Monument to David Steel
David Steel was a tenant farmer at Nether Skellyhill Farm, Waterside near Coalburn. He was a member of the Covenanter movement and fought at the battle of Bothwell Brig in 1679. The Covenanters, with David Steel among them, were crushed: 400 were killed, 1500 taken prisoner and 257 sold as slaves to Barbados.
Remarkably, the rebel Steel managed to escape and lived as a fugitive for five years. He slept in a moorland hut four miles from Skellyhill, until in December 1868, he grew tired of his rough shelter and made his way home. Somehow word got out and on December 20, a party of soldiers under the command of Lieutenant Crichton tried to surprise him. Steel slipped out a back window to run for his life.
Not far from Skellyhill he was cornered. Crichton, marched him back to Skellyhill where he was shot in front of his infant daughter and wife, Mary.
Steel is buried in the kirkyard of Lesmahagow Parish Church.
These photos of the monument to David Steel next to Nether Skellyhill Farm were taken by Geoff Brown on the 24th August 2022 and show all the inscriptions and plaques associated with the monument.
Monument to David Steel at Nether Skellyhill Farm, Waterside near Coalburn
Tercentenary of the Martydom of David Steel
In Sept 1986, a crowd of over 200 joined David Steel MP when he paid tribute to his namesake, forbearer and Covenanting martyr at Lesmahagow Old Parish Kirkyard and Skellyhill Farm.
David Steel MP in Lesmahagow Churchyard at the gravestone of his ancestor David Steel, the Martyr
At the monument at Skellyhill. Wreath laid by Mrs Sheila Geddes, sister of Liberal MP David Steel who also attended.
Photos by Jim Hamilton and feature in his Coalburn Chronicles No. 33 and are also in Coalburn Heritage Society Newsletters 24 and 27 (see below).
Sources of Information
- Scottish Covenanters Memorial Association
- Herald Scotland - David Steel
- David Steel Gravestone
- Nether Skellyhill Farm working in 2012
- Coalburn Heritage Society Newsletter 24
- Coalburn Heritage Society Newsletter 27
Page produced: 14th Sept 2022 DJH.