About the name

Here is another (brief) sample of the Wardlaw SDB
this time playing a "smooth" or "lyric" type Strathspey.
(Recorded: Chester Town Hall, Cheshire 1998)

How Lovely are thy Dwellings
Arranged by Kenny Thomson
(Duration: app. 31 sec, 335kb ".wav" format)

Wardlaw Hill pic 2005
Wardlaw Hill viewed from a point near Tibbie's Brig on the Sanquhar Moor

The name "Wardlaw" is taken from a hill of that name, visible on the skyline SW of Muirkirk and shown in the photo above. Wardlaw Hill rises to a height of 475m above sea level. As such it is somewhat less prominent than nearby sister Cairn Table.

<Thinks......time for a brief history lesson!................>

During the reign of King Charles I (1625-1649; second son of King James VI of Scotland and later James I of England) the era of the "Covenanters" came to be. The name "Covenanters" was taken from the National Covenant of 1638 [signed at Greyfriar's Church, Edinburgh].
At this time, Wardlaw Hill was known as "Watcher's Hill".
Many of the Covenanters were "sheltered" in local farms by sympathisers to the cause. Some were sought and found, captured and taken to Edinburgh. On arrival there, they were imprisoned or tortured - or in many cases, both.

On entering Muirkirk on the A70 route from the West, a recently constructed "Heritage Display" by the roadside gives further information about Muirkirk's past, including Martyrs of the early 17th century.
(See P6; "Muirkirk")

Ok...........enough of the "History Class" I hear you say! Now, back to the Wardlaw Scottish Dance Band..........

The First Recording
The Wardlaw Scottish Dance Band's debut album in 1980, in the days when "CD" was no more than a colloquialism for "Castle Douglas" (a town in Dumfries and Galloway) was on the "Ayrespin" record label. It was entitled "Double First," because it was also the first album produced by Ayrespin. Sound Engineer for the occasion was Derek Hamilton, a friend of the band for a number of years.

Derek also engineered the band's latest albums,

"Quick Here's Anither Yin!"
and
"Domino Five"

available on the "Bryan'sRoom" Label.

Kenny Thomson

Over the years, three Albums were recorded for the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society, namely

Book 5; Book 33; Book 39

The band are also to be heard periodically on BBC Radio Scotland's "Take the Floor" Scottish Dance Music programme, presented by Robbie Shepherd M.B.E.

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P1 Stuart's homepage | P2 Wardlaw S D B index | P3 The Wardlaw Sound

P4 Wardlaw S D B history | P5 About the Name | P6 Muirkirk

P7 Macadam's Stone | P8 Sanquhar Brig | P9 Tibbie's Brig | P10 Favourite Links

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Wardlaw SDB

Last updated 3rd July 2005

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