In 1314, Robert the Bruce defeated the English army at the Battle of Bannockburn. One of his generals was his nephew, Thomas Randolph, the Earl of Moray. The Barony of Blantyre was gifted, by the King, to Randolph for services rendered at this famous battle.
After the death of Bruce, Thomas Randolph was appointed Regent of Scotland during the minority of Bruce’s son, King David II and he proved to be a wise and just ruler. The Barony consisted of small hamlets namely Barnhill, Hunthill, Auchinraith, Auchentibber, Blantyre Priory and Kirkton, the old town centre at High Blantyre Cross. The population of Blantyre before 1780 was around five hundred and although not officially documented, in the 1300’s, was likely to have been less than 100 people. The Bruce when handing this parcel of land out thought clearly he was handing out an insignificant little piece of land in the middle of nowhere, and was probably a gesture of gratitude to the people who helped him, more than anything else. What would the Bruce make of Blantyre today and it’s 19,000 inhabitants?