West Lothian
Encyclopedia
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
.
The council area was created in 1996, under the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994
, with the boundaries of the West Lothian district
of the Lothian
region
.
Before it was abolished in 1975 by the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973
, the county contained six burgh
s. Two are now outside the West Lothian unitary council area:
On abolition in 1975 the county, with the exception of the Bo'ness area, was included in the Lothian Region. Bo'ness became part of the Central Region
. Lothian Region was divided into four districts, one of which was named West Lothian and approximated to the former county.
of West Lothian; less the burgh
s of Bo'ness
and South Queensferry
and the Kirkliston
area; it also included the East Calder and West Calder districts of the former county of Midlothian. The council's headquarters were originally in Bathgate, later moving to the new town
of Livingston. The unitary authority created in 1996 used the same boundaries.
, West Calder
, Mid Calder
, Wilkieston
, Pumpherston
, Knightsridge
, Carmondean, Deans
, Eliburn
, Ladywell
, Craigshill
, Howden
, Dedridge
, Murieston
, Adambrae
, Livingston Village
, DeerPark
Broxburn
: Uphall
, Winchburgh
, Ecclesmachan
, Dechmont
, Bridgend
Bathgate
: Armadale
, Whitburn
, Fauldhouse
, Longridge, Torphichen
, Blackburn
, Seafield
is often said to have been raised by Tam Dalyell
, then member of Parliament
for the former West Lothian constituency
, in his 1977 book Devolution
: The End of Britain?. However, in the debate on the Referendum (English Parliament) Bill (HC Deb 16 January 1998 vol 304 cc589-660) Dalyell says " The so-called West Lothian question, as it was dubbed by Enoch Powell
, not by me, in 1977", denying this.
Famous people from West Lothian include:
Grapevine
, Texas
, USA Hochsauerland
, Germany
West Lothian has four Scottish youth parliament seats as it comprises two Scottish parliamentary constituencies.
West Lothian’s current MSYP’s are:
Unitary authority
A unitary authority is a type of local authority that has a single tier and is responsible for all local government functions within its area or performs additional functions which elsewhere in the relevant country are usually performed by national government or a higher level of sub-national...
council areas in 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...
, and a Lieutenancy area
Lieutenancy areas of Scotland
The lieutenancy areas of Scotland are the areas used for the ceremonial lord-lieutenants, the monarch's representatives, in Scotland. They are different from the local government council areas, the committee areas, the sheriffdoms, the registration counties, the former regions and districts, the...
. It borders the City of Edinburgh, Falkirk
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...
, North Lanarkshire
North Lanarkshire
North Lanarkshire is one of 32 council areas in Scotland. It borders onto the northeast of the City of Glasgow and contains much of Glasgow's suburbs and commuter towns and villages. It also borders Stirling, Falkirk, East Dunbartonshire, West Lothian and South Lanarkshire...
, the Scottish Borders
Scottish Borders
The Scottish Borders is one of 32 local government council areas of Scotland. It is bordered by Dumfries and Galloway in the west, South Lanarkshire and West Lothian in the north west, City of Edinburgh, East Lothian, Midlothian to the north; and the non-metropolitan counties of Northumberland...
and South Lanarkshire
South Lanarkshire
South Lanarkshire is one of 32 unitary council areas of Scotland, covering the southern part of the former county of Lanarkshire. It borders the south-east of the city of Glasgow and contains many of Glasgow's suburbs, commuter towns and smaller villages....
.
The council area was created in 1996, under the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994
Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994
The Local Government etc. Act 1994 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom which created the current local government structure of 32 unitary authorities covering the whole of Scotland....
, with the boundaries of the West Lothian district
Regions and districts of Scotland
The local government areas of Scotland were redefined by the Local Government Act 1973 and redefined again by the Local Government etc Act 1994....
of the Lothian
Lothian
Lothian forms a traditional region of Scotland, lying between the southern shore of the Firth of Forth and the Lammermuir Hills....
region
Regions and districts of Scotland
The local government areas of Scotland were redefined by the Local Government Act 1973 and redefined again by the Local Government etc Act 1994....
