Winchburgh
Encyclopedia
Winchburgh is a village situated within the geographical county of West Lothian
, Scotland
. It is located approximately 10 miles (16.1 km) west of the city-centre of Edinburgh
, 6 miles (9.7 km) east of Linlithgow
and 3 miles (4.8 km) northeast of Broxburn
.
, Linlithgow
, Falkirk
, South Queensferry
and Broxburn
. The main number 38 bus route travels from Edinburgh to Linlithgow/Falkirk/Stirling, via Winchburgh, and is the same in the opposite direction. There is also a night bus service, the 44N which does a similar route as the 38 allowing people to get the bus home from Edinburgh City Centre at 12.30am and 3.00am on a Saturday and Sunday morning to Winchburgh.
The mainline railway between Edinburgh and Glasgow Queen Street goes through the Winchburgh Tunnel, under the village. There was a passenger station at the north end of the tunnel; this closed in 1930.
, which is located in and around the grounds of the picturesque and historic Niddry Castle
. There is also a Bowling Club which features a bar for social occasions, such as weddings.
In late July 2007, local parents helped to reform the local football team, Winchburgh Albion Boys Club, which now has a team that has played in the West Lothian Association of Youth Football Clubs league at the Under 14 age group. The captain is Sean Finnigan. Club is promoted to A league in second place in the 08/09 season. Burgoyne finishes as top scorer with 21 goals.
sized shops, a pharmacy
, a doctor's surgery, a post office, and a Community Centre
. Housing ranges from old fashioned brick type cottages (purposely built to house miners & their families in the late 19th century) to regular-type council rented houses, cottages and flats
. There is also sheltered housing for elderly residents, as well as an elderly care home within the village.
to Falkirk
Union Canal
passes through Winchburgh. It follows a contour south to Broxburn
and eventually Edinburgh. Westwards it goes through Linlithgow
, and then Falkirk
. The Union Canal was used in the past to transport goods between places situated in and between Edinburgh and Glasgow
- there was a connection with the Forth and Clyde Canal
at Falkirk. The Bridge 19-40 Canal Society
has a base at Winchburgh on the canal, and it operates seasonal boat
trips departing from Port Buchan located in neighbouring Broxburn
on West Main Street.
located in Winchburgh. The 'Holy Family Primary' school
serves Catholic
pre-secondary
school children, whereas 'Winchburgh Primary' is a non-denominal school. Both of these are state run schools, and share the same building (the Holy Family Primary School's original building was demolished). Secondary School aged children mostly attend schools in neighbouring Linlithgow
and Livingston, and occasionally Broxburn
. There are currently plans being developed to build a high school in Winchburgh to alleviate overcrowding in Linlithgow Academy.
After the Battle of Bannockburn
in 1314, Sir James Douglas
followed King Edward II
and the remnants of his army to Winchburgh. Both sides rested at Winchburgh before riding on to Dunbar
where King Edward took ship for England.
In 1568, Mary, Queen of Scots, escaped from Loch Leven Castle
, and was met by Lord Seton
before crossing the Firth of Forth
at Queensferry. She stayed at Niddry Castle
, Seton's property in Winchburgh, on 2 May 1568.
In the 19th century, Winchburgh had a thriving oil shale
mining industry, the remnants of which are the distinctive red "shale bings", large hills composed of used shale. Some of the bings have a variety of plant life, such as bushes and heather, as well as animal life, including rabbits and occasionally old deer. The bings are also known locally as "tips", although it is a generally less common name for them.
On 13 October 1862 on the Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway
a mile and a half northwest of Winchburgh was the scene of a head-on rail crash in which 15 people were killed.
In the Ordnance Gazetteer of Scotland (1892–1896), Winchburgh is described:
West Lothian
West Lothian is one of the 32 unitary council areas in Scotland, and a Lieutenancy area. It borders the City of Edinburgh, Falkirk, North Lanarkshire, the Scottish Borders and South Lanarkshire....
