Kirkton (Scots: Kirktoun) is a small area in the north-west of Livingston in West Lothian, Scotland. [1] The area is mainly occupied by an industrial estate, as well as by some residential housing areas. The Killandean burn, a small stream runs through the area.
Much of the area of Kirkton belonged to the estate of nearby Charlesfield House, dating to 1795 and demolished in the early 20th century. [2] Some of the gardens and forested parts of the estate remain beside the Killandean burn. [2] The first owner of the house was Thomas Hardy, a minister. [3] The estate passed to his son, Captain William Hardy, an officer in the East India Company who died in 1824. [3] The lands then passed to his brother Thomas Hardy, FRCS a surgeon, who died in 1836. [3] The estate was then leased by trustees to Thomas Robertson Chaplin, before it was sold to Henry Raeburn Jnr, the son of the distinguished painter Sir Henry Raeburn. [3] The estate and lands then passed through his descendants until the 1960s when acquired by the Livingston Development Corporation.
Kirkton is located to the south-west of Livingston Village, to the west of Livingston Centre and to the north of Adambrae. The River Almonnd flows through Kirkton and is joined by the Kileandean burn which also flows through Kirkton. The Kirkton weir is a two-metre-high structure originally built to power the nearby mill in Livingston village that was altered in 2017 to include a fish pass. [4] [5]
Kirkton was the site of Scotland's first designed high-technology industrial park known as 'Kirkton Campus'. [6] The site was spread over some 300 acres. [7] The technology park was centered along either side of Simpson Parkway, a curving road near the Killandean Burn. [6] Notable companies and buildings include Ethicon (1978), Boehringer (1982), W. L. Gore & Associates (1984), Seagate Micro Electronics (1986), Canon Business Machines (1989) and Logic (1994). [6] Many of the original technology companies have disappeared and new companies occupy some of the former buildings.
In November 2021, a £5 million private medical hospital opened in Kirkton campus, operated by Cosmedicare UK. [8] [9] The building had previously housed several companies including Glenmorangie, Gore, Quintiles and BskyB. [8] [10]
A crematorium is located in the north-west part of Kirkton that opened in 2010. [11]
There is a large, historic park located in Kirkton. [12]
West Lothian is one of the 32 council areas of Scotland, bordering the City of Edinburgh council area, Scottish Borders, South Lanarkshire, North Lanarkshire and Falkirk. The modern council area was formed in 1975 when the historic county of West Lothian, also known as Linlithgowshire, was reshaped substantially as part of local government reforms; some areas that had formerly been part of Midlothian were added to a new West Lothian District within the Region of Lothian, whilst some areas in the north-west were transferred to the Falkirk District and areas in the north-east were transferred to the City of Edinburgh District. In 1996 West Lothian became a unitary authority area, using the same name and territory as in 1975.
Livingston is the largest town in West Lothian, Scotland. Designated in 1962, it is the fourth post-war new town to be built in Scotland. Taking its name from a village of the same name incorporated into the new town, it was originally developed in the then-counties of Midlothian and West Lothian along the banks of the River Almond. It is situated approximately fifteen miles (25 km) west of Edinburgh and thirty miles (50 km) east of Glasgow, and is close to the towns of Broxburn to the north-east and Bathgate to the north-west.
Broxburn is a town in West Lothian, Scotland. It is 12 miles (19 km) from the West End of Edinburgh, 5 miles (8.0 km) from Edinburgh Airport and 5 miles (8.0 km) to the north of Livingston. Originally a village known as Easter Strathbock in the medieval period, by 1600, the village had become known as Broxburn. The area developed rapidly during the Victorian era as a result of industrialisation related to shale oil extraction. While much of the industry in the area is now diminished, the town has continued to grow following new residential development, resulting in Broxburn forming a conurbation with neighbouring Uphall. It lies just to the south of Winchburgh.