.
Towns
- ArmadaleArmadale, West LothianArmadale is a town within the district of West Lothian in central Scotland.Armadale, formerly known as Barbauchlaw, is an ex-mining town which is also known for its brick manufacturing...
- BathgateBathgateBathgate is a town in West Lothian, Scotland, on the M8 motorway west of Livingston. Nearby towns are Blackburn, Armadale, Whitburn, Livingston, and Linlithgow. Edinburgh Airport is away...
- BlackburnBlackburn, West LothianBlackburn is a town in West Lothian, Scotland next to Bathgate and five miles from Livingston. It is situated about from Edinburgh along the old A8 road between Edinburgh and Glasgow.- History :...
- BroxburnBroxburn, West LothianBroxburn 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....
- LinlithgowLinlithgowLinlithgow 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....
- LivingstonLivingston, ScotlandLivingston is a town in West Lothian, Scotland. It is the fourth post-WWII new town to be built in Scotland, designated in 1962. It is about 15 miles west of Edinburgh and 30 miles east of Glasgow, and is bordered by the towns of Broxburn to the northeast and Bathgate to the northwest.Livingston...
- WhitburnWhitburnWhitburn is the name of more than one place:* Whitburn, South Tyneside, England* Whitburn, West Lothian, ScotlandWhitburn can also refer to the following people:*Joel Whitburn, music historian*Vanessa Whitburn, radio producer...
Villages
- AbercornAbercornAbercorn is a village and parish in West Lothian, Scotland. Close to the south coast of the Firth of Forth, the village is around west of South Queensferry.-History:...
- AddiewellAddiewellAddiewell is a former mining village in the Scottish council area of West Lothian. A new prison, HMP Addiewell, opened in 2008.-History:A small industrial village in West Lothian, Addiewell lies to the south of the Breich Water, 2 miles south of Blackburn. The village developed in association...
- BlackridgeBlackridge, West LothianBlackridge is a small town in the western part of West Lothian, Scotland.The village name dates to 1581, first recorded as Blakrig. Later, Blackrig and then Blackrigg became the standard spelling until Blackridge became the norm in official documents after about 1840...
- BreichBreichBreich is a small village lying in the western part of West Lothian in Scotland. It lies on the A71, the Edinburgh to Ayrshire road, which also goes to the large town of Livingston 7 miles to the east...
- BridgendBridgend, West LothianBridgend is a village which neighbours Linlithgow, in West Lothian, Scotland. It also has a football team called Bridgend United.- Overview :Bridgend is a small village situated just outside Linlithgow....
- DechmontDechmontDechmont is a small village located near Uphall, West Lothian in Scotland. Bangour Village Hospital is located to the west of Dechmont. It has an approximate population of 989 people. Its postal code is EH52...
- East CalderEast CalderEast Calder is a small town located in West Lothian, Scotland. It is located about a mile east of Mid Calder and about a mile west of Wilkieston...
- East WhitburnEast WhitburnEast Whitburn is a small village in Scottish county of West Lothian. Bordering the mining town of Whitburn, East Whitburn has grown significantly in the past few years due to developments of large houses....
- EcclesmachanEcclesmachanEcclesmachan is a village in West Lothian. It lies just north of Uphall on the B8046 road. As at 2001, the population of the civil parish of Ecclesmachan was 529 and was 811 in 1991....
- FauldhouseFauldhouseFauldhouse is a town in West Lothian, Scotland. It is about halfway between Glasgow and Edinburgh.-History:Fauldhouse is known since the Middle Ages, and was known until the 19th century by the names "Falas" or latterly "Fallas." The seventeenth century Dutch mapmaker Willem Blaeu features...
