Scotland > 1868, 1878 - Slater's (late Pigot & Co.'s) Royal national commercial directory and topography of Scotland > 1878 > Part 2

LINLITHGOWSHIRE.
£LATFR'S
BATHGATE,
B.
WITH THE VILLAGES OF ARMADALE, TOaPHIcas:^, BLACKRIDGE, AND NEIGHBOURHOODS.
lATHGATE is a raavkot town, an independent burgh of barony,
and a pjirisli ; situated on the middle road betwixt Edinburgh and
Glasgow, 18 miles w. from tlie former, 24 e. from the latter, and be-
tween live and six s. from Linlithgow. It is a station nn the Bath-
gate branch of the Edinburj^h and Glasgow and Monklands sections
of the North British Railway. Another lino is completed to Airdrie,
Bo'ness, &c.. joining the North British line at Manuel. The town
occupies u pleasant sight, near the southern base of a great ridge ot
hills, extending across the county, and sheltering the town on tbe
north aud east; while it has a line southern exposure, and is seen
at a considerable distance from that direction and from the west.
These hills abound with limestone quarries, in which are found fine
specimoLS of fossil remains. Visitors from America, &c. have lately
been geologising in the district, and have procured some rare speci-
mens. Batligatelays claim to high antiquity. Malcolm IV. granted
to the monks of Holyr6od the church at Baihkel, with the land be-
longing to it; at onu period the town and its adjoining lands formed
part of the ample possessions of King Robert Bruce, which, in 13tJ(i,
he gave as a dowry to his daughter Marjory, ou her marriage with
Walter, the Gr-^at Stewart, and this marriage introduced the Stuait
family to the throne of Scotland. The town, Mhich is lighted with and August, on the first Wednesdays after
gas by a joiut-stock ocmpauy, consists of a ncvr and an old part; the ; tinmas (o.s.), and the fourth Wednesdays in
of the parish have thus the benefit of a first-rate instruction in all the
useful and many of the more learned branches, while others, not
pai'ishinners,are admitted at the discretion of the trustees. TheParish
Board School, which is sitiiated neiir the Academy, has a handsome
iippearance, aud is numerously attended. There are four bank
i)rauches, viz.: the Clydesdale, the National, the Royal, and the
Union Bank, aud a Savmgs Bank. The principal commercial and
posting establishments are Stewart's aud Ciaig's Hotels, where com-
mercial men and others will tiud ample accommodation, and there
are also two restauranls in the town. Tbe market day is Tuesday,
wheu a large supply of grain of all kinds is brought from the sur-
rounding country. The buyers and sellers are accommodated in a
spleudid building erected in Jarvey street, called the Corn Exchange.
The building also contains spacious rooms for courts and for othei
public meetings. Tbe following eminent men were born in the
parish: Dr. John Fleming, professor of natural science, Aberdeen ;
Dr. John Reid, professor of anatomy, St. Andrews; aud the cele-
brated Sir James Simpson, Bart., whoso reputation is European. The
ituthorities of the burgh are entitled to hold (by act of parliament),
seven annual fairs — namely, on tbe third Wednesdays in April, July
"" " ■ " Whit-Sunday and Mar-
in June and October; the
VVliitsuutide and Martinmas fairs are the principal, and are well
attended by cattle dealers. The entire parish of Bathgate, which
embraces au area of 10,876 acres, had in in 1871 a population of 10,129,
the town at the same period having 4,991.
