A little drizzle at the start of our evening walk around Bathgate didn’t dampen our spirits, & thankfully after a few minutes the rain soon cleared. By the time we reached the highest point of the route, we were rewarded with lovely, far-reaching views, a fitting backdrop to an evening spent discovering more about a town whose fascinating history is often overlooked.
Bathgate has a remarkable story to tell & our route took us through centuries of it. We began with Sir James Young Simpson, born in Bathgate in 1811 & the pioneer of chloroform as an anaesthetic. From there we discovered the Provost’s Lamp, once moved from one Provost’s home to the next to indicate where the town’s civic leader could be found, before visiting Chapel Well, a reminder of Bathgate’s religious past.
The Old Bathgate Academy provided a chance to reflect on education, philanthropy & the uncomfortable history behind John Newland’s fortune, we learnt just up the road is East Kirkton Quarry which took us much further back in time. This former volcanic lake, dating from around 338 million years ago, produced internationally important fossils, including the famous “Lizzie the Lizard”.
At Kirkton Park, we heard how the former private estate eventually became a much-loved public park, while the nearby Old Parish Church (Kirkton Kirk) revealed a much older side of Bathgate, with its medieval remains and the graves of people caught up in Scotland’s turbulent religious history.
We then turned to Bathgate Castle, where the 1315 marriage of Marjorie Bruce, daughter of Robert the Bruce, to Walter the High Steward linked the town to the Stewart royal dynasty. Not bad for a castle of which so little now remains! The fact that Bathgate once had a castle came as quite a surprise to some of the members attending this evening.
Back in the town centre, we discovered the stories behind the Steelyard Clock & Arch, the former Post Office & the Pavilion, which has served as a roller skating hall, cinema & bingo hall. We also paused at the striking McLagan Fountain, which commemorates the arrival of Bathgate’s reliable water supply in 1878. The celebrations were so significant that the town had a holiday from school & a grand procession to the new water works. The fountain itself is full of Victorian symbolism, including griffins, salamanders and a vigilant crane.
Our route continued past St David’s Church, with its impressive 120-foot tower & links to Bathgate’s industrial heritage, before hearing the story of Livingstone’s Hosiery. Established by Mary & William Livingstone, the business grew into a major employer, with around 500 women working at the factory and dye works at its peak. It was a reminder of the important contribution women made to Bathgate’s industrial development.
We passed Bargaly House, now Café Bar 1912, before reaching the Regal Theatre, Bathgate’s Art Deco gem. Opened in 1938 with The Adventures of Robin Hood, the Regal has survived changing times & continues to provide entertainment for the town today.
At the Bennie Museum, we discovered more about Bathgate’s local history & its former weaving industry. Once a town where many families had someone working a handloom, Bathgate’s weaving heritage lives on in street names, family stories & the museum’s collections. It was so uplifting to hear how the community came together to save these buildings & bring them back to life as the museum. We finished by recalling the story of Glenmavis Distillery, which produced whisky for more than a century before closing in 1910.
Along the way, those attending added their own knowledge & memories, including some fascinating insights into the origins of Bathgate’s Gala Day traditions & some of the town’s better-known — & darker — crime stories. These contributions really brought the history to life & reminded us that local history isn’t just found in books & buildings; it is also carried in the memories & stories of the people who know a place best.
It was also lovely to welcome Zeshan on her first Ramblers walk. We hope this was the first of many!
From royal connections & medieval churches to medical breakthroughs, fossils, factories, cinemas & whisky, Bathgate certainly proved that there is much more to discover than might first meet the eye. A town with a long & sometimes surprising past, & one well worth exploring on foot.
Thank you to everyone who joined the walk & helped make it such an enjoyable evening. Photo credit – John M & Nat C
Our next evening walk will be on Thursday 3rd September. Keep an eye on the walk programme on our website for details of this walk appearing soon.
Natalie C
