Winchburgh
| Winchburgh | |
|---|---|
 Winchburgh, viewed from the south | |
  Winchburgh Location withinWest Lothian | |
| Population | 3,840 (2022)[1] |
| OS grid reference | NT086750 |
| Civil parish | |
| Council area | |
| Lieutenancy area | |
| Country | Scotland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | BROXBURN |
| Postcode district | EH52 |
| Dialling code | 01506 |
| Police | Scotland |
| Fire | Scottish |
| Ambulance | Scottish |
| UK Parliament | |
| Scottish Parliament | |
Winchburghis a village in thecouncil areaofWest Lothian,Scotland. It is located approximately 10 miles (16 km) west of the city-centre ofEdinburgh,6 miles (9.7 km) east ofLinlithgowand 3 miles (4.8 km) northeast ofBroxburn.
Demographics
[edit]The 2001 census recorded around 2,000 persons in Winchburgh.[2]In 2015, the population of Winchburgh was cited as having increased to 2,430 persons.[3]As a result of new developments (still ongoing), the 2020 population had increased by over 50% to 3,840.[1]
History
[edit]
Prehistory and archaeology
[edit]Archaeological excavations in 2013 in advance of the construction of a housing development by CFA Archaeology found the remains of a sub-circular double-ditched enclosure. Not many artefacts were found andradiocarbon datesfrom waterlogged wood and animal bone were between 1600–200 BC, indicating the people had been living or working in Winchburgh at least a thousand years before the earliest records of the town.[4]
Medieval history
[edit]There has been a settlement in Winchburgh for over one thousand years. Early spellings include Wincelburgh (1189); Wynchburghe (1377); from 'wincel' and 'burh' meaning 'Town in the nook or angle'. It is possible that it was named after the bend in the Niddry Burn that runs through the village. The early settlement was probably near to Niddry Castle.
After theBattle of Bannockburnin 1314,Sir James DouglasfollowedKing Edward IIand the remnants of his army to Winchburgh. Both sides rested at Winchburgh before riding on toDunbar,where King Edward took ship for England.
Quhill that the king and his menye
To Wenchburg all cummyn ar.
Than lychtyt all that thai war
To bayt thar hors that wer wery,
And Douglas and his cumpany
Baytyt alsua besid thaim ner.— Extract fromThe BrusbyJohn Barbour(1320-1395), Book 13, written c.1375
Auldcathieis an historic parish and ruined pre-reformation church that lies on the western edge of Winchburgh.[5]
In 1568,Mary, Queen of Scots,escaped fromLoch Leven Castle,and was met byLord Seton,before crossing theFirth of ForthfromSouth Queensferry.Mary stayed atNiddry Castle,Seton's property in Winchburgh, on 2 May 1568. From the 1600s to the 1860s, Winchburgh was a small hamlet, which other than a few houses contained an inn and staging post.[6]
19th to 21st centuries
[edit]
In the 19th century, Winchburgh had a thrivingoil shalemining industry, the remnants of which are the distinctive red "shale bings", large hill forms, created by the deposition composed of used shale.[6]The bings support a variety of flora and fauna, such as bushes and heather, rabbits and, occasionally, old deer. The bings are also known locally as "tips", although it is a generally less common name for them.
On 13 October 1862 on theEdinburgh and Glasgow Railwaya mile and a half northwest of Winchburgh was the scene of a head-on rail crash in which 15 people were killed.[7]
The late 19th century saw the development of several dozen miners' rows, built in redstone and on an interlocking L-plan to the east of the canal.[6]The road names come from places around the estate ofHopetoun House.[6]This period also saw the development of a public school on Main Street (which was expanded in 1902 and 1907).[8]The school is now closed but remains Category C listed and some of the buildings been converted to residential use.[8][9]In theOrdnance Gazetteer of Scotland(1892–1896), Winchburgh is described:
Winchburgh, a village in Kirkliston Parish, Linlithgowshire, 11¾ miles W of Edinburgh. It has a station on theNorth British Railway,a Post Office with money order and savings bank departments, an Established mission church (opened 1891) and a public school. Pop. (1881) 115, (1891) 424.[10]
In 1904, a police station in ashlar stone was built.[6]After the police station was closed, the building became a pharmacy but has since been converted to residential use.[6]In 2000, a war memorial was erected in Winchburgh for those from the area who had lost their lives in theFirst World WarandSecond World War.[11]
The early 21st century has seen the construction of several new private housing estates on the periphery of the village towardsAuldcathie.The developments are being built to the design of a 'masterplan' with the aim to expand Winchburg into a new town.[12][13]The plan incorporates ideas relating to the '20-minute Neighbourhood' concept.[12]The total expansion is estimated at £1 billion, with some 3,800 new homes in the area to allow the village to achieve 'town status'.[12][13]In August 2022, plans were lodged to create a new marina, alongside a new public park 'Daisy park' as part of the new towns masterplan, to be built on the site of the historic brickworks.[14]
Economy
[edit]There are a number of amenities in the town of Winchburgh including a grocery store, several takeaway food shops, several convenience stores, butcher shop and deli,pharmacy,doctor's surgery,post office,community centre.The Tally Ho pub and beer garden, a bowling club and there are also several places of worship in the town.
