The name Rutherglen, as well as its Scottish name Ruglen, has been a source of mystery for many. It is believed to have originated from the Scottish Gaelic An Ruadh-Ghleann, which translates to “the red valley”. However, some believe that the derivation could be Welsh or Cumbrian and mean the Rydderch Valley. RUTHERGLEN, a parish, hamlet and market town, in the lower district of Lanark County, 2½ miles (S).
By E. By S. is said to have been named after Reutherus, King of Scotland, the fifth descendant of Fergus I. The city is situated on the River Clyde and is connected to the suburbs of Glasgow on the opposite bank by a five-arched stone bridge.
The current church, built in 1794, is in good condition and adapted for a congregation of 800 people. There is also an easily accessible chapel that contains 800 sessions and until recently was annexed to an ecclesiastical district called West Church. In addition, there is a free church and a relief church in the city. In September 1860, gold was discovered near Rutherglen and this led to the emergence of a town called Barkly overnight when prospectors were arriving in the area.
Soon after, another site was discovered 500 meters to the east and in October this second site was named Rutherglen in honor of the Scottish birthplace of John Wallace who established the Star Hotel on the city's new site. Wallace is said to have been told: “Shout at the whole bar and you can call this city whatever you want”. So he bought a beer for everyone at the bar and called the town Rutherglen. Rutherglen gained rail connections with Glasgow and Motherwell in 1849 and later became part of Glasgow's streetcar network.
The Macdonald school was originally built by subscription and was endowed with 500 pounds sterling bequeathed by Lieutenant Colonel Macdonald for the education of Protestant children in the city and parish of Rutherglen. Glasgow's first full-time medical health officer, James Burn Russell, grew up in Rutherglen, in Auburn Cottage. It gives access to Overtoun Park, has some views of Broomieknowe Street and includes Rutherglen Cemetery. Rutherglen received Royal Burgh status in 1126 by royal charter from King David I of Scotland who ruled from 1124 to 1153. A new social club was also built for Rutherglen Glencairn and is located on Glasgow Road near the site of the old stadium.
Poachers Paradise Hotel located at 120 Main Street was built in 1860 as the Golden Ball Hotel and renamed Hotel Rutherglen in 1863 before becoming the bus reservation office bound for Melbourne. By 1885 Daniel Rodger had become the leader of the Evangelical Movement and with Lord Overtoun's support established the Rutherglen Evangelist Institute. Rutherglen Glencairn recently moved to a new stadium (The Clyde Gateway Stadium) located in the Burnhill area of Rutherglen after the demolition of Southcroft Park. Rutherglen Burgh has Rutherglen railway station (opened in 1884) while Croftfoot and Burnside stations are closer to the southern parts of the city.
Rodger moved his business to the south bank of the Clyde in Rutherglen where he established a shipyard at the mouth of Kelvin River before moving into shipbuilding. Coal mining became one of the main industrial activities in and around Rutherglen in 19th century.
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