CRAWFORD, village and parish in southern extremity of Lanarkshire.

The village stands on the Clyde, 2 miles southeast of Abington, and was once of some importance, but has now a poor appearance. The parish contains also Leadhills town, and measures about 18 miles in length and 14½ in greatest breadth. Acres, 65,407. Real property in 1880-81, £22,063. Pop., quoad civilia, 1763; quoad sacra, 698.

The surface lies wholly among the Southern Highlands ; includes main part of the Lowther Mountains; consists of uplands with many intersecting vales ; and has prevailingly a bleak and bare appearance. An ancient estate, comprehending all the parish, gave to the family of Lindsay in 1398 the title of earl, now borne jointly with that of Earl of Balcarres. Crawford Castle, now a ruin, called Tower Lindsay, stands on the Clyde, opposite Crawford village; and either it, or a previous structure on the same site, is said to have been the scene of a notable exploit by Sir William Wallace. Newton House is the only modern mansion. The parochial church is at Crawford village, and a quoad sacra parish church at Leadhills. 3 schools for 168 scholars are in the parish, and 1 of them and an enlargement for 85 are new.

The Gazetteer of Scotland, by Rev John Wilson, 1882.