- GreenriggGreenriggGreenrigg is a small village that lies in the west of West Lothian, Scotland.Greenrigg is within walking distance to shops in the bordering village of Harthill and a quick drive away from Whitburn. The village has a school, Greenrigg Primary School....
- KingscavilKingscavilKingscavil is a small settlement in West Lothian lying between Linlithgow and Bridgend on the old A9 .Essentially a single row of houses, Kingscavil once had a school serving the many local agricultural settlements, but this is now privately owned. The church remains in use.In 1895 there were 112...
- KirknewtonKirknewton-Places:England*Kirknewton, NorthumberlandScotland*Kirknewton, West Lothian*RAF Kirknewton, a Royal Air Force station in West Lothian...
- Longridge
- Mid CalderMid CalderMid Calder is a town in West Lothian, Scotland. It is located on a steep hill overlooking the River Almond and Calder Wood, around west of Edinburgh...
- NewtonNewton, West LothianNewton or is a small village in the county of West Lothian, Scotland. It lies on the A904 trunk road west of South Queensferry and the Forth Road Bridge and east of Linlithgow....
- PhilpstounPhilpstounPhilpstoun is a small village in West Lothian, Scotland, situated roughly east of the historic county town of Linlithgow. The village originated in the oil shale mining boom of the 19th century. Surrounded by rich arable farm land, the village has a Community Education Centre, a Category B listed...
- PolbethPolbethPolbeth is a former Oil shale mining village located about a mile from West Calder, and not far from Livingston, West Lothian, Scotland.- :...
- PumpherstonPumpherstonPumpherston is a small dormitory village in West Lothian, Scotland. Originally a small industrial village to the nearby shale mine and works, it now adjoins the new town of Livingston, which was constructed alongside Pumpherston in the late 1960s and quickly grew much larger than its...
- SeafieldSeafield, West LothianSeafield is a small village in West Lothian, Scotland. Seafield lies 1¼ miles east of Blackburn and 2 miles southeast of Bathgate .The village lies between the River Almond to the south and the M8 motorway to the north....
- StoneyburnStoneyburnStoneyburn is a village in West Lothian, Scotland. Nearby towns include Bathgate, Whitburn, Addiewell and Blackburn.- Geography :Stoneyburn is situated in the middle of central Scotland, some 4 miles from Bathgate in the north and 5 from Livingston in the east...
- Threemiletown
- TorphichenTorphichenTorphichen is a small village located near Bathgate, West Lothian, Scotland. The placename may be Gaelic in origin, eg, "Tóir Féichín" , Tor Fithichean or British, eg, modern Welsh "tref fechan" .The village church is said to have been founded by St...
- UphallUphall, West LothianUphall is a village in West Lothian, Scotland. It is a swiftly growing village in a conurbation with Broxburn to the east, Dechmont to the west and the major town of Livingston to the south west...
- Uphall StationUphall StationUphall Station is a small village located in the geographical county of West Lothian, Scotland. The name is derived from neighbouring town Uphall on account of there being a small railway station located on the northeast perimeter of the village. The village is situated southeast of neighbouring...
- West CalderWest CalderWest Calder is a village in West Lothian, Scotland, located 4 miles west of Livingston. The village was an important centre for the oil shale economy in the 19th and 20th Centuries. West Calder has its own railway station. It is also has the most northerly centre of the Dogs Trust, closely followed...
- WestfieldWestfield, West LothianWestfield is a small village of around 180 houses located in the parish of Torphichen in West Lothian, Scotland. The village was focused for many decades on a local paper mill that closed in the 1990s...
- WilkiestonWilkiestonWilkieston is a small village in West Lothian, Scotland. It is located on the A71 road, north of Kirknewton, south-west of Ratho and east of Livingston.To the north-west of the village is Bonnington House, a 19th-century country house...
- WinchburghWinchburghWinchburgh is a village situated within the geographical county of West Lothian, Scotland. It is located approximately west of the city-centre of Edinburgh, east of Linlithgow and northeast of Broxburn.-Public transport:...
