Raploch
Raploch, known locally as The Raploch or The Raptap, is a district of the city of Stirling, which lies to the south of the River Forth in central Scotland.
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. A children's orchestra with over 100 members, who performed with Gustavo Dudamel and the Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela on 21 June 2012 and on a BBC Scotland Christmas Eve Special in Stirling's Holy Rude Church.
