Scotland > 1882-1915 - Slater's Royal National Commercial Directory of Scotland > 1886 - Slater's (late Pigot and Co's) Royal national commercial directory and topography of Scotland

LINLITHGOWSHIRE, •
f\Tl West Lothian, is a small county, of a very irregular figure, lying on the south shore of the Frith of Forth, having Edin
burghshire on the east and south-east. Lauarkshire on the south-wost, and Stirlingshire on the -west. The Eriech and the
Almond waters form the boundary line betwixt this county and that of Edinburgh, except Mid-Calder, where the latter intrudes
more than a mile into Linlithgowshire. From east to west (that is, along the shore of the Forth), the county extends sixteen
miles j along the south-eastern boundary (or from QueerjBferry to its most eastern point) it measures abont twenty. It comprises
an area of 127 square mile?, or 81,114 acres, and in point of size ranks as the thirtieth, and in population as the nineteenth of
Scotch counties,
Early History.— Much that is applicable to the antiquities of and historical events connected with this county has been
already sufficiently detailed in the annals of Edinburghshire and the capital— the district having formed at an early period a
portion of the province of Lothian possessed by the Anglo-Saxons ; some few particulars, more distinctly referable to this county,
may, however, be here added. The Gadcnii tribe of British people being overrun by the Romans, the latter formed a firm but
not permanent settlement in the shire ; the subjugated nations of the world had snapped their fetters— they even menaced the
extinction of the Eoman name ; the legions were recalled to avert tbe catastropho, and Britain was left exposed to the devasta-
tions of her more ferocious neighbours. During the residence of the Romans in West Lothian, which was the outermost part of
their conquest in this direction, they gave a site to ths wall which they built across the island. No part of Valentia was so well
protected by forts. From the station at Cramond, a Roman road proceeded westward, along the shore of the Forth to Carriden,
where the wall terminated; and along the sea-shore were several posts, which, according to old historians, were strengthened by
towers. In modern times a variety of urns, coins, and other relics of the Romans have been discovered in the shire. It is under-
stood that after the departure of the Romans, and a good deal later, this part of Lothian became occupied by the Scoto-Irish and
Northern adventurers, in greater numbers than in that portion now called Edinburghshire.
Surface, Soil, Produce, &c— The aggregate surface of Linlithgowshire is neither flat nor hilly. The most remarkable
protuberances form a range running obliquely across the middle of the county. Tho central and western parts have the most
hilly ground, while on the oast and south the land is mostly level. The elovations are generally well clothed with verdure and
ornamental woods ; about one-third of the whole county is either woodland or old pasture, laid down with artificial grasses ; and
there are more than four fifths of tbe shire enclosed. Until the year 1723 there was little improvement in the agriculture of tbe
district ; soon after this period, John, Earl of Stair, introduced new and advantageous modes of husbandry, and commenced the
cultivation of tbe cabbage, turnip, and carrot by the plough ; the example of this nobleman was beneficially followed by Charles,
first Earl of Hopetoun ; but both dying, thirty years elapsed before agricultural spirit was again actively displayed. In more
recent times, some practical farmers, possessing the advantages of skill and capital, have brought the cultivation of the shiro to
comparative perfection ; and now this rich and lovely district participates in the general improvements of Southern Caledonia.
With the exception of Cairnaple, in the parish of Torpbichen, which rises about fifteen hundred feet above tbe level of the sea,
tho mountains of this district are not of great altitude, nor are they numerous— Binnie Craig and Cocklerue are the only other
eminences that attract notice ; they are respectively about five hundred feet high.
Minerals and Manufactures.— Linlithgowshire contains a store of minerals of the most useful kind. Coal abounds
throughout, limestone is equally prevalent, in some parts ironstone is also found in profusion, and the whole surface seems to
rest on a bed of sandstone of tbe fineBt quality ; silver and lead mines were formerly wrought, and there is plenty of marl, potter's
clay, brick clay and red chalk. Many places present volcanic appearances, particularly at Dundas Hill, in the parish of Dalmeny,
where there is a bold front of basaltic rocks, exhibiting in some instances columns of that character. This is the richest district
in Scotland for the production of shale from which paraffin oil is extracted, and for tbe manufacture of which very extensive
works are in operation in the neighbourhood of Bathgate. Linlithgow, Uphall, and Whitburn. Besides this branch of trade
there are also large iron and steel foundries, paper mills, distilleries, chemical works, and brick, tile, and earthenware
manufactories.
Rivers and Railways.— The only river of consequence is the Almond, or Amond, but there are a number of considerable
rivulets and burns, and the Forth yields advantages which amply compensate for the deficiency of river navigation. The Almond
rises in the high grounds of Lanarkshire, and, pursuing a north-easterly course, falls into the sea at Cramond ; at its mouth it
assumes tho appearance of a small loch or arm of the sea, running up the bottom of a woody ravine ; but it is not navigable
except for a very short distance, and that only for boats and very small sloops. The main line of Railway that passes through
this county is the Edinburgh and Glasgow Section of the North British line. Bathgate and Uphall are communicated with by
tho Edinb rgh and Bathgate branch line, Bo'ness by the Monkland Section, Linlithgow by the Edinburgh and Glasgow Seotion,
Queensferr - by another branch, and Whitburn by the Morningside Section— all from the main line.
Divisions and Representations, &c— This county was probably separated into the sheriffdom in the reign of David I.; it
was placed by Robert, however, under the administration of a constable, and so it continued until the time of James IV. No
other district appears to have been so divided into petty baronies, bailieries, regalities and other independent jurisdictions, nor
so domineered over by a number of peers inimical to peace and regardless of justice. The oldest family in the shire is that of
Dundas, who can trace an unbroken line of desceDt and residence on the same spot up to the reign of William the Lion (1165), an
antiquity rarely to be found surpassed, not only in Scotland, but in any other country. Linlithgowshire comprises eleven
parishes and two parts of parishes, which with two in Mid-Lothian and four in Stirlingshire, form one presbytery. It contains
two royal burghs, namely, Linlithgow and Queensferry ; the next largest town is Bathgate. Its seaport is Bo'ness, and there are
a number of thriving villages. The lord-lieutenant is the Earl of Rosebery. The burghs of Linlithgow, Hamilton, Lanark,
Airdrie, and Falkirk, in conjunction, send one member to the Imperial Parliament, and the shire at large another. The member
at present sitting for the shire is Peter M'Lagan, Esq., of Pumpher6ton. The parliamentary constituency for 1884-85 was 1,373.
According to the census returns for 1871 the county contained a population of 40,9G5 inhabitants, and by those, for 1881, 48,510,
showing an increase in ten years of 2,545.
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