County
The county of West Lothian was called Linlithgowshire or the County of Linlithgow until 1921.Before it was abolished in 1975 by the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973
Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973
The Local Government Act 1973 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, that reformed local government in Scotland, on May 16, 1975....
, the county contained six burgh
Burgh
A burgh was an autonomous corporate entity in Scotland and Northern England, usually a town. This type of administrative division existed from the 12th century, when King David I created the first royal burghs. Burgh status was broadly analogous to borough status, found in the rest of the United...
s. Two are now outside the West Lothian unitary council area:
| Burgh | Unitary council area |
|---|---|
| Armadale Armadale, West Lothian Armadale is a town within the district of West Lothian in central Scotland.Armadale, formerly known as Barbauchlaw, is an ex-mining town which is also known for its brick manufacturing... |
West Lothian |
| Bathgate Bathgate Bathgate is a town in West Lothian, Scotland, on the M8 motorway west of Livingston. Nearby towns are Blackburn, Armadale, Whitburn, Livingston, and Linlithgow. Edinburgh Airport is away... |
|
| 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.... |
|
| Whitburn Whitburn, West Lothian Whitburn is a small town in West Lothian, Scotland located halfway between Scotlands's two largest cities being about east of Glasgow and west of Edinburgh... |
|
| Bo'ness Bo'ness Bo'ness, properly Borrowstounness, is a coastal town in the Central Lowlands of Scotland. It lies on a hillside on the south bank of the Firth of Forth within the Falkirk council area, north-west of Edinburgh and east of Falkirk. At the 2001 census, Bo'ness had a resident population of 13,961... |
Falkirk 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... |
| 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... |
City of Edinburgh |
On abolition in 1975 the county, with the exception of the Bo'ness area, was included in the Lothian Region. Bo'ness became part of the Central Region
Central Region, Scotland
Central Region was a local government region of Scotland from 1975 to 1996. It is now divided into the council areas of Falkirk, Stirling, and Clackmannanshire, which had previously been districts within Central...
. Lothian Region was divided into four districts, one of which was named West Lothian and approximated to the former county.
District
West Lothian District was created in 1975, comprising the countyCounties of Scotland
The counties of Scotland were the principal local government divisions of Scotland until 1975. Scotland's current lieutenancy areas and registration counties are largely based on them. They are often referred to as historic counties....
of West Lothian; less the burgh
Burgh
A burgh was an autonomous corporate entity in Scotland and Northern England, usually a town. This type of administrative division existed from the 12th century, when King David I created the first royal burghs. Burgh status was broadly analogous to borough status, found in the rest of the United...
s of Bo'ness
Bo'ness
Bo'ness, properly Borrowstounness, is a coastal town in the Central Lowlands of Scotland. It lies on a hillside on the south bank of the Firth of Forth within the Falkirk council area, north-west of Edinburgh and east of Falkirk. At the 2001 census, Bo'ness had a resident population of 13,961...
and 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 the Kirkliston
Kirkliston
Kirkliston is a village and civil parish within the City of Edinburgh in Scotland. It sits on the historic route between Edinburgh and Queensferry, the gateway to Fife and the north. Today, it is bypassed by the A90...
area; it also included the East Calder and West Calder districts of the former county of Midlothian. The council's headquarters were originally in Bathgate, later moving to the new town
New towns in the United Kingdom
Below is a list of some of the new towns in the United Kingdom created under the various New Town Acts of the 20th century. Some earlier towns were developed as Garden Cities or overspill estates early in the twentieth century. The New Towns proper were planned to disperse population following the...
of Livingston. The unitary authority created in 1996 used the same boundaries.
Areas of West Lothian
Livingston: East CalderEast Calder
East Calder is a small town located in West Lothian, Scotland. It is located about a mile east of Mid Calder and about a mile west of Wilkieston...
