Sauchie
| Sauchie | |
|---|---|
Shops on Main Street | |
Sauchie Location within Clackmannanshire | |
| Population | 6,310 [1] |
| OS grid reference | NS896944 |
| Council area | |
| Lieutenancy area | |
| Country | Scotland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | ALLOA |
| Postcode district | FK10 |
| Dialling code | 01259 |
| Police | Scotland |
| Fire | Scottish |
| Ambulance | Scottish |
| UK Parliament | |
| Scottish Parliament | |
Sauchie is a town in Clackmannanshire, in the Central Lowlands of Scotland. It lies north of the River Forth and south of the Ochil Hills, approximately 1 mile (1.6 km) north-east of Alloa. According to local authority statistics based on data from the National Records of Scotland, Sauchie had an estimated population of 6,310 in 2020.[2]
History
The lands of Sauchie are recorded in medieval charters. In 1321, Robert I (Robert the Bruce) granted the lands of Sauchie to Henry de Annand, a former Sheriff of Clackmannan.[3]
Sauchie Tower dates from the 15th century and is designated as a Category A listed building by Historic Environment Scotland.[4] The tower later became associated with the Schaw family, who moved to Newtonshaw in the 18th century.
Coal mining was historically significant in the area. In 1605, Archibald Campbell, 7th Earl of Argyll, arranged for coal from pits at Sauchie to be transported to Castle Campbell.[5]
The Auchinbaird Windmill, also known as New Sauchie Windmill, dates from the late 17th or early 18th century and is a rare surviving example of a vaulted tower windmill in Scotland.[6]
Town status recognition
In December 2025, an Early Day Motion in the UK Parliament welcomed the awarding of town status to Sauchie in Clackmannanshire and congratulated residents and Clackmannanshire Council.[7]
Sport
The town is home to Sauchie Juniors F.C., founded in 1960, which competes in the East of Scotland Football League. The club plays its home matches at Beechwood Park.
Notable people
- Robert Carberry (born 1931), footballer
- Grant Gilchrist (born 1990), rugby union player
- Alan Hansen (born 1955), footballer
- John Hansen (born 1950), footballer
- Willie Morgan (born 1944), footballer
- William Schaw (c. 1550–1602), Master of Works to James VI of Scotland
- Robert Shaw (died 1527), Bishop of Moray
- John Stahl (1953–2022), actor
- David Wilson (born 1957), criminologist
See also
References
- ^ "Population of settlements – Clackmannanshire". Clackmannanshire Council. Retrieved 2 March 2026.
- ^ "Population of settlements – Clackmannanshire". Clackmannanshire Council. Retrieved 2 March 2026.
- ^ Anderson, John (1899). Calendar of Laing Charters. Edinburgh. p. 363.
- ^ "Sauchie Tower". Historic Environment Scotland. Retrieved 2 March 2026.
- ^ Anderson, John (1899). Calendar of Laing Charters. Edinburgh. p. 363.
- ^ "Auchinbaird Windmill". Historic Environment Scotland. Retrieved 2 March 2026.
- ^ "Town Status for Sauchie". UK Parliament. Retrieved 2 March 2026.
History
The name means the place or field of the willows. The land originally belonged to Clan Campbell, being mentioned in connection with Cailean Mór and Gilleasbaig of Menstrie. In 1321 Robert the Bruce granted the lands of Sauchie to Henry de Annand, former Sheriff of Clackmannan. A tower was built in 1335, and the present Sauchie Tower is on the same site. The extant tower was built before 1431 when Mary de Annand, the co-heiress to the estate, married Sir James Schaw of Greenock.[1] The tower is all that remains of the village which developed within its protective radius. In the early 18th century the Schaw family moved from the tower to the more comfortable Newtonschaw. The village developed a brick works by the River Devon which fell into disuse following the collapse of the local mining industry.
The rare and typically Scottish New Sauchie or Auchinbaird Vaulted Tower Windmill stands on a ridge overlooking New Sauchie and dates from the late 17th or early 18th century. It was a grain mill and later converted to a dovecote and has been preserved as a landscape feature and tourist attraction.
Sport
The village has a strong footballing tradition and is home to the football club Sauchie Juniors, who compete in the East of Scotland League. The club was founded in 1960 and play their home games at Beechwood Park in Sauchie, next to the park is Alloa Golf Club. The village is also home to several youth teams including Claremont Football Club.
New Sauchie
There is a long history of coal mining in the area. In 1605, the Earl of Argyll made arrangements with his tenants to have coal brought from pits at Sauchie to Castle Campbell.[2]
New Sauchie is a relatively modern settlement developed around the Holton Village area to house miners working in the Earl of Mar's colliery at the Holton mine, and Newtonschaw, a village housing servants of the Schaw family. It lies about one mile (1.5 kilometres) south of the original village. Schawpark Golf Course lies on the site of the Schaw family estate which is no longer extant.
Notable people
- Robert Carberry (born 1931), footballer
- Grant Gilchrist (born 1990), Scotland and Edinburgh rugby player
- Alan Hansen (born 1955), footballer
- John Hansen (born 1950), footballer
- Willie Morgan (born 1944), footballer
- William Schaw (c. 1550–1602), mason and courtier
- Robert Shaw (died 1527), Bishop of Moray
- John Stahl (1953–2022), actor[3]
- Prof. David Wilson (born 1957), criminologist
See also
References
- ^ Forsyth, Valerie (28 March 2018). "A Walk in the Past: The origins of Sauchie Tower". Alloa Advertiser. Retrieved 4 April 2018.
- ^ John Anderson, Calendar of Laing Charters (Edinburgh, 1899), p. 363 no. 1492.
- ^ "Game Of Thrones actor John Stahl dies aged 68". BBC News. 4 March 2022. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
- Sauchie and Alloa - A People's History, John Adamson, 1988
External links
- Sauchie Community Website
- Sauchie Library Archived 24 May 2014 at the Wayback Machine