Armadale, West Lothian
Armadale | |
---|---|
Armadale Cross, the centre of the village and the junction of East and West Mains Street, North Street and South Street | |
Location within West Lothian | |
Population | 12,720 (mid-2020 est.)[4] |
OS grid reference | NS935685 |
• Edinburgh | 20 mi (32 km) |
• London | 337 mi (542 km) |
Council area | |
Lieutenancy area | |
Country | Scotland |
Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
Post town | BATHGATE |
Postcode district | EH48 |
Dialling code | 01501 |
Police | Scotland |
Fire | Scottish |
Ambulance | Scottish |
UK Parliament | |
Scottish Parliament | |
Armadale (
History
To the north of Armadale (Woodend Farm) is the site of Ogilface Castle.
Aside from the presence of the old castle, Armadale was little more than a rural farm community for most of its history, as part of a larger rural estate named Barbauchlaw (a corruption of 'Boar Baughlee').
In the late 1830s, Armadale was the scene of a major highway robbery, when the stagecoach between Glasgow and Edinburgh was robbed by four assailants.[15] In the robbery, some £6000 in notes, gold and silver coins was stolen from a cargo trunk belonging to the Commercial Bank.[15] Two of the robbers, George Gilchrist and George Davidson were found guilty of the robbery and sentenced to death.[15] While Gilchrist was hanged in public on 3 August 1831, Davidson managed to escape with the aid of relatives and escaped on a ship, eventually settling in New York.[15] The first post office arrived in the village in 1855.[15] In 1857, a murder took place in Armadale on the road to Boghead in which the murderer, John McLean was subsequently hanged at Linlithgow in what became the last public execution in West Lothian.[15] During the mid 19th century, the farms around Armadale increasingly used Irish labourers to assist with farm work and this eventually led to a notable incident in 1858, where a riot broke out between locals and Irish workers.[15] Although the participants were armed with firearms, there were no fatalities.[15] Also in 1858, the first church in Armadale, St Paul's Episcopal Chapel was built.[17]
The discovery of large coal deposits and also ironstone in the area attracted the attention of a number of companies and several pits were sunk in the area.[18] A coal company was formed in 1819 and began to work the "Woodend Pit" to the north-west of the toll house.[14] The resulting boost in prosperity brought railway companies onto the scene transporting an influx of workers requiring housing, shops and public buildings, transforming Armadale into a town. A school was first formed in the town also in this year, and it eventually became necessary to build a dedicated school house in 1839 to accommodate the growing number of students.[14] By 1862, there were fifteen licensed pubs in the town.[15] There were increasing concerns by some village residents over alcohol consumption in the area and by 1901, following a public meeting, a new Public House Society was created in the village.[15] The Society sought to limit how much members could drink and they erected a new public house building under the Gothenburg Public House System.[15] Known as the 'Goth', this building still stands today as a landmark on the Main Street.[15][17] In 1924, a stone frontage with an Art Nouveau public clock tower, extensive columned interior and stained glass was added to the structure by Peddie and Kinnear.[17] The building is Category C listed.[19]
In 1870, a second church named the parish church was built in the town (with a belfry and pedimented porch).[17] By 1912, the town had extensive coalfields, quarries, tile and brickworks and other industry.[17] These included the Etna Brickworks, the Unicol Tile Works, the Atlas Brick Works and the West Works (demolished 1982).[20][21][22][23]
In 1919, at the centre of the town (the Cross), a cast-iron memorial was erected. Erected by the public, the Kerr Memorial commemorates a Mrs Elizbeth Kerr who was fatally injured in the saving of a child from being run over by a passing motor car.[17] In 1923, a large Miner's Welfare Institute was established in the town (it has since been converted to flats).[17] Most of the mines and other industry in the town closed following the Second World War. As with most mineral dependent communities, as the deposits were exhausted and the pits closed, many moved away but enough local industry remained for the township to survive and today it has also become a commuting hub for those employed in the major towns. In 1966, a new harled council office building was built in the town (it is now a Vets).[17] In 2018, following a community fundraising effort, the town erected a new war memorial to those lost in wars from Armadale and the surrounding area.[24] The memorial was erected at Watson park in the town and includes a statue of a bagpiper.[24]
Economy
There are several public bars in the town - Coppies, The Corrie, Kross Bar, The Cavalier, The Rowan Tree, The Regal Bar and The Goth, which provides the town clock at the front of the building. Restaurants to dine in Amore and Versa. There are local shops like Coia's Sweet Shop, Coia's Fish and Chip shop, Pablo’s fish and chip shops, Spice of Life Kebab shop, John Dewar and Sons Butchers and others. There is also a Day Today supermarket on West Main Street. The local Mill garden centre at the bottom of the mill road offers excellent food.