, West Calder
West Calder
West Calder is a village in West Lothian, Scotland, located 4 miles west of Livingston. The village was an important centre for the oil shale economy in the 19th and 20th Centuries. West Calder has its own railway station. It is also has the most northerly centre of the Dogs Trust, closely followed...
, Mid Calder
Mid Calder
Mid Calder is a town in West Lothian, Scotland. It is located on a steep hill overlooking the River Almond and Calder Wood, around west of Edinburgh...
, Wilkieston
Wilkieston
Wilkieston is a small village in West Lothian, Scotland. It is located on the A71 road, north of Kirknewton, south-west of Ratho and east of Livingston.To the north-west of the village is Bonnington House, a 19th-century country house...
, Pumpherston
Pumpherston
Pumpherston is a small dormitory village in West Lothian, Scotland. Originally a small industrial village to the nearby shale mine and works, it now adjoins the new town of Livingston, which was constructed alongside Pumpherston in the late 1960s and quickly grew much larger than its...
, Knightsridge
Knightsridge
Knightsridge is an area within Livingston, Scotland to the north of the town. Not long after the start of the construction of Craigshill began, the construction of Knightsridge started in 1968 and finished in 1980. Most of the first residents were placed in Knightsridge, Craigshill and...
, Carmondean, Deans
Deans
-People:* Craig Deans, soccer player* Diane Deans, politician* Ian Deans, politician* John "Dixie" Deans, soccer player* Kathryn Deans, author* Mickey Deans, fifth and last husband of Judy Garland* Robbie Deans, rugby coach and former player...
, Eliburn
Eliburn
Eliburn is one of the newest parts of Livingston, West Lothian, Scotland and is located to the North-West side of the town. The area has mostly private housing rather than council housing, though Eliburn is under constant development with the building of both affordable council apartments and...
, Ladywell
Ladywell, Livingston
Ladywell is an area in Livingston. It is bordered to the north by Knightsridge, to the south by Howden, to the West by Eliburn and to the east by the A899.*...
, Craigshill
Craigshill
Craigshill is a residential area in the east of Livingston, Scotland, affectionately known as "Crazy Hill" by its residents. West of Craigshill is the A899, with Howden, Ladywell and Knightsridge beyond, to the North is the Houstoun Industrial Estate and the village of...
, Howden
Howden
Howden is a small market town and civil parish in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It lies north of the M62, on the A614 road about north of Goole and south-west of York. William the Conqueror gave the town to the Bishops of Durham in 1080...
, Dedridge
Dedridge
Dedridge is an area in the town of Livingston in West Lothian, Scotland. It is located in the south of the town, just south of the Almondvale area....
, Murieston
Murieston
Murieston is a district on the southern edge of Livingston, West Lothian, Scotland. The district lies on both sides of Murieston Water which is flanked by public parkland. The A71 road forms the northern boundary of the district which is notable for having a very good primary school...
, Adambrae
Adambrae
Adambrae is a residential area of Livingston, consisting of all privately owned housing. It is a relatively new area, construction starting in late 1998....
, Livingston Village
Livingston Village
Livingston Village is a village is West Lothian it dates back to the 12th Century. Originally a farming village in West Lothian it is now in the heart of the town of Livingston.-Pre 1962:...
, DeerPark
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....
: Uphall
Uphall, West Lothian
Uphall is a village in West Lothian, Scotland. It is a swiftly growing village in a conurbation with Broxburn to the east, Dechmont to the west and the major town of Livingston to the south west...
, Winchburgh
Winchburgh
Winchburgh is a village situated within the geographical county of West Lothian, Scotland. It is located approximately west of the city-centre of Edinburgh, east of Linlithgow and northeast of Broxburn.-Public transport:...
, Ecclesmachan
Ecclesmachan
Ecclesmachan is a village in West Lothian. It lies just north of Uphall on the B8046 road. As at 2001, the population of the civil parish of Ecclesmachan was 529 and was 811 in 1991....
, Dechmont
Dechmont
Dechmont is a small village located near Uphall, West Lothian in Scotland. Bangour Village Hospital is located to the west of Dechmont. It has an approximate population of 989 people. Its postal code is EH52...
