California, Falkirk
California
| |
---|---|
Sign entering California | |
Location within the Falkirk council area | |
Population | 780 (mid-2020 est.)[1] |
OS grid reference | NS905763 |
Civil parish | |
Council area | |
Lieutenancy area | |
Country | Scotland |
Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
Post town | FALKIRK |
Postcode district | FK1 |
Dialling code | 01324 |
Police | Scotland |
Fire | Scottish |
Ambulance | Scottish |
UK Parliament | |
Scottish Parliament | |
California (
on the uplands which form the southern edge of the council area.The population recorded in the
Origin of the name
Crown Office precognitions indicate that ‘California Row’ existed by 1860.
History
Nineteenth century
California grew on the common muir of Whitesiderigg between Gardrum Burn and Redding Muir.
In this period California was bisected by the Duke of Hamilton's Mineral Railway which was built to move coal from the number 16 Gardrum Pit to the Union Canal, the main colliery complex at Redding and the
Twentieth century
In 1918, accounts of living conditions in California were presented by the Stirling Miners' Union to the Royal Commission on Housing which was critical of housing in East Stirlingshire pit villages. Among their objections to the conditions in California were that there were 'No washhouses, no coal-houses ; there are six dry-closets and one street well for twenty-four families'.’.
The conditions described in these reports contributed to the provision of new housing in the 1930s. By 1931, Stirling County Council were in the process of providing 12 three-apartment houses.[13] Mining remained the main source of employment. Nonetheless, working conditions in the nearby collieries were still hazardous. For example, Andrew Anderson and his son William, of California, were killed in the Redding Pit Disaster of 1923. Ironically, the source of the water which flooded the pit was traced to California and the diversion of a small burn there.[14]
Employment was also provided at a series of peat extraction works at the nearby Gardum Moss. The Peat Moss Litter works at Gardrum, however, were demolished by the 1930s.
Present day
Currently, California is mainly residential and contains California Primary School
Sport
Quoits and football have been particularly popular in California. The 1920s was remarkable for California Celtic FC, winners of the Polmont and District Amateur Cup in season 1919-20 and who took the unusual step of changing their name to California Rangers after financial difficulties forced them to reapply to the Polmont and District Amateur League under a new name.[13] A team was also set up in 1961.[20] California is currently represented in the Stirling and District Amateur Football League by California Star FC and California FC.[21]
See also
References
- ^ "Mid-2020 Population Estimates for Settlements and Localities in Scotland". National Records of Scotland. 31 March 2022. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
- ^ "Entry for California in An Seotal". Retrieved 29 March 2023
- ^ "Insight 2001 Census, No. 3 - 2001 Census population of wards and settlements" (PDF). Falkirk Council. 2003. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 June 2011. Retrieved 9 December 2009.
- ^ National Archives of Scotland Reference AD14/60/97 Title Precognition against Alexander Logan, Robert Jack, John Maxwell for the crime of night poaching at Mavisbank, Falkirk, Stirling 1860
- ^ www.falkirklocalhistorysociety.co.uk http://www.falkirklocalhistorysociety.co.uk/home/index.php?id=61and. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
{{cite web}}
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(help)[permanent dead link] - ^ Stirling Journal and Advertiser
- ^ http://www.mining-villages.co.uk/329.html Archived 2008-07-23 at the Wayback Machine Housing of Scottish Miners – Report on the Housing of Miners of Stirlingshire and Dunbartonshire, By John C. M'Vail, M.D., LL.D. County Medical Officer - Part 2 1911? Part III - HOUSES BUILT BEFORE 1899.
- ^ "Falkirk Local History Society". Archived from the original on 24 October 2006.
- ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 June 2011. Retrieved 19 May 2011.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ NAS RHP RHP 81054/2 North British Railway, Book of Reference To the plan of The Proposed Extension of the Blackbraes Branch (Railway no. 6 of notice) Stirling-Parish of Muiravonside
- ^ a b Evidence given by Mr James Doherty and Mr John Barr of the Stirlingshire Miners' Union to the Royal Commission on Housing 1918
- ^ http://www.mining-villages.co.uk/329.html Archived 2008-07-23 at the Wayback Machine Housing of Scottish Miners – Report on the Housing of Miners of Stirlingshire and Dunbartonshire, By John C. M'Vail, M.D., LL.D. County Medical Officer - Part 2 1911? Part III - HOUSES BUILT BEFORE 1899.</
- ^ a b The Falkirk Herald, Thurs 16 Feb 1995, p8
- ^ The Times 12 October 1923
- ^ London North Eastern Railway, Scottish Area, Diagram Showing Portion Proposed to be uplifted of Blackbraes Branch 1936
- ^ AF 70/472 – 123a Scottish Peat Committee Gardrum Moss Scheme 1949-61 Carron Company: Gardrum Moss Draft Minute of Agreement 25 September 1958
- ^ "Industrial Narrow Gauge Railways". www.ingr.co.uk.
- ^ "California Primary School". www.california.falkirk.sch.uk.
- ^ The Falkirk Herald, Thursday Feb 16th 1995, p8
- ^ Third Statistical Account 1961: Polmont Parish
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 3 January 2008. Retrieved 19 May 2011.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
External links
- California and Shieldhill (Falkirk Local History Society - California and Shieldhill)