Housing Includes 19th century miner's cottages, council housing built in the 1950s, several new housing developments, sheltered housing and a care home for the elderly.
Education
[edit]
Winchburgh has twosecondary level academies,twoprimary schoolsand anursery.[15]
Holy Family PrimarySchoolservesRoman Catholic (term)pre-secondaryschool children, whereas Winchburgh Primary is a non-denominational school. Both of these arestate runschools.[15]
Until August 2022, Secondary School aged children mostly attend schools in neighbouringLinlithgow,Livingston,QueensferryandBroxburn.To alleviate overcrowding inLinlithgow Academyand to allow for the growth of Winchburgh into a new town, a new academy has been built.Winchburgh Academyopened for pupils in August 2022.[16]The Academy takes in pupils from Winchburgh Primary and other local areas. A second academy has also been built in Winchburgh. Sinclair Academy takes pupils from Holy Family Primary and other Catholic primary schools in surrounding areas and opened to pupils in August 2023.[15][17]
There are currently plans to open a third Primary school in the east of the town, a non-denominational school, called Hawkhill Primary School. As of February 2024, planning permission was granted and the new Hawkhill Primary awaits construction, with the school expected to open for pupils in August 2025.[18]
Transport
[edit]Road
[edit]
The main road through Winchburgh is the B9080 road, which meets the B8020 road (Niddry road) that curvers around the western side of the Niddry bing. TheM9 motorwaypasses to the north of Winchburgh.[19]In April 2022 work began to create a new junction to join Winchburgh to the motorway at an estimated cost of £40 million.[20]In February 2023, the northbound junction 1B opened for local access.[21][22]
There are regular scheduled buses to and from surrounding places includingEdinburgh,Linlithgow,Falkirk,South QueensferryandBroxburn.
The town is served by 2 main bus services operated one each byMcGill's Scotland EastandLothian Country:
X38 - Edinburgh - Newbridge - Kirkliston - Winchburgh - Linlithgow - Falkirk (McGill's)
72 - Kirkliston - Winchburgh - Broxburn - Uphall - St. John's Hospital - Livingston Centre (Lothian Country)
Rail
[edit]The mainline railway between Edinburgh and Glasgow Queen Street goes through the Winchburgh Tunnel, under the village.[23]Construction of the tunnel began in 1939 and it has been in operation since 1842.[23]The tunnel is 367 yards long and 20 ft high.[23]
Until it was closed in 1930, there wasa passenger stationat the north end of the tunnel. The construction of the Winchburgh Tunnel was supervised by the noted Scottish Civil Engineer,John Gibb.West Lothian Council have been promoting a plan to reopen the station as the town grows.[24]In June 2022, it was reported that a commitment to create a new railway station was still part of the new town's plans.[25]
Winchburgh and the Union Canal
[edit]
TheUnion Canalpasses through Winchburgh.
The canal no longer operates as a transport link, but is now used for fishing,magnet fishingand some leisure boating. It has a towpath previously used by the horses which drew canal bargess and which is now used as a footpath, the foot paths are popular places for dog walkers, bikers, runners and walkers
The Bridge 19-40 Canal Society (a non-profit) has a base at Winchburgh on the canal, and it operates seasonal boat trips departing from Port Buchan located in neighbouring Broxburn on West Main Street.
Sport
[edit]Niddrie Castle Golf Club has an 18-hole, 5914 yards long, par 70golf course,located in and around the grounds of the historicNiddry Castle.The club was established in 1926.
Winchburgh Bowling Club was established in 1913 by local miners and the clubhouse has a 150-capacity function room for social occasions, such as weddings.