, Bridgend
Bridgend, West Lothian
Bridgend is a village which neighbours Linlithgow, in West Lothian, Scotland. It also has a football team called Bridgend United.- Overview :Bridgend is a small village situated just outside Linlithgow....
Bathgate
Bathgate
Bathgate is a town in West Lothian, Scotland, on the M8 motorway west of Livingston. Nearby towns are Blackburn, Armadale, Whitburn, Livingston, and Linlithgow. Edinburgh Airport is away...
: Armadale
Armadale, West Lothian
Armadale is a town within the district of West Lothian in central Scotland.Armadale, formerly known as Barbauchlaw, is an ex-mining town which is also known for its brick manufacturing...
, Whitburn
Whitburn, West Lothian
Whitburn is a small town in West Lothian, Scotland located halfway between Scotlands's two largest cities being about east of Glasgow and west of Edinburgh...
, Fauldhouse
Fauldhouse
Fauldhouse is a town in West Lothian, Scotland. It is about halfway between Glasgow and Edinburgh.-History:Fauldhouse is known since the Middle Ages, and was known until the 19th century by the names "Falas" or latterly "Fallas." The seventeenth century Dutch mapmaker Willem Blaeu features...
, Longridge, Torphichen
Torphichen
Torphichen is a small village located near Bathgate, West Lothian, Scotland. The placename may be Gaelic in origin, eg, "Tóir Féichín" , Tor Fithichean or British, eg, modern Welsh "tref fechan" .The village church is said to have been founded by St...
, Blackburn
Blackburn, West Lothian
Blackburn is a town in West Lothian, Scotland next to Bathgate and five miles from Livingston. It is situated about from Edinburgh along the old A8 road between Edinburgh and Glasgow.- History :...
, Seafield
Seafield, West Lothian
Seafield is a small village in West Lothian, Scotland. Seafield lies 1¼ miles east of Blackburn and 2 miles southeast of Bathgate .The village lies between the River Almond to the south and the M8 motorway to the north....
Places of interest
- BeecraigsBeecraigsBeecraigs is a country park located in West Lothian, approximately south of the town of Linlithgow and north-east of Bathgate. The park comprises around of upland forest, woodland and open country, and offers a range of amenities including outdoor pursuits, camping and caravanning site, sawmill,...
Country ParkCountry parkA country park is an area designated for people to visit and enjoy recreation in a countryside environment.-History:In the United Kingdom the term 'Country Park' has a special meaning. There are over 400 Country Parks in England alone . Most Country Parks were designated in the 1970s, under the... - Blackness CastleBlackness CastleBlackness Castle is a 15th century fortress, near the village of Blackness, Scotland, on the south shore of the Firth of Forth. It was built, probably on the site of an earlier fort, by Sir George Crichton in the 1440s. At this time, Blackness was the main port serving the Royal Burgh of...
- Cairnpapple HillCairnpapple HillCairnpapple Hill is a hill with a dominating position in central lowland Scotland with views from coast to coast. It was used and re-used as a major ritual site over about 4000 years, and in its day would have been comparable to better known sites like the Standing Stones of Stenness. The summit...
- Linlithgow PalaceLinlithgow PalaceThe ruins of Linlithgow Palace are situated in the town of Linlithgow, West Lothian, Scotland, west of Edinburgh. The palace was one of the principal residences of the monarchs of Scotland in the 15th and 16th centuries. Although maintained after Scotland's monarchs left for England in 1603, the...
, birth place of Mary, Queen of Scots - Polkemmet Country ParkPolkemmet Country ParkPolkemmet Country Park is located west of the town of Whitburn in West Lothian, Scotland. It is adjacent to the M8 motorway, east of the "Heart of Scotland" services at Harthill. It was developed on the estate of Polkemmet House, a country house which was demolished in the 1960s...
