Pumpherston
Pumpherston | |
---|---|
bing by Pumpherston | |
Location within West Lothian | |
OS grid reference | NT071690 |
Civil parish | |
Council area | |
Lieutenancy area | |
Country | Scotland |
Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
Post town | LIVINGSTON |
Postcode district | EH53 |
Dialling code | 01506 |
Police | Scotland |
Fire | Scottish |
Ambulance | Scottish |
UK Parliament | |
Scottish Parliament | |
Pumpherston is a village in
History
In 1884 the Pumpherston Oil Works was built to extract and product shale oil and the village developed adjacent to the works to house employed staff and their families.[2] Pumpherston was initially divided into two villages, south and north. The north village had 116 homes and a co-operative store by 1885.[3] By 1888, the south village had two rows of houses, comprising 48 tenements that had been erected.[4] By 1914, Pumpherston north village had continued to expand to over 220 houses, as well as a workingmans institute, library, hall and bowling green.[3] The co-operative store building (West Calder Co-Operative) still occupies the corner site in the village and includes a clock tower.[5]
The Pumpherston oil works was later merged into
The specific oil shale retort, invented in 1894 and marking the separation of the oil shale industry from the coal industry, is named after the village.[11]
Origin of the name
There does not seem to be an unambiguous derivation for the origin of the name:
Various suggestions have been made as to the meaning of the name Pumpherston. One writer suggested it was from 'pamper', a short thickset man; another suggested it was from 'pundler', the official in the middle ages who impounded stray cattle. [A more likely] derivation is from [Brythonic] 'ap Humphrey' meaning son of Humphrey.
Pomphray was probably [the name of] one of the Flemish (Belgian) noblemen invited by
Malcolm IVto settle in Scotland in the twelfth century ... Pomphray would have been granted the lands north of the Almond in return for serving the king in battle ... around the castle built by Pomphray, probably a wooden structure later replaced by a stone building, would have grown up a little settlement and farm to house and feed his adherents and servants - Pomphray's town.Manu de Pomphray was a Belgian mercenary who was rewarded for his "deeds" by King Malcolm circa 1130-1145
—Sybil Cavanagh et al.[2]
Archaeology
There is evidence of the
Amenities
Pumpherston shares a primary school, Pumpherston & Uphall Station Community Primary School, with near neighbour Uphall Station. For secondary education is provided at nearby Broxburn Academy.
Pumpherston has a variety of sporting amenities including Pumpherston Golf Club,[12] Pumpherston Bowling Club and Recreation Park, the home of Pumpherston Juniors Football Club (Pumpherston F.C.).
In 2005 Pumpherston United F.C was formed to provide an opportunity for children from Pumpherston and the surrounding areas to take part in regular sporting activities. In only its third year the youth football club achieved an Access Level Award through West Lothian Council's Community Sports Club Development Scheme. The certificate awarded to the club confirms that Pumpherston United F.C demonstrates appropriate levels of efficiency in Child Protection, Good Coaching Practice, Club Management and First Aid.
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Transport
Uphall Station road is the main road through the village. The nearest railway station is Uphall railway station which lies to the north of Pumpherston at Uphall Station village.
Music
References
The history Pumpherston, the story of a shale oil village was commissioned by BP and collated and edited by local area historian Sybil Cavanagh.[2]
- ^ "GROS Website" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 September 2007.
- ^ ISBN 1-84282-015-X.
- ^ a b "Pumpherston North Village". Museum of the Scottish Shale Oil Industry. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
- ^ "Pumpherston South Village". Museum of the Scottish Shale Oil Industry. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
- ^ Historic Environment Scotland. "Pumpherston, 91-93 Uphall Station Road, West Calder Cooperative Society (213429)". Canmore. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
- ^ Bamberg 1994, p. 177 .
- ISBN 9780714613420.
- ^ "Scottish Oils". Uphall On The Web. Archived from the original on 22 July 2013. Retrieved 7 July 2012.
- ^ "A Brief History of the Scottish Shale Oil Industry". Museum of the Scottish Shale Oil Industry. Retrieved 7 July 2012.
- ^ "Pumpherston Oil Works". Museum of the Scottish Shale Oil Industry. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
- ^ Louw, S.J.; Addison, J. (1985). Seaton, A. (ed.). "Studies of the Scottish oil shale industry. Vol.1 History of the industry, working conditions, and mineralogy of Scottish and Green River formation shales. Final report on US Department of Energy" (PDF). Institute of Occupational Medicine. p. 35. DE-ACO2 – 82ER60036. Retrieved 30 May 2009.
- ^ Pumpherston Golf Club – index
- Partick Thistle FCofficial website, 25 February 2009