Camelon
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 Camelon swing bridge over the Forth and Clyde Canal at Camelon lock | |
  Camelon Location within theFalkirk council area | |
| Population | 4,508 [1](2001 census) |
| OS grid reference | NS867805 |
| • Edinburgh | 24.7 mi (39.8 km)ESE |
| • London | 346 mi (557 km)SSE |
| Civil parish | |
| Council area | |
| Lieutenancy area | |
| Country | Scotland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | FALKIRK |
| Postcode district | FK1 |
| Dialling code | 01324 |
| Police | Scotland |
| Fire | Scottish |
| Ambulance | Scottish |
| UK Parliament | |
| Scottish Parliament | |
| Website | falkirk.gov.uk |
| 56°00′17″N3°49′03″W / 56.004596°N 3.817454°W /56.004596; -3.817454 | |
Camelon (/ˈkeɪmələn/;Scots:Caimlan,Scottish Gaelic:Camalan)[2] is a large settlement within theFalkirk council area,Scotland. The village is in theForth Valley, 1.3 miles (2.1 km) west ofFalkirk, 1.3 miles (2.1 km) south ofLarbert and 2.6 miles (4.2 km) east ofBonnybridge. The main road through Camelon is theA803 road which links the village to Falkirk. At the time of the2001 census, Camelon had a population of 4,508.[1]
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Human activity at Camelon pre-dates the Romans, as Bronze Age items[4] have been recovered from graves in the area.[5]
Camelon is the site of a series ofRoman fortifications built between 80 and 83 AD.[6] Camelon has been suggested as the southern fort of the RomanGask Ridge separating theHighlands from theLowlands.
TheRoman fort was under a mile north of theAntonine Wall.[7] A Roman altar was found at Bogton Farm 1000 yards (under a kilometre) west of the fort.[8] ASamian ware platter, possibly also associated with the site was found, and can now be viewed at theHunterian Museum, Glasgow.[9]
Camelon and its connections withArthur's O'on have been mentioned in relation to Camelot, but the name 'Camelon' may be an antiquarian neologism coined after the 15th century, with its earlier name beingCarmore orCarmure.[11][12]Hector Boece was the first historian to mention Camelon[13] in hisHistoria Gentis Scotorum of 1522.[14]Vespasian was supposed to have won a battle at Camelon and captured the crown of the Pictish kings.[15][16] Stories of a legendary Roman harbour at Camelon first appeared in 1695.[14] The legend of Camelon's twelve brass gates was also widespread albeit dubious.[17] More mundane items like leather shoes were found when Tesco's supermarket was being constructed.[18]
Camelon developed when the canals were built in the 18th and 19th centuries. Much of theForth and Clyde Canal opened in the 1770s over a decade after theCarron Iron Works were established. TheUnion Canal opened in 1822 and brought traffic from Edinburgh to Port Downie where the canals met.[19] A couple of decades later saw the coming of the railways. In 1831 the village was described as having a population of 809, with 250 men and boys employed in nail making.[20] Historical industries included nail making,[21] a tar processing plant and other chemical works,[22] a shipbuilding business near Lock Sixteen[23] and a distillery at Rosebank.[24] In the early 20th centuryW. Alexander & Sons set up a bus service and coachbuilders in Camelon. A flight of locks which joined theUnion Canal with theForth and Clyde Canal brought business to the village. This was replaced in 2002 with theFalkirk Wheel, a rotatingboat lift.
People from Camelon are known locally as Mariners, a nickname given to Camelon Juniors FC.[25] The name is probably best remembered by the Mariner Leisure Centre and in Mariners' Day. Mariners' Day was an annual children's fayre held on the second Saturday in June. It included a parade and a crowning ceremony of the Queen along with fun and games for the children of Camelon.[26]
Camelon has good access for a village of its size withCamelon railway station lying on theCumbernauld Line and theEdinburgh to Dunblane line. Next to the station there are amenities including the Mariner Leisure Centre. The main road through Camelon is theA803 road which provides access to Falkirk.
Camelon is home to thefootball clubCamelon Juniors, who play at Carmuirs Park next to the Forth and Clyde Canal. The club was founded in 1920 and currently compete in theEast of Scotland League Premier Division.
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