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. It is located approximately 10 miles (16.1 km) west of the city-centre of Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
, 6 miles (9.7 km) east of Linlithgow
Linlithgow
Linlithgow is a Royal Burgh in West Lothian, Scotland. An ancient town, it lies south of its two most prominent landmarks: Linlithgow Palace and Linlithgow Loch, and north of the Union Canal....
and 3 miles (4.8 km) northeast of Broxburn
Broxburn
Broxburn is the name of more than one place in the United Kingdom:*Broxburn, East Lothian, Scotland*Broxburn, West Lothian, ScotlandIt is also the name of a place in Australia:*Broxburn, Queensland, Australia...
.
Public transport
There are regular scheduled buses to surrounding places including EdinburghEdinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
, Linlithgow
Linlithgow
Linlithgow is a Royal Burgh in West Lothian, Scotland. An ancient town, it lies south of its two most prominent landmarks: Linlithgow Palace and Linlithgow Loch, and north of the Union Canal....
, Falkirk
Falkirk
Falkirk is a town in the Central Lowlands of Scotland. It lies in the Forth Valley, almost midway between the two most populous cities of Scotland; north-west of Edinburgh and north-east of Glasgow....
, South Queensferry
South Queensferry
South Queensferry , also called Queensferry, is a former Royal Burgh in West Lothian now part of the City of Edinburgh, Scotland. It is located some ten miles to the north west of the city centre, on the shore of the Firth of Forth between the Forth Bridge and the Forth Road Bridge, approximately 8...
and Broxburn
Broxburn
Broxburn is the name of more than one place in the United Kingdom:*Broxburn, East Lothian, Scotland*Broxburn, West Lothian, ScotlandIt is also the name of a place in Australia:*Broxburn, Queensland, Australia...
. The main number 38 bus route travels from Edinburgh to Linlithgow/Falkirk/Stirling, via Winchburgh, and is the same in the opposite direction. There is also a night bus service, the 44N which does a similar route as the 38 allowing people to get the bus home from Edinburgh City Centre at 12.30am and 3.00am on a Saturday and Sunday morning to Winchburgh.
The mainline railway between Edinburgh and Glasgow Queen Street goes through the Winchburgh Tunnel, under the village. There was a passenger station at the north end of the tunnel; this closed in 1930.
Sport
The Village features an impressive golf courseGolf course
A golf course comprises a series of holes, each consisting of a teeing ground, fairway, rough and other hazards, and a green with a flagstick and cup, all designed for the game of golf. A standard round of golf consists of playing 18 holes, thus most golf courses have this number of holes...
, which is located in and around the grounds of the picturesque and historic Niddry Castle
Niddry Castle
Niddry Castle is a fourteenth century tower house near Winchburgh, West Lothian, Scotland. It is situated near the Union Canal, and is adjacent to a large oil shale "bing", or waste heap....
. There is also a Bowling Club which features a bar for social occasions, such as weddings.
In late July 2007, local parents helped to reform the local football team, Winchburgh Albion Boys Club, which now has a team that has played in the West Lothian Association of Youth Football Clubs league at the Under 14 age group. The captain is Sean Finnigan. Club is promoted to A league in second place in the 08/09 season. Burgoyne finishes as top scorer with 21 goals.
Amenities
Amenities include a small number of convenience storeConvenience store
A convenience store, corner store, corner shop, commonly called a bodega in Spanish-speaking areas of the United States, is a small store or shop in a built up area that stocks a range of everyday items such as groceries, toiletries, alcoholic and soft drinks, and may also offer money order and...
sized shops, a pharmacy
Pharmacy
Pharmacy is the health profession that links the health sciences with the chemical sciences and it is charged with ensuring the safe and effective use of pharmaceutical drugs...
, a doctor's surgery, a post office, and a Community Centre
Community centre
Community centres or community centers or jumping recreation centers are public locations where members of a community tend to gather for group activities, social support, public information, and other purposes. They may sometimes be open for the whole community or for a specialised group within...
. Housing ranges from old fashioned brick type cottages (purposely built to house miners & their families in the late 19th century) to regular-type council rented houses, cottages and flats
Apartment
An apartment or flat is a self-contained housing unit that occupies only part of a building...