- Torphichen PreceptoryTorphichen PreceptoryTorphichen Preceptory, is a church in the village of Torphichen, West Lothian, Scotland. It comprises the remains of the Preceptory of the Knights Hospitaller of the Order of St John of Jerusalem in Scotland...
Mentions in popular culture
The West Lothian questionWest Lothian question
The West Lothian question refers to issues concerning the ability of Members of Parliament from constituencies in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales to vote on matters that only affect people living in England...
is often said to have been raised by Tam Dalyell
Tam Dalyell
Sir Thomas Dalyell Loch, 11th Baronet , known as Tam Dalyell, is a British Labour Party politician, who was a Member of Parliament in the House of Commons from 1962 to 2005, first for West Lothian and then for Linlithgow.-Early life:...
, then member of Parliament
British House of Commons
The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also comprises the Sovereign and the House of Lords . Both Commons and Lords meet in the Palace of Westminster. The Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 650 members , who are known as Members...
for the former West Lothian constituency
West Lothian (UK Parliament constituency)
West Lothian was a county constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1945 to 1983. It elected one Member of Parliament by the first past the post voting system....
, in his 1977 book Devolution
Devolution
Devolution is the statutory granting of powers from the central government of a sovereign state to government at a subnational level, such as a regional, local, or state level. Devolution can be mainly financial, e.g. giving areas a budget which was formerly administered by central government...
: The End of Britain?. However, in the debate on the Referendum (English Parliament) Bill (HC Deb 16 January 1998 vol 304 cc589-660) Dalyell says " The so-called West Lothian question, as it was dubbed by Enoch Powell
Enoch Powell
John Enoch Powell, MBE was a British politician, classical scholar, poet, writer, and soldier. He served as a Conservative Party MP and Minister of Health . He attained most prominence in 1968, when he made the controversial Rivers of Blood speech in opposition to mass immigration from...
, not by me, in 1977", denying this.
Famous people from West Lothian include:
- Author and actor Ian ColquhounIan Colquhoun (Scottish author)Ian Colquhoun is an author, actor, stuntman and freelance journalist originally from Livingston in Scotland. He lost his legs and was almost killed in an unprovoked assault and arson attack whilst living in the Republic of Ireland in 2002 and now wears prosthetic legs...
, from Livingston - Leon JacksonLeon JacksonLeon Jackson is a Scottish singer-songwriter. He won the fourth series of British talent show The X Factor in 2007. Following his win, Jackson was the main star of his on-web series entitled Leon's Life, which ran from 2007 until 2008...
, the winner of The X FactorThe X Factor (UK)The X Factor is a British television music competition to find new singing talent. Created by Simon Cowell, it began in September 2004 and is contested by aspiring singers drawn from public auditions. It is the originator of the international X Factor franchise. The seven series of the show to date...
UK 2007, from Whitburn - David TennantDavid TennantDavid Tennant is a Scottish actor. In addition to his work in theatre, including a widely praised Hamlet, Tennant is best known for his role as the tenth incarnation of the Doctor in Doctor Who, along with the title role in the 2005 TV serial Casanova and as Barty Crouch, Jr...
, from Bathgate, best known for portraying the tenth incarnation of the Doctor in the television series Doctor WhoDoctor WhoDoctor Who is a British science fiction television programme produced by the BBC. The programme depicts the adventures of a time-travelling humanoid alien known as the Doctor who explores the universe in a sentient time machine called the TARDIS that flies through time and space, whose exterior... - Susan BoyleSusan BoyleSusan Magdalane Boyle is a Scottish singer who came to international public attention when she appeared as a contestant on the TV programme Britain's Got Talent on 11 April 2009, singing "I Dreamed a Dream" from ...