In July 2007, parents from local schools formed a boys'footballteam, taking the name of the former Winchburgh Albion, which had folded in the 1970s. This evolved over the next decade and there now exists multiple girls, boys and joint underage teams registered with the SFA under the banner of the Winchburgh Albion Youth Football Club.
The original Winchburgh Albion FC had produced several senior football players, includingWillie Thorntonwho had a long career withRangersas player and later, assistant manager, after managingDundeeandPartick Thistle.John Gormanis another former Winchburgh player; he started his senior career withCeltic,before going on have playing success withCarlisle,Tottenham Hotspurand as a coach with several clubs, including his present role atMK Dons.He was also assistant manager of the England international team from 1996 to 1999, under the management ofGlenn Hoddle.
In November 2021 the 2012 boys football team broke away from Winchburgh Albion YFC to form Winchburgh Violets Youth Football Club. The Violets play in the West Lothian Soccer Development Association league, and play their home games at the newly opened Winchburgh Sport and Wellbeing Hub.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ab"Mid-2020 Population Estimates for Settlements and Localities in Scotland".National Records of Scotland.31 March 2022.Retrieved31 March2022.
- ^"Village of the Future".Retrieved28 August2010.
The existing Winchburgh village had a population of around 2,500 at the time of the last census in 2001.
- ^"Broxburn, Uphall and Winchburgh Ward Profile".West Lothian Council.Retrieved12 February2023.
- ^"Vol 82 (2019): Excavation of a Double-Ditched Enclosure at Winchburgh, West Lothian | Scottish Archaeological Internet Reports".journals.socantscot.org.Retrieved5 September2021.
- ^Historic Environment Scotland."Auldcathie Church (49172)".Canmore.Retrieved10 January2021.
- ^abcdefJaques and McKean (1 September 1994).West Lothian - An Illustrated Architectural Guide.Scotland: The Rutland Press. pp. 45–46.ISBN978-1873190258.
- ^"Accident at Winchburgh on 13th October 1862:: The Railways Archive".www.railwaysarchive.co.uk.
- ^abHistoric Environment Scotland."WINCHBURGH, MAIN STREET, FORMER WINCHBURGH PRIMARY SCHOOLS INCLUDING BOUNDARY WALLS AND OUTBUILDINGS (Category C Listed Building) (LB49194)".Retrieved12 February2023.
- ^"Historic 19th century West Lothian school is converted into luxury family home".Edinburgh Live.Retrieved12 February2023.
- ^Ordnance Gazetteer of Scotland.1892–1896.Retrieved11 March2008.
- ^"Winchburgh and Niddry".IWM.Retrieved12 February2023.
- ^abc"West Lothian plans new 'town of tomorrow' with futuristic neighbourhood".Edinburgh Live.Retrieved12 February2023.
- ^ab"Stunning plans for new town centre as part of £1 billion expansion of West Lothian village".DailyRecord.Retrieved12 February2023.
- ^"Sir Tom Hunter's Winchburgh Daisy Park plan lodged".The Herald.Retrieved12 February2023.
- ^abc"Planning approval has been grant for the construction of three new schools in Winchburgh, West Lothian".West Lothian Council.Retrieved13 February2023.
- ^"New Winchburgh Academy complete".Edinburgh Evening News.Retrieved13 February2023.
- ^"Work starts on new Sinclair Academy".West Lothian Council.Retrieved13 February2023.
- ^"Proposal to Establish a New Non‐Denominational Primary School at the Hawkhill Site, Winchburgh and Associated Proposals".West Lothian Council.Retrieved1 March2024.
- ^"M9 Winchburgh Junction".Transport Scotland.Retrieved12 February2023.
- ^"Work begins on Winchburgh's M9 junction".Daily Record.Retrieved12 February2023.
- ^"New M9 junction at Winchburgh to open on Friday".Edinburgh Reporter.Retrieved12 February2023.
- ^"Motorway junction construction marks major milestone in Winchburgh's masterplan".Project Scotland.Retrieved12 February2023.
- ^abcHistoric Environment Scotland."Winchburgh Tunnel (278830)".Canmore.Retrieved12 February2023.
- ^"Winchburgh Rail Station - West Lothian Council".Archived fromthe originalon 2 April 2016.
- ^"Winchburgh Railway Station plans still on table as planning consent stretches into 2030s".Edinburgh Evening News.Retrieved12 February2023.
External links
[edit]
- Winchburgh to Linlithgow- A selection of images on theUnion Canal.
- Niddry Castle
- Winchburgh Church website