. There is also sheltered housing for elderly residents, as well as an elderly care home within the village.
Winchburgh and the Union Canal
The EdinburghEdinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
to Falkirk
Falkirk
Falkirk is a town in the Central Lowlands of Scotland. It lies in the Forth Valley, almost midway between the two most populous cities of Scotland; north-west of Edinburgh and north-east of Glasgow....
Union Canal
Union Canal (Scotland)
The Union Canal is a 31.5-mile canal in Scotland, from Lochrin Basin, Fountainbridge, Edinburgh to Falkirk, where it meets the Forth and Clyde Canal.-Location and features:...
passes through Winchburgh. It follows a contour south to Broxburn
Broxburn
Broxburn is the name of more than one place in the United Kingdom:*Broxburn, East Lothian, Scotland*Broxburn, West Lothian, ScotlandIt is also the name of a place in Australia:*Broxburn, Queensland, Australia...
and eventually Edinburgh. Westwards it goes through Linlithgow
Linlithgow
Linlithgow is a Royal Burgh in West Lothian, Scotland. An ancient town, it lies south of its two most prominent landmarks: Linlithgow Palace and Linlithgow Loch, and north of the Union Canal....
, and then Falkirk
Falkirk
Falkirk is a town in the Central Lowlands of Scotland. It lies in the Forth Valley, almost midway between the two most populous cities of Scotland; north-west of Edinburgh and north-east of Glasgow....
. The Union Canal was used in the past to transport goods between places situated in and between Edinburgh and Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
- there was a connection with the Forth and Clyde Canal
Forth and Clyde Canal
The Forth and Clyde Canal crosses Scotland, providing a route for sea-going vessels between the Firth of Forth and the Firth of Clyde at the narrowest part of the Scottish Lowlands. The canal is 35 miles long and its eastern end is connected to the River Forth by a short stretch of the River...
at Falkirk. The Bridge 19-40 Canal Society
Bridge 19-40 Canal Society
The Bridge 19-40 Canal Society is a waterway society and a registered Scottish Charity operating community boats on the Union Canal, with bases at Winchburgh and Drumshoreland, West Lothian, Scotland, UK .-History:...
has a base at Winchburgh on the canal, and it operates seasonal boat
Boat
A boat is a watercraft of any size designed to float or plane, to provide passage across water. Usually this water will be inland or in protected coastal areas. However, boats such as the whaleboat were designed to be operated from a ship in an offshore environment. In naval terms, a boat is a...
trips departing from Port Buchan located in neighbouring Broxburn
Broxburn
Broxburn is the name of more than one place in the United Kingdom:*Broxburn, East Lothian, Scotland*Broxburn, West Lothian, ScotlandIt is also the name of a place in Australia:*Broxburn, Queensland, Australia...
on West Main Street.
Schooling
There are two Primary Schools and a NurseryNursery school
A nursery school is a school for children between the ages of one and five years, staffed by suitably qualified and other professionals who encourage and supervise educational play rather than simply providing childcare...
located in Winchburgh. The 'Holy Family Primary' school
School
A school is an institution designed for the teaching of students under the direction of teachers. Most countries have systems of formal education, which is commonly compulsory. In these systems, students progress through a series of schools...
serves Catholic
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
pre-secondary
Secondary school
Secondary school is a term used to describe an educational institution where the final stage of schooling, known as secondary education and usually compulsory up to a specified age, takes place...
school children, whereas 'Winchburgh Primary' is a non-denominal school. Both of these are state run schools, and share the same building (the Holy Family Primary School's original building was demolished). Secondary School aged children mostly attend schools in neighbouring Linlithgow
Linlithgow
Linlithgow is a Royal Burgh in West Lothian, Scotland. An ancient town, it lies south of its two most prominent landmarks: Linlithgow Palace and Linlithgow Loch, and north of the Union Canal....
and Livingston, and occasionally Broxburn
Broxburn, West Lothian
Broxburn is a town in West Lothian, Scotland located west of Edinburgh on the A8 road. It is situated approximately from Edinburgh Airport, and to the north of Livingston....