Culture and community
Armadale has a public library located on North Street.[25] The Armadale Partnership Centre is a large community centre in the town that includes council services, event spaces, meeting rooms, a cafe and sports facilities.[26]
The town has a swimming pool, run by Xcite, and was given the name Jim Sibbald Swimming Pool in honour of a former councillor who had served the community for 30 years.[27]
Parks in Armadale include Watson Park (adjacent to the new war memorial), Nelson Park (once abandoned to flooding but renovated following the Queens Jubilee), and the Black Moss Nature Reserve (and Curling Pond).[24][28][29] The Davie Kerr Heritage Walk is a round circular walk that encompasses the town and passes through historical sites and sites of natural interest within the town.[30]
In May 2013, following the death of Trustee Rosie Wells, and her subsequent bequest, the Armadale registered Scottish Charity No SC043118 (The West Lothian Archaeological Trust) set up the Scottish National Aerial Photography Scheme for children and students. International recognition came in the same month, with the Trust being invited to become an Associated Partner of the ArchaeoLandscapes Europe Project, part of the European Union's Culture Programme.
Transport
The railway first reached Armadale in 1855, when the
A shared cycle and pedestrian path along the
Education
The local high school Armadale Academy was originally built at the site that now plays host to Armadale Primary School.[33] It was rebuilt and opened in 1967, at West Main Street, Armadale.[17] It was again rebuilt and opened in August 2009, immediately behind the 1967 Academy building. The site of the old building now serves as car parking facilities, and new playing fields.
There are four primary schools in Armadale: Armadale primary school, St Anthony's RC primary school, Eastertoun primary school and the newer Southdale primary school. Armadale primary school occupies the former Academy building.[17]
Sport
Armadale Stadium features speedway.[34] It was also used in the past for stock car racing and, until 2016, for greyhound racing. Speedway started in 1997 when the Edinburgh Monarchs[35] team moved here competing in the Premier League, which it won 5 times, until the 2016 season. Reorganisation of the sport the following year saw the team enter the SGB Championship. The town also has a long-established football team, Armadale Thistle, whose home, Volunteer Park, is located on North Street. Armadale Bowling Club located in South Street was established in 1867 and celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2017.
The Armadale Flute Band, established in 1983, has won competitions all over Scotland.[citation needed]
Notable people
See Category:People from Armadale, West Lothian
- William Angus, recipient of the Victoria Cross, was born in Armadale in 1888.[36] There is a memorial stone to his birth at the railway station.[36]
- Rev Dr Grant Barclay, Chaplain to the Queen[37]
- Writer Tom Hanlin[38] was born in Armadale in 1907.
- Ian Ellis, member of pioneering 60s/70s band Clouds, as well as many other famous bands of that era.[39]
- John Walker, footballer, won Scottish League with Hearts, English League with Liverpool, five caps for Scotland
References
- ^ "Gaelic Translator". Scottish Parliament.
- ^ Andy Eagle. "The Online Scots Dictionary". Scots Online.
- ^ "List of railway station names". Archived from the original on 22 January 2013. Retrieved 16 November 2012.
- ^ "Mid-2020 Population Estimates for Settlements and Localities in Scotland". National Records of Scotland. 31 March 2022. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
- ^ "Thumbnail Gallery : Scarfskerry : 1 to 6 of 6 images". caithness.org.