AiiMADALE is H village in the parish of and two miles west from
Bathgate, ou the main road from Edinburgh to Glasgow. It is in a
flourishing state, being situated amoLgst large fields of iro S 'ue,
as coal, common coal, &c., and is well supplied witli gas by a pubho
former is well built, and the streets .are paved; ifc is about to be
abundantly supplied with water of au excellent quality by a new
■water works, costing £6,000. Few places of its size can show so
much bustle and tidiness, and the town is considered to be very
healthy. Bathgate was made a burgh of barony by Charles II. in
1(361, and was created a free aud independent burgh of barony by
act of parliament in 182-1, aud placed under the control of a provost,
three bailies, twelve councillors, a treasurer, a town clerk, and a
procurator fiscal. It has uow adopted Provost Lindsay's Police Act , company. It was lately created a police burgh, with niue cumniia-
of 1832, and is governed by twelve commissiunfrs. The sheriff holds .. sioners. The village takes its name from au estate loug the property
small debt courts here nuce a quarter. Of late years the town has ac- of Sir William Honey man, a seuator of the College of J us! iff, under
quired a very considerable increase of population, in a great mea- the title of Lcrd Armadale. The places oi worHbip in the villagB are
sure owiag to the adjiiceut coal and lime mines. Young's Parathu a Chapel of Ease to Bathgate Established church, a Free church, an
Light Company, Limited, have extensive worUs a mile aud a quarter Episcopal, and a Wesleyau Methodist ehapeh A railway passing
" ' , 1 . , . near to the village, oilers facilities for mineral trafflce; aud Arma-
dale is a station on the Western section of the North British Rail-
way. Several thriving hamlets surr )iuid the village. The mining
villages of Durhasitown, PoLKii.maiET, and Bathville are also
situated in the parish. Population of Armadale in 187], 2708
ToriPHiCHEN is a parish and village, the latter on the road from
Bathgate to Linlithgow, 2J.^ miles n. by. w. from Bathgate, and 4?^
s.w. tiy s. from Linlithgow. It is a place of great antiquity, and was
once of importance ; but it has now an entirely rm-al character, and
presents a straggling, yet pleasant appearance. Adjacent to the
village on the north-east are some remains of the hospital orprecep-
tory of Turphicben, the principal Scottish residence of the Knights of
St. John, of Jerusalem ; of the church of the preceptory, Ihe chancel
and the nave are entirely gone, and only the choir and the transept
remain. The nave is traditionally reported to have been of gi*eat
length ; but its site is now occupied by au cditice of a very difl'erent
character, tbe plain modern Parish church. There is also a Free
church in the village, said to be one of the first Fvse churches in
Scotland. In the village are two excellent Board schools, conducted
by efficient teachers. The paiish, although in some parts rather
moorish, is generally fertile; coal aud iroustone are found within it,
aud there are two brick aud tile works aud a paper mill within its
bouuds. Acreage, 9,l3'd. Population of the parish in 1871, 1,630.
Blackridge is a small hamlet in the parish of Torpbichen, about
five miles aud a half from. Bathgate to the west, on the Edinburgh
and Glasgow road, seated in an agricultural district. A Free church
is situated in the village, and a school uear to it.
from tho town ; an irou foundry, three spade and shovel, and a glass
works are in the town, and a largo distillery n-^ar to it. The weav-
ing of goods for the Glasgow manufacturers, which at one
time employed many bauds, is now only carried on to a very
limited extent. Ou the north border of the parish, the silver
mine workings were a few years ago re-opened. These were once
greatly esteemed, and the precious metal smelted not far from the
spot before being coined. James VI. took a great interest in the
concern, although history tells us, not much to his profit. Mr.
Henry Aitken (of the firm of Messrs. Russell dc Son), the renowned
coalmaster, obtained a lease of the mines from the Earl of Hope-
toun, the proprietor, but after earnest research found them to b'-
unprotitable. The places of worship are a church of the
Establishment, a Free church, an United Presbyterian chapel,
an Evangelical Union chapel, and also a Roman Catholic
chapel, all of which have a manse or residence for the minister.
