Ballencrieff, West Lothian

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Ballencrieff
Ballencrieff, West Lothian (Scotland)
Ballencrieff, West Lothian

Ballencrieff shown within Scotland
OS grid reference NS9770
Council area West Lothian
Lieutenancy area West Lothian
Constituent country Scotland
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Postcode district EH48
Dialling code 01506
Police Lothian and Borders
Fire Lothian and Borders
Ambulance Scottish
European Parliament Scotland
UK Parliament Linlithgow and East Falkirk
Scottish Parliament Linlithgow
Lothians
List of places: UK • Scotland

Coordinates: 55°55′N 3°38′W / 55.91, -3.64

Ballencrieff is a settlement in West Lothian, Scotland, situated equidistant between the towns of Bathgate and Torphichen and seven miles south of Linlithgow. Neighbouring towns are Blackburn, Armadale, Whitburn, Livingston and Stoneyburn. Edinburgh Airport is 16 miles (25 km) away, to the East. Ballencrieff is very close to the Neolithic burial site at Cairnpapple Hill, and the surrounding area shows signs of habitation since about 3500 BC. The name Ballencrieff comes from the Scottish Gaelic Baile na Craoibhe meaning "Farm by the tree".

Contents

[edit] History

[edit] Medieval Ballencrieff (1300–1600)

Possibly one of the earliest references to it dates from 1349 when King David II granted Maurice Murray the lands of Gosford lying within the barony of 'Balnacref', in the county of Edinburgh, and the constabulary of Haddington. In 1599, on the 25th of January, Alexander Hamilton became the first Baron of Ballencrieff (and his wife Christine the Baroness), by Crown Charter from King James VI.

[edit] Modern Ballencrieff (21st century)

The area is dominated by agriculture and is home to farms and fisheries, such as Ballencrieff Farm. The Ballencrieff Fishery is well-known for it's trout, and welcomes Fly Fishing anglers in their hundreds every year. In addition, tourists are also attracted by West Lothian's famous Standing Stones monuments, which surround Ballencrieff. The quarterly magazine Lothian Life - formerly known as 'West Lothian Life' - is produced at Ballencrieff Toll.


[edit] External links


  This West Lothian location article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.
Languages