Captain John West - the salmon king
John West canned fish products are known world wide, but how many people know that the founder of the company was born in Linlithgow?
Explore!
Explore! Our articles cover anything and everything to do with West Lothian, West Edinburgh and Falkirk.
A selection of what goes into print is published here.
Browse the archives below or use the archive menu to sort by category, or use the search bar to find a specific reference.
Read past and current issues online
Search
Editor
- Oct 7, 2020
- 4 min
Peter McLagan, MP Linlithgowshire: Scotland’s first non-white MP, and “suffragetist in trousers”
Peter McLagan MP, was an extraordinary local character, and the longest-serving MP (next to Tam Dalyell) that this area had in 300 years....
Editor
- Mar 8, 2020
- 4 min
Alderstone: Plague-watching duties, muster and civil war
A time-travelling resident of the Livingston area from the 15th century would recognise almost nothing if they visited today; it would be...
Editor
- Mar 5, 2020
- 2 min
What do the Willow Tea Rooms in Glasgow have in common with East Calder?
Many of us who have visited Glasgow will call in at the Willow Tea Rooms in Buchanan Street for a cup of tea and one of their delicious...
Editor
- Feb 7, 2020
- 6 min
How Dynamite came to Scotland
The Nobel Prizes are announced annually; world-famous coveted prizes for those who confer “the greatest benefit on mankind” in sciences,...
Editor
- Jan 11, 2020
- 5 min
A Victorian Vision – the Almond Valley Viaduct
Star of paintings, countless photographs, West Lothian Council’s logo and a striking feature in the landscape for 170 years, Almond...
Editor
- Dec 10, 2019
- 5 min
The Irn-Bru Fleet
January 1937 – a huge Clydesdale horse lies stricken on the frosty ground of the Cow Wynd in Falkirk, having slipped on the ice. His...
Editor
- Nov 22, 2019
- 4 min
Craiglockhart Estate - the last private owners
It’s a relatively well-known fact that the body of notorious 18th century body-snatcher William Burke was dissected at Edinburgh Medical...
Editor
- Nov 8, 2019
- 4 min
The Laird o' Livingston's Legacy
In return for military service, de Leving, a Flemish nobleman invited to Scotland by King David 1, was given a grant of land. In what is...
Editor
- Nov 1, 2019
- 5 min
Our Own X Files
Rounding a corner of a woodland path on Dechmont Law, a forester going about his job in November 1979 entered a clearing and came upon a...
Editor
- Oct 4, 2019
- 5 min
The Calders Witches
Cunnigar Hill, Mid Calder; when Mid Calder was gripped by the witch hunting craze of the 1640s innocent women were dragged up this hill...
Editor
- Aug 12, 2019
- 3 min
Dunmore: "If you like piña coladas, and getting caught in the rain.”
Well, it’s not quite piña colada, but it is a pineapple and you may well get caught in the rain. This month we visited what is described...
Editor
- Jan 3, 2019
- 3 min
Livingston Mill
The noise of mill machinery grinding grain, of water from the River Almond swooshing over a huge waterwheel and of the periodic...
Editor
- Jan 2, 2019
- 2 min
Newyearfield
With the new year I decided it was a good time to look into the meaning of the Livingston place name “Newyearfield.” Does it have...
Editor
- Dec 29, 2018
- 3 min
Medieval history & a mystery on your doorstep
Most people think the only medieval structure in Bathgate is the scant remains of the 14th century castle that Walter, High Steward of...
Editor
- Oct 22, 2018
- 4 min
Calders Soldiers
In 1914 the majority of the Hearts first team, then sitting at the top of the league and favourites to win the Scottish Cup, received a...
Editor
- Oct 20, 2018
- 5 min
The Ratho Poet
A time of political movement; big questions and strong feelings over Scotland and England's relationship; plus ça change. But a character...
Editor
- Aug 1, 2018
- 4 min
James Gillespie, the snuff maker of Colinton
A few Edinburgh streets (Gillespie Crescent, Place, Road and Street) and ‘James Gillespie’s High School’ bear the name of a well-off and...
Editor
- Jul 1, 2018
- 5 min
Gibson-Craig, Riccarton and Abolition: “old letter found in a box”
In 2015 the UK government finally finished paying off the massive borrowing it undertook in 1833 in order to compensate slave-owners when...
Editor
- Feb 5, 2018
- 5 min
Marvellous Merchiston
If your home was garrisoned by soldiers and under threat of bombardment, you might pick somewhere else to get married. But 22 year old...