The burgh boasts of a superior educational institution in the Bathgate
Academy, endowed by the late John Newland, of Kingston, Jamaica,
a native 'of this town: the suui bequeathed by this gentleman
amounted, previous to the erection of this building, to betweeu
£16,000 and i:l7,'i00. Tbe Academy stands ou a commanding and
heaitbv site in the immediate vicinity of the town, and is au
elegant and extensive structure— it comprises seven large class-
rooms library-room, and rt-ctor's house. The courses of education
are co'nducted ou the most approved systems, by a rector, aud a
number of teachers. It is now under government inspectiou, aud
iq managed by trustees, one of whom reprcoents tbe Lord of the
Manor aud another is appuiuted by the Commissioners. The youth
POSX OFFSC^,Hopetoun street, Bathgate, Robert Jardino, Post Master. — Letters from all parts arrive {via Edinburgh) atnine
morniu'^ half-past twelve noon, and five evening; and are despatched to Edinburgh, Glasgow, aud all parts at a quarter before eight
moruiu"'aiid twenty-five "minutes before eight evening; to Edinburgh, Glasgow, Broxburn, and Uphall at half- past eleven morning; to
Edinbur-^h Glasgow and Whithmn at a quarter before four afternoon; and to Coatbridge, London, and all parts at ten minutes past
Beven evening.
Monoj Order and Telegraph 0_ffice and Savings Bank.
Post Oificej APvMadale, Duncan JI'Dougall, Post Master. — Letters from all parts arrive ffrom Bathgate) at ten morning and a
quarter before seven evening; and are despatched at a quarter-past foiu' afternoon and a quarter past seven evening.
Money Order and Telegraph OJfiee and Savings Banlc,
Post Office, Blackbiiidge, Isahella Storrie, Past Jlfisdcss.— Letters from all parts arrive (from Bathgate) at twelve noon ; and
are despatched ttiereto at twenty-five minutes past three afternoon.
Post OSice, ToEPHicHEN, John Watt, Post Jlfrisfcr.— Letters from all parts arrive (from Bathgate) at ten morning and Beveu
evening; and are despatched at a quarter-past four afternoon and ten minutes past eight evening.
GENTRY AND CLERGY
A'tken James, Esq. Parlihead House, Bath-
gate
Arkley Mr. Thomas, Bridge House
B icon Rev. Joseph, Armadale
Blnnie Rev. Wm. Parish Mause, Bathgate
Black Rev. Archibald, Armadale
Blanks Rev. Wm. m.a. Torphichen
Buyres Mr. James, Hose Bank, Engine st
Chancellor Mr. Edward, Cathlaw
Clark Mr. Alexander, Wester Inch
Cox Captain J. Pousouhy, Bridge House
Durham Robert S. Weir, Esq. licghead
Forbes William, Esq. Lochcote
Gillon Andrew, Esq. J.P. Wallhouse
GowaiiS I.ir. -James, J.P. Gowaubauk. Avon
bridge [bridge
Gray Patrick, Esq. of Middle Strath, Avon
1S22
Hope the Honourable Charles, Bridge Castle
Jobustou James, Esq. (Provost), Hopetoun at
Johnston John, Esq. j.p. Jarvey st. Baihgate
Johnstone William, Esq. Kairn Park
Kerr James, Esq. Drumcross
Kessen Rev. James, Engine st
Murray Rey. A. F. Torphichen
Scott Rev. John, Armadale
Sheunan Hev. Alexander, Chapel lane
Simpson David, Esq. Hopetoun st
Temple Rev. Alexander, The Parsonage,
Armadale
Torrance Mr. William, Trees, Bathgate
Waddell John, Esq. j.p, (olluch), Easter Inch
Walker Henry, Esq. Rosemount House,
Bathgate
Wilson Rev. A. H. Marjoribanks st
Wright John, Esq. j.p. Hopetoun st
1-1
ACADEMIES AND SCHOOLS.
Bathgate Academt— D. F. Lowe, m.a.
rector; Andrew Dunn, m.a. Duncan Lowe,
James Forrest, and Miss Watson, teachers
Jefi"rey Jessie & Ann, 10 Main st
Public Schools: —
Armadale— Archibald Galbraith, master;
Eliza Marshall, mistress
Bathgate— David Rankin, master; Eliza
Harcus, mistress
Blackridge— WilUam Arbuckle, master
Torphichen (No. 1)— James J. Brown,
master [master
Torphichen (No. 2) — James Murdoch,
Woodend— John Wheelau, master
Roman Cathojlic School, 11 Livery st^
Misses Kettles & Rodgers, teachers