Bonnybridge
Encyclopedia
Bonnybridge is a small town in the Falkirk council area
of Scotland
. It is 4 miles (6.4 km) west of Falkirk
, 5.3 miles (8.5 km) north-east of Cumbernauld
and 8.3 miles (13.4 km) south-southwest of Stirling
. The town is situated near the Bonny Water which runs through the town and lies north of the Forth and Clyde Canal
. To the south-east of Bonnybridge is a well preserved section of the Antonine Wall
, and the remnants of Rough Castle Fort
, the most complete of the surviving Roman
forts
of the wall.
According to the 2001 Census
, the population stands at 6,870 residents. However, the Bonnybridge settlement area, which includes Banknock
, Denny
, Dunipace
and Haggs
has a total population of around 24,370.
in the nineteenth century. Significant industries that were established include paper mill
ing, sawmill
ing, chemical
manufacturing, refractory brick
manufacture and whisky
distilling. Particularly important for Bonnybridge was the establishment of several iron
foundries
including the famous Smith and Wellstood Foundry, which was important in introducing the American metal heating stoves to Europe under the 'Esse stoves
' brand. The output from these foundries was transported via the Forth & Clyde Canal to local markets, and also to Glasgow
for export. Bonnybridge was also particularly well served by rail, with the Glasgow to Edinburgh
and the Carlisle
to Perth
lines both nearby. With the canal and rail links Bonnybridge became a centre for industrial production.
and the latter is within the catchment area of St. Mungo's High School
.
sightings. It forms part of the "Falkirk Triangle", an area stretching from Stirling
to the outskirts of Edinburgh
. UFO enthusiasts claim that Bonnybridge is the world's number one UFO location, with an average of around 300 sightings a year.
Falkirk (council area)
Falkirk is one of the 32 unitary authority council areas in Scotland. It borders onto North Lanarkshire to the south west, Stirling to the north west, West Lothian to the south east and, across the Firth of Forth to the north east, Fife and Clackmannanshire...
of 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 4 miles (6.4 km) west of 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....
, 5.3 miles (8.5 km) north-east of Cumbernauld
Cumbernauld
Cumbernauld is a Scottish new town in North Lanarkshire. It was created in 1956 as a population overspill for Glasgow City. It is the eighth most populous settlement in Scotland and the largest in North Lanarkshire...
and 8.3 miles (13.4 km) south-southwest of Stirling
Stirling
Stirling is a city and former ancient burgh in Scotland, and is at the heart of the wider Stirling council area. The city is clustered around a large fortress and medieval old-town beside the River Forth...
. The town is situated near the Bonny Water which runs through the town and lies north of 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...
. To the south-east of Bonnybridge is a well preserved section of the Antonine Wall
Antonine Wall
The Antonine Wall is a stone and turf fortification built by the Romans across what is now the Central Belt of Scotland, between the Firth of Forth and the Firth of Clyde. Representing the northernmost frontier barrier of the Roman Empire, it spanned approximately 39 miles and was about ten feet ...
, and the remnants of Rough Castle Fort
Rough Castle Fort
Rough Castle Fort is a Roman fort on the Antonine Wall roughly 2 kilometres south east of Bonnybridge near Tamfourhill in the Falkirk council area, Scotland....
, the most complete of the surviving Roman
Roman Empire
The Roman Empire was the post-Republican period of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean....
forts
Fortification
Fortifications are military constructions and buildings designed for defence in warfare and military bases. Humans have constructed defensive works for many thousands of years, in a variety of increasingly complex designs...
of the wall.
According to the 2001 Census
United Kingdom Census 2001
A nationwide census, known as Census 2001, was conducted in the United Kingdom on Sunday, 29 April 2001. This was the 20th UK Census and recorded a resident population of 58,789,194....
, the population stands at 6,870 residents. However, the Bonnybridge settlement area, which includes Banknock
Banknock
Banknock is a village within the Falkirk council area in Central Scotland. The village is west-southwest of Falkirk, east-northeast of Kilsyth and north-northeast of Cumbernauld....
, Denny
Denny, Falkirk
Denny is a town in the Falkirk council area of Scotland, formerly in the county of Stirlingshire. It is situated west of Falkirk, and north-east of Cumbernauld, adjacent to both the M80 and M876 motorways...
, Dunipace
Dunipace
Dunipace is a village in the west of the Falkirk council area of Scotland. The village is south of Stirling and north-west of Falkirk. The village is situated on the north bank of the River Carron and adjoins the town of Denny to the south of the river....
and Haggs
Haggs
Haggs is a small village in the Falkirk council area of Scotland. The village is situated south-west of Bonnybridge, nort-northeast of Kilsyth and south-southwest of Denny, on the east side of the A80 road which separates it from Banknock....
has a total population of around 24,370.