- ^ "Sir William Honeyman, Lord Armadale". armadale.org.uk. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 31 January 2009.
- ^ Historic Environment Scotland. "Ogilface Castle (47772)". Canmore. Retrieved 3 July 2022.
- ^ "Ogelface Castle - Woodend Site Photos". armadale.org.uk.
- ^ "Ogelface in Ruins - Blackridge Site Photos". armadale.org.uk.
- ^ "West Lothian Archaeological Trust". armadale.org.uk.
- ^ "West Lothian Archaeology Group". armadale.org.uk. Archived from the original on 26 February 2021. Retrieved 31 January 2009.
- ^ "Edinburgh Archaeological Field Society | Fostering an interest in archaeology since 1971".
- ^ "Kite Aerial Photography ( KAP )". kiteaerialphotography.org.uk. Archived from the original on 14 September 2017. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
- ^ a b c d e "The History of Armadale". Retrieved 27 December 2010.
- ^ ISBN 9780859761628.
- ISBN 9781840334166. Archived from the originalon 4 March 2016. Retrieved 6 February 2013.
- ^ ISBN 978-1873190258.
- ISBN 9781840334166. Archived from the originalon 4 March 2016. Retrieved 6 February 2013.
- ^ Historic Environment Scotland. "ARMADALE, WEST MAIN STREET, THE GOTH (Category C Listed Building) (LB45571)". Retrieved 3 July 2022.
- ^ Historic Environment Scotland. "Armadale, Etna Brickworks (151546)". Canmore. Retrieved 3 July 2022.
- ^ Historic Environment Scotland. "Armadale, Bathville, Unicol Tile Works (213964)". Canmore. Retrieved 3 July 2022.
- ^ Historic Environment Scotland. "Armadale, Bathville, Atlas Brick Works (213781)". Canmore. Retrieved 3 July 2022.
- ^ Historic Environment Scotland. "Armadale, Bathville, West Works (213775)". Canmore. Retrieved 3 July 2022.
- ^ a b c "Poignant West Lothian memorial to brave soldiers to local people killed in conflict unveiled". The Daily Record. 7 November 2018. Retrieved 3 July 2022.
- ^ "Armadale Library". West Lothian Council. Retrieved 3 July 2022.
- ^ "Armadale Partnership Centre". West Lothian Council. Retrieved 3 July 2022.
- ^ "Swimming pool officially renamed after late West Lothian councillor". Daily Record. 3 November 2017. Retrieved 3 July 2022.
- ^ "Abandoned West Lothian park gets platinum promise ahead of Queen's Jubilee". Edinburgh Live. 23 November 2021. Retrieved 3 July 2022.
- ^ "Blackmoor Moss". Woodland Trust. Retrieved 3 July 2022.
- ISBN 9781907025723.
- ^ "Airdrie-Bathgate Rail Link". Archived from the original on 2 April 2006. Retrieved 6 January 2008.
- ^ "Cycle path now complete between Armadale and Whitburn". The Edinburgh Reporter. 20 July 2021. Retrieved 24 February 2022.
- ^ "www.westlothian.org.uk/armadaleacademy/". Archived from the original on 18 March 2009.
- ISBN 0-7524-2210-3.
- ISBN 0-7524-2229-4.
- ^ a b "Tributes paid to Carluke soldier who was awarded Victoria Cross for his efforts in the First World War". Daily Record. 15 June 2015. Retrieved 3 July 2022.
- ^ "Armadale man becomes Queen's chaplain". The Daily Record. 11 May 2022. Retrieved 3 July 2022.
- ^ "Armadale". www.armadale.org.uk.
- ^ The Encyclopaedia of Popular Music (Muze publications)
External links
- Armadale's community website
- Armadale Thistle FC( Archived 26 October 2009 at the Wayback Machine 2009-10-25)
- History of Armadale
- Airdrie to Bathgate Rail Link