. There are currently plans being developed to build a high school in Winchburgh to alleviate overcrowding in Linlithgow Academy.
History
There has been a settlement in Winchburgh for over a thousand years. Early spellings include Wincelburgh (1189); Wynchburghe (1377); from 'wincel' and 'burh' meaning 'Town in the nook or angle'. Its possible it was named after the bend in the Niddry burn that runs through the village. The early settlement was probably near to Niddry Castle.After the Battle of Bannockburn
Battle of Bannockburn
The Battle of Bannockburn was a significant Scottish victory in the Wars of Scottish Independence...
in 1314, Sir James Douglas
James Douglas, Lord of Douglas
Sir James Douglas , , was a Scottish soldier and knight who fought in the Scottish Wars of Independence.-Early life:...
followed King Edward II
Edward II of England
Edward II , called Edward of Caernarfon, was King of England from 1307 until he was deposed by his wife Isabella in January 1327. He was the sixth Plantagenet king, in a line that began with the reign of Henry II...
and the remnants of his army to Winchburgh. Both sides rested at Winchburgh before riding on to Dunbar
Dunbar
Dunbar is a town in East Lothian on the southeast coast of Scotland, approximately 28 miles east of Edinburgh and 28 miles from the English Border at Berwick-upon-Tweed....
where King Edward took ship for England.
In 1568, Mary, Queen of Scots, escaped from Loch Leven Castle
Loch Leven Castle
Loch Leven Castle is a ruined castle on an island in Loch Leven, in the Perth and Kinross local authority area of Scotland. Possibly built around 1300, the castle was the location military action during the Wars of Scottish Independence...
, and was met by Lord Seton
George Seton, 7th Lord Seton
George Seton V, 7th Lord Seton was a Lord of the Parliament of Scotland, Master of the Household of Mary, Queen of Scots and Provost of Edinburgh. He was the eldest son of George Seton, 6th Lord Seton and Elizabeth Hay, a daughter of John Hay, 3rd Lord Hay of Yester...
before crossing the Firth of Forth
Firth of Forth
The Firth of Forth is the estuary or firth of Scotland's River Forth, where it flows into the North Sea, between Fife to the north, and West Lothian, the City of Edinburgh and East Lothian to the south...
at Queensferry. She stayed at Niddry Castle
Niddry Castle
Niddry Castle is a fourteenth century tower house near Winchburgh, West Lothian, Scotland. It is situated near the Union Canal, and is adjacent to a large oil shale "bing", or waste heap....
, Seton's property in Winchburgh, on 2 May 1568.
In the 19th century, Winchburgh had a thriving oil shale
Oil shale
Oil shale, an organic-rich fine-grained sedimentary rock, contains significant amounts of kerogen from which liquid hydrocarbons called shale oil can be produced...
mining industry, the remnants of which are the distinctive red "shale bings", large hills composed of used shale. Some of the bings have a variety of plant life, such as bushes and heather, as well as animal life, including rabbits and occasionally old deer. The bings are also known locally as "tips", although it is a generally less common name for them.
On 13 October 1862 on the Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway
Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway
The Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway was a railway built to link Glasgow and Edinburgh. The Act of Parliament for building the railway received its Royal Assent in 1838 which was open on 28 July 1863. Services started between Glasgow Queen Street and Haymarket on 21 February 1842. The line was...
a mile and a half northwest of Winchburgh was the scene of a head-on rail crash in which 15 people were killed.
In the Ordnance Gazetteer of Scotland (1892–1896), Winchburgh is described:
External links
- Winchburgh to Linlithgow - A selection of images on the Union CanalUnion Canal (Scotland)The Union Canal is a 31.5-mile canal in Scotland, from Lochrin Basin, Fountainbridge, Edinburgh to Falkirk, where it meets the Forth and Clyde Canal.-Location and features:...
. - Niddry Castle
- Winchburgh Church website