History
Bonnybridge developed greatly during the industrial revolutionIndustrial Revolution
The Industrial Revolution was a period from the 18th to the 19th century where major changes in agriculture, manufacturing, mining, transportation, and technology had a profound effect on the social, economic and cultural conditions of the times...
in the nineteenth century. Significant industries that were established include paper mill
Paper mill
A paper mill is a factory devoted to making paper from vegetable fibres such as wood pulp, old rags and other ingredients using a Fourdrinier machine or other type of paper machine.- History :...
ing, sawmill
Sawmill
A sawmill is a facility where logs are cut into boards.-Sawmill process:A sawmill's basic operation is much like those of hundreds of years ago; a log enters on one end and dimensional lumber exits on the other end....
ing, chemical
Chemical compound
A chemical compound is a pure chemical substance consisting of two or more different chemical elements that can be separated into simpler substances by chemical reactions. Chemical compounds have a unique and defined chemical structure; they consist of a fixed ratio of atoms that are held together...
manufacturing, refractory brick
Fire brick
A fire brick, firebrick, or refractory brick is a block of refractory ceramic material used in lining furnaces, kilns, fireboxes, and fireplaces. A refractory brick is built primarily to withstand high temperature, but will also usually have a low thermal conductivity for greater energy efficiency...
manufacture and whisky
Whisky
Whisky or whiskey is a type of distilled alcoholic beverage made from fermented grain mash. Different grains are used for different varieties, including barley, malted barley, rye, malted rye, wheat, and corn...
distilling. Particularly important for Bonnybridge was the establishment of several iron
Iron
Iron is a chemical element with the symbol Fe and atomic number 26. It is a metal in the first transition series. It is the most common element forming the planet Earth as a whole, forming much of Earth's outer and inner core. It is the fourth most common element in the Earth's crust...
foundries
Foundry
A foundry is a factory that produces metal castings. Metals are cast into shapes by melting them into a liquid, pouring the metal in a mold, and removing the mold material or casting after the metal has solidified as it cools. The most common metals processed are aluminum and cast iron...
including the famous Smith and Wellstood Foundry, which was important in introducing the American metal heating stoves to Europe under the 'Esse stoves
Esse stoves
Esse is a United Kingdom brand of heating appliances, notable for having been, in the early 19th century, the first to bring the, then new, North American type of enclosed heating stoves to Europe.-History:...
' brand. The output from these foundries was transported via the Forth & Clyde Canal to local markets, and also to 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...
for export. Bonnybridge was also particularly well served by rail, with the Glasgow to Edinburgh
Glasgow to Edinburgh via Falkirk Line
The Glasgow to Edinburgh via Falkirk Line is a mainline railway line linking Glasgow and Edinburgh via Falkirk in Scotland. It is the principal route out of the four rail links between Scotland's two biggest cities, hosting the flagship "Shuttle" service between and .- Places served :The route...
and the Carlisle
Carlisle railway station
Carlisle railway station, also known as Carlisle Citadel station, is a railway station whichserves the Cumbrian City of Carlisle, England, and is a major station on the West Coast Main Line, lying south of Glasgow Central, and north of London Euston...
to Perth
Perth, Scotland
Perth is a town and former city and royal burgh in central Scotland. Located on the banks of the River Tay, it is the administrative centre of Perth and Kinross council area and the historic county town of Perthshire...
lines both nearby. With the canal and rail links Bonnybridge became a centre for industrial production.
Education
The town has three primary schools: Bonnybridge Primary School, Antonine Primary School and St. Joseph's R.C. Primary School. The former two are catchment primaries for Denny High SchoolDenny High School
Denny High School in Scotland, UK, is a non-denominational public secondary school.The school was opened in 1959. In 1971 and 1978, two extensions to the building were added to accommodate the growing population of the town...
and the latter is within the catchment area of St. Mungo's High School
St. Mungo's High School
St Mungo's High School is the only Catholic High School in the area of falkirk and is situated in Merchiston Avenue in the town.The school is split into 6 houses; Andrew , Columba , Kentigern , Margaret , Ninian and Ogilvie...
.
Bonnybridge Golf Club
Bonnybridge Golf Club is located on the outskirts of Bonnybridge, off the A883. The course is just over 6,000 yards long."UFO capital of Scotland"
In recent years Bonnybridge has become known as the scene of numerous UFOUnidentified flying object
A term originally coined by the military, an unidentified flying object is an unusual apparent anomaly in the sky that is not readily identifiable to the observer as any known object...
sightings. It forms part of the "Falkirk Triangle", an area stretching from Stirling
Stirling
Stirling is a city and former ancient burgh in Scotland, and is at the heart of the wider Stirling council area. The city is clustered around a large fortress and medieval old-town beside the River Forth...
to the outskirts 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...
. UFO enthusiasts claim that Bonnybridge is the world's number one UFO location, with an average of around 300 sightings a year.