Dollar, Clackmannanshire

Dollar () is a small town with a population of 2,800 people in Clackmannanshire, Scotland. It is east of Stirling. Dollar was once a place of residence of Mary, Queen of Scots.
Toponymy.
Possible interpretations are that Dollar is derived from "Doilleir", an Irish and Scots Gaelic word meaning dark and gloomy, or from various words in Pictish: 'Dol' (field) + 'Ar' (arable) or "Dol" (valley) + "Ar" (high). Another derivation is from "Dolar", ‘haugh place’ (cf Welsh dôl ‘meadow’. This word was borrowed from British or Pictish into Scottish Gaelic as "dail" ‘water-meadow, haugh’). John Everett-Heath, in derives it as 'Place of the Water Meadow' from the Celtic "dôl" 'water meadow' and "ar" 'place'.
A further theory, linked to Castle Campbell's alternative name of Castle Gloom, is that it stems from Scots-French "Doleur", meaning sadness.
In any case, the name is linguistically unrelated to the Dollar currency, whose name which is ultimately derived from German - though the currency's name might have influenced the definite spelling of the town's name.
History.
500-year-old Castle Campbell stands overlooking the town, sitting on a forward projection of rock on the south side of the Ochil Hills. The castle was the lowland seat of the Duke of Argyll, where Mary, Queen of Scots once stayed in the 16th century.
The original town (of which parts still survive) stands on the sloping ground beneath the castle, in what is now the north-east section of the town. Buildings here are general stone built and two storeys high. The oldest buildings date from the mid-17th century and several 18th century buildings exist. Development spread to the west and south through the 19th century.
The construction of Dollar Academy in the early 19th century, with its extensive grounds created a refocus westwards.
Around 1840 the construction of a new road to Muckhart on lower ground south of the original route, created the current main east–west street. This quickly became the new "town centre" and the focus of shops and public activity.
The town has two war memorials, one for each world war. In the grounds of the Academy a bronze figure with outstretched hands by George Henry Paulin faces westwards and commemorates the fallen of the First World War. This also has names added for Northern Ireland. The dead were largely from the Academy; two non-Academy deaths (the Archibald brothers) are indicated by the word "parish" against their names. The Second World War has a far more modest memorial, in the small public garden on the main road, where the road suddenly twists. Both memorials are by local sculptor George Henry Paulin.
A small museum run by volunteers contains a collection of local items, and much information about the former Devon Valley Railway, which closed to passengers in 1964. The town is now largely a dormitory community for people who work in Stirling and further afield — e.g. Glasgow and Edinburgh.
Location and transport.
It is one of the Hillfoots Villages, situated between the Ochil Hills range to the north and the River Devon to the south. Dollar is east of Stirling on the A91 road to St Andrews. The Devon Valley Railway linking Alloa and Kinross closed to passengers in 1964 and to freight in 1973.
Economy.
Attempts were made to mine lead and copper in Dollar Glen from the 18th century and possibly earlier, but these were of no economic significance. Coal mining in the area began around the same time and, until 1973, supplied the Kincardine Power Station, and later, the Longannet Power Station with coal from the Upper Hirst seam. A tiny private non-NCB coal mine operated from the Harviestoun estate from the mid-1970s, partly filling the gap that the closed NCB left, whilst there was still local demand for coal.
In common with the other Hillfoots Villages, the textiles industry played an important part in the town's development. The Harviestoun Brewery was established west of Dollar in 1985, before its move to Alva.
Governance.
From 1891 to 1975 the town had its own council. It is now within Clackmannanshire council area. It forms part of the Clackmannanshire East ward which includes Clackmannan, Comely Bank, Dollar & Muckhart. In the 2017 local elections, residents of the ward elected three councillors - one each from the Scottish National Party, the Labour Party and the Conservative Party.
Provosts of Dollar.
Dollar had a provost from 1891 to 1975. The provosts were:
Education.
Dollar Academy is a fee paying school.
Sport.
Dollar is home of the Dollar Glen Football Club, an 18-hole golf course (notable for its steep inclines and lack of bunkers), a tennis club, a squash club, a bowling club, and a cricket club. The Ochil Hills that overlook Dollar provide opportunities for mountain biking.
Religion.
There are three churches, one Church of Scotland, one Scottish Episcopal Church and Ochil Hills Community Church which meets in the Civic Centre.
Twin towns.
Dollar is twinned with the French town of La Ville-aux-Dames, which lies just outside Tours in the Loire Valley.