Armadale, West Lothian

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Armadale
Armadale, West Lothian (Scotland)
Armadale, West Lothian

Armadale shown within Scotland
Population 9,063 (2001 Census)
OS grid reference NT335685
Council area West Lothian
Lieutenancy area West Lothian
Constituent country Scotland
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Post town BATHGATE
Postcode district EH48
Dialling code 01501
Police Lothian and Borders
Fire Lothian and Borders
Ambulance Scottish
European Parliament Scotland
UK Parliament Linlithgow and East Falkirk
Scottish Parliament Linlithgow
List of places: UKScotland

Coordinates: 55°54′18″N 3°42′07″W / 55.905, -3.702

West Main Street, Armadale
West Main Street, Armadale

Armadale (Longitude: W 31º 41’ 34” / Latitude: N 55º 53’ 45”) is a town within the district of West Lothian in central Scotland. Armadale, formerly known as Barbauchlaw (see History of Armadale), is an ex mining town and is well known for its local public house "The Goth"[citation needed] and its famous leaning clock tower on West Main Street.[citation needed] It is named after Armadale in Sutherland, this estate being owned by Sir William Honeyman who later acquired the land of Barbauchlaw.[citation needed]

Armadale (Woodend Farm) is officially the site of Ogilface Castle. Woodend Farm has another site nearer Blackridge, marked as 'Ogelface in ruins' on a 1773 map. An investigation is underway to see what extra information can be obtained about these two sites.[citation needed] The current progress of the surveys is detailed on the Armadale Community Website.

Armadale Stadium features greyhound racing and speedway.[1] It was also used in the past for stock car racing. Speedway started in 1997 when the Edinburgh Monarchs[2] team moved based there and has now competed for ten seasons at the venue. The team won the Premier League in 2003.

Armadale Academy, Armadale
Armadale Academy, Armadale

The future of the local High School is also set for change as the current school, Armadale Academy, is due to be demolished after the building of the new school is complete. The funding for the new school is set to come from the Public Private Partnership fund that has renovated and improved many schools across Scotland. The location of the new school is yet to be confirmed, but one site being suggested is the playing fields to the back of the current school.

The town also has a long-established football team, Armadale Thistle, whose home, Volunteer Park, is located on North Street.

The town is also home to The Armadale Flute band, who have been established in the town since 1983.[citation needed]

Armadale Brickworks
Armadale Brickworks

Armadale is growing rapidly now, with several housing developers building new estates. The station at Armadale, first opened by the defunct Bathgate and Airdrie Railway[3] is currently under construction to be reopened as part of the Airdrie-Bathgate Rail Link in the south end of Armadale [4]. This is to reestablish the old railway link between Edinburgh and Airdrie.[citation needed] This railway line would renovate the, almost completely, derelict section of Armadale where all the old factories are.

[edit] External links

[edit] References

  1. ^ Bamford, R & Jarvis J.(2001). Homes of British Speedway. ISBN 0-7524-2210-3
  2. ^ Henry, J. & Moultray, I. (2001). Speedway in Scotland. ISBN 0-7524-2229-4
  3. ^ http://www.railscot.co.uk/Bathgate_and_Coatbridge_Railway/body.htm as retrived at 06 January 2008.
  4. ^ http://www.airdriebathgateraillink.co.uk/ as retrieved at 06 January 2008