Raploch
Encyclopedia
The Raploch is a district of the city of Stirling
, which lies to the south of the River Forth
in central Scotland
. The area is sometimes referred to by people from outside the area as "Raploch".
The first houses were built in the late 17th century, after the land had been sold by the Earl of Mar
to the patrons of Cowane's Hospital in Stirling. Economic conditions led to stagnation but housing began again in earnest at the start of the 19th century.
The real expansion came in the middle of the 20th century, when council housing replaced decrepit housing in the old town.
Perhaps the most famous person to have come from the district is football legend Billy Bremner
who also attended the local St. Mary's Roman Catholic primary school. Close behind would be Duncan Ferguson
who became the most expensive player to move between two British clubs when he left Dundee United for Rangers for £4million in 1993. A more recent football star from Raploch is David Goodwillie
,
The Raploch was the subject of a 2002 BBC Scotland documentary entitled Raploch Stories, and in a 2007 sequel Raploch Stories Revisited.
Since 2004 The Raploch area has undergone a great deal of physical regeneration. In 2008 the area became the home of the UK's first El Sistema
children's orchestra, called Big Noise Raploch. The area now has a children's orchestra with over 100 members.
Stirling
Stirling is a city and former ancient burgh in Scotland, and is at the heart of the wider Stirling council area. The city is clustered around a large fortress and medieval old-town beside the River Forth...
, which lies to the south of the River Forth
River Forth
The River Forth , long, is the major river draining the eastern part of the central belt of Scotland.The Forth rises in Loch Ard in the Trossachs, a mountainous area some west of Stirling...
in central Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. The area is sometimes referred to by people from outside the area as "Raploch".
The first houses were built in the late 17th century, after the land had been sold by the Earl of Mar
Earl of Mar
The Mormaer or Earl of Mar is a title that has been created seven times, all in the Peerage of Scotland. The first creation of the earldom was originally the provincial ruler of the province of Mar in north-eastern Scotland...
to the patrons of Cowane's Hospital in Stirling. Economic conditions led to stagnation but housing began again in earnest at the start of the 19th century.
The real expansion came in the middle of the 20th century, when council housing replaced decrepit housing in the old town.
Perhaps the most famous person to have come from the district is football legend Billy Bremner
Billy Bremner
William John "Billy" Bremner was a Scottish professional footballer, most noted for his captaincy of the Leeds United team of the 1960s and 1970s. He has since been voted Leeds United's greatest player of all time and has a statue outside the South East corner of Elland Road...
who also attended the local St. Mary's Roman Catholic primary school. Close behind would be Duncan Ferguson
Duncan Ferguson
Duncan Cowan Ferguson is a Scottish former footballer. He was notorious for his "hardman" image and nicknamed "Big Dunc" and "Duncan Disorderly"....
who became the most expensive player to move between two British clubs when he left Dundee United for Rangers for £4million in 1993. A more recent football star from Raploch is David Goodwillie
David Goodwillie
David Goodwillie is a Scottish footballer who plays as a striker for Blackburn Rovers and the Scotland national football team.-Early career:...
,
The Raploch was the subject of a 2002 BBC Scotland documentary entitled Raploch Stories, and in a 2007 sequel Raploch Stories Revisited.
Since 2004 The Raploch area has undergone a great deal of physical regeneration. In 2008 the area became the home of the UK's first El Sistema
El Sistema
El Sistema is a publicly financed voluntary sector music education program in Venezuela, originally called Social Action for Music. Its official name is Fundación del Estado para el Sistema Nacional de las Orquestas Juveniles e Infantiles de Venezuela, , and sometimes translated to English as...
children's orchestra, called Big Noise Raploch. The area now has a children's orchestra with over 100 members.