmaster was Thomas Walker.
Tillicoultry was made a burgh in 1871
|
The telegraph connection from
Alloa - Tillicoultry was erected in 1860 at a cost of £100.
Half the money was paid by the railway company and half by the inhabitants
of Tillicoultry. The telegraph company did not believe that it could
become self supporting so several individuals in the town had to
act as guarantors to pay the clerk's salary for the first year before
the telegraph company agreed to erect the service. However the guarantors
never had to pay out as it quickly became a paying concern |
The construction of a new cemetery on the south end of the Cunninghar
Hill began in 1860 and was completed in 1861
The first person interred there was Dr David S Ritchie - 30/11/1861
|
On the West side of the burn on Castle Craig used
to be a round Pictish fortress in ancient times
|
The granite drinking fountain opposite the Royal Hotel at the
bottom of Upper Mill Street was presented to the burgh in 1900
by Provost Walker on his retirement from Council duties after
29 years service. The Walker fountain was one of 4 gifted to Tillicoultry
whhich led to the nickname - the Fountain Burgh
|