, from Blackburn, is a world-renowned singing contestant on the 3rd seriesBritain's Got Talent (series 3)The 2009 series of Britain's Got Talent was the third series of the programme. It began airing on ITV on 11 April. The 2009 panel of judges consisted of Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden and Piers Morgan...
of Britain's Got TalentBritain's Got TalentBritain's Got Talent is a British television talent show competition which started in June 2007 and originated from the Got Talent series. The show is produced by FremantleMedia's TalkbackThames and Simon Cowell's production company SYCOtv. The show is broadcast on ITV in Britain and TV3 in Ireland...
. Her launch performance not only helped to draw a record TV viewing audience of 10.3 million people, but also led to a YouTubeYouTubeYouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
video of her performance, generating an estimated 100 million viewers within the first eight days, and widespread international media coverage. - Dario FranchittiDario FranchittiGeorge Dario Marino Franchitti is a Scottish racing driver. He formerly competed in the CART series before switching to the IndyCar Series where he was 2007 champion, and won the rain-shortened 2007 Indianapolis 500. Franchitti is also a former NASCAR driver for Chip Ganassi Racing, competing...
, from Bathgate, winner of the 2010 Indianapolis 500. - Paul di RestaPaul di RestaPaul di Resta is a British racing driver from Scotland, currently competing in Formula One with Force India. He is also a former DTM champion.-Personal life:...
, from Uphall, is the second driver for the Force IndiaForce IndiaSahara Force India Formula One Team, the trading name of Force India Formula One Team Limited, is a Formula One racing team based in Silverstone, United Kingdom which currently holds an Indian licence. The team was formed in October 2007 when a consortium led by Indian businessman Vijay Mallya and...
Formula 1 team, and the cousin of Dario Franchitti.
Town twinnings
Livingston and West Lothian are twinned with the following cities:Grapevine
Grapevine, Texas
Grapevine is a city in northeast Tarrant County, Texas, United States located within the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area. As of the 2010 census the city population was 46,334. The city's moniker is derived from the native grapes prevalent in the area. In recent years several wineries have...
, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, USA Hochsauerland
Hochsauerland
Hochsauerlandkreis is a Kreis in the east of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Neighboring districts are Soest, Paderborn, Höxter, Waldeck-Frankenberg, Siegen-Wittgenstein, Olpe, Märkischer Kreis.- History :...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
Council political composition
| Party | Councillors | |
| Labour Scottish Labour Party The Scottish Labour Party is the section of the British Labour Party which operates in Scotland.... |
14 | |
| Scottish National Party Scottish National Party The Scottish National Party is a social-democratic political party in Scotland which campaigns for Scottish independence from the United Kingdom.... |
13 | |
| Action to Save St John's Hospital | 3 | |
| Conservative | 1 | |
| Independent Independent (politician) In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do... |
1 |
West Lothian Youth Congress
West Lothian has a formal structure for engaging with young people and including them in the decision making process. The West Lothian Youth congress is a constituted group of young people between the ages of 12 and 26. It includes 2 democratically elected representatives from each of West Lothian’s High schools as well as young people representing youth/ specific interest groups, community councils or local areas from across West Lothian. The Youth Congress meets on a Tuesday evening every 4 to 6 weeks in the Council chambers of the West Lothian civic centre between 7PM and 9PM. The Congress is a full community planning partner and played an integral role in developing West Lothian’s 2010 community plan. The Congress also elects West Lothian’s 4 Members of the Scottish Youth Parliament who are elected to represent West Lothian’s young people at a national level.Scottish Youth Parliament
The Scottish Youth Parliament (SYP) is a body set up to represent Scotland’s young people. Its members are aged between 14 and 26 and are elected from Scottish parliamentary constituencies with each Member of the Scottish Parliament being shadowed by 2 Members of the Scottish Youth parliament. There are also representatives from several voluntary organisations.West Lothian has four Scottish youth parliament seats as it comprises two Scottish parliamentary constituencies.
West Lothian’s current MSYP’s are:
| William Kerr - Linlithgow constituency |
| David Leitch - Almond Valley constituency |
| Alanah Peters - Linlithgow constituency |
| Kimberly Morgan - Almond Valley constituency |