Bathgate is a town in West Lothian, Scotland, 5 miles (8 km) west of Livingston and adjacent to the M8 motorway. Nearby towns are Linlithgow, Livingston, and West Calder. A number of villages fall under the umbrella of Bathgate, including Blackburn, Whitburn, Stoneyburn, Armadale,Torphichen and Fauldhouse.
Whitburn is a small town in West Lothian, Scotland, halfway between Scotlands's two largest cities, about 23 miles east of Glasgow and 22 miles west of Edinburgh. The nearest major towns are Bathgate, four miles and Livingston, six miles.
Livingston Village is a village in West Lothian, dating back to the 12th century. Originally a farming village in the county of West Lothian, it is now in the heart of the town of Livingston.
Kirkliston is a village and parish to the west of Edinburgh, Scotland, historically within the county of West Lothian but now within the City of Edinburgh council area limits. It lies on high ground immediately north of a northward loop of the Almond, on the old road between Edinburgh and Linlithgow, having a crossroads with the road from Newbridge to Queensferry and beyond to Fife. The B800 is variously named Path Brae, High Street, Station Road, and Queensferry Road as it passes through the town. The B9080 is named Main Street and Stirling Road as it passes through.
The River Almond is a river in Lothian, Scotland. It is approximately 28 miles (45 km) long, rising at Hirst Hill in Lanarkshire near Shotts, running through West Lothian and draining into the Firth of Forth at Cramond, Edinburgh. The name Almond/Amon is simply old Celtic for "river".
Wester Hailes is an area in the south west of Edinburgh, Scotland.
Sighthill is a suburb in the west of Edinburgh, Scotland. The area is bordered by Broomhouse and Parkhead to the east, South Gyle to the north, the industrial suburb of Bankhead and the Calders neighbourhood to the west, and Wester Hailes to the south. It is sometimes included in the Wester Hailes area, while the Calders, Bankhead and Parkhead are sometimes considered parts of Sighthill. Administratively it has formed a core part of the City of Edinburgh Council's Sighthill/Gorgie ward since 2007.
Mid Calder is a village in West Lothian, Scotland. It is located on a steep hill overlooking the River Almond and Calder Wood, around 15 miles (24 km) west of Edinburgh. The settlement has been on a major crossroads since its origin some time in the 11th century.
West Lothian Council is the local government authority for West Lothian council area.
East Calder is a village located in West Lothian, Scotland, about a mile east of Mid Calder and a mile west of Wilkieston. It forms part of 'the Calders, three small neighbouring communities situated west of Edinburgh and south of the "New Town" of Livingston.
Adambrae is a residential area and small river (burn) in Livingston, consisting primarily of privately owned housing. There is a small nature area and pond adjacent to Bluebell Glade in Adambrae where the "Adambrae burn" runs through the area. This area is home to various waterfowl.
St John's Hospital is the main general hospital in Livingston, West Lothian, Scotland. Located in the Howden area of the town, it serves Livingston and the wider West Lothian region. St John's is a teaching hospital for the University of Edinburgh Medical School. It is managed by NHS Lothian.
Howden is an area of the new town of Livingston, the largest town in West Lothian, Scotland. Howden is bordered by Craigshill, Ladywell, Almondvale and Kirkton.
Howden House is a late 18th-century house in the Howden area of Livingston, West Lothian, Scotland.
Eliburn is an area, primarily residential, in Livingston, West Lothian, Scotland. Eliburn is bordered by Deans to the north, Ladywell to the east and Livingston Village to the south.
West Lothian, also known as Linlithgowshire, is a historic county in the east central Lowlands of Scotland. until 1925. It is bounded geographically by the Avon to the west and the Almond to the east. It was reshaped significantly following local government reforms in 1975, becoming slightly larger but with major territorial changes: some areas in the north-west were transferred to Falkirk; areas in the north-east were transferred to Edinburgh; and some areas in the south that had formerly been part of Midlothian were added to a new West Lothian District within the Region of Lothian. This then became a standalone local authority area in the most recent major reorganisation enacted in 1996, retaining those same boundaries and name.