90-615: 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 (together with Mid and West Calder ), three small neighbouring communities situated west of Edinburgh and south of the "New Town" of Livingston . Its fast growth rate in the early 21st-century is driven by its being within easy commuting distance of Livingston, Edinburgh and Glasgow , combined with its close position relative to
180-651: A Lowland Plains type landscape. Given its location on top of a natural water table running north from the foothills of the Pentlands into the Almond Valley, the name 'Calder' (derived from two Celtic words meaning " the well-watered woods ") is an apt description describing the Almondell and Calderwood Country Park , an attractive natural feature of the area. The area is generally rural in nature, dominated by flat, open arable fields and scattered farms, amongst
270-544: A community hospital in Linlithgow . West Lothian previously had a psychiatric hospital with general hospital in the Dechmont area called Bangour Village Hospital . The hospital opened in 1904 and eventually had beds for 55 officers and 2571 other ranks. The hospital started closing in the 1990s and closed completely in 2004 after the remaining services were transferred to St John's Hospital. The Linburn Centre
360-562: A "Nature Goddess" pattern, with a stole and decoration in extremely rare Anglian embroidery or opus anglicanum , which had been deposited in his tomb by King Æthelstan (r. 927–939) on a pilgrimage while Cuthbert's shrine was at Chester-le-Street. Cuthbert's shrine was destroyed in the Dissolution of the Monasteries, but, unusually, his relics survived and are still interred at the site, although they were also disinterred in
450-432: A Tesco Express, a post office, Miller's convenience store, a tattoo studio, a bookmaker , a cafe, hair stylists, a nursery, two chip shops , a pizzeria , two Chinese restaurants , a car wash , a library, a doctors' surgery, a dentist, two bowling greens, a doo club , a pharmacy , a garden centre and a sports centre . Camps industrial estate is located on the edge of the town. East Calder has three primary schools ,
540-643: A complete renovation and upgrade project, which was completed in July 2024. Calderwood PS is a new purpose-built £14.3m Primary School and Early Years Nursery, sited within the Calderwood housing development, approved by West Lothian Council in 2019, with construction commenced 2020. This received its first Pupil intake in October 2021, and had its official opening in March 2022. The A71 which formerly ran through
630-490: A daughter-house of Lindisfarne, today in Scotland. He decided to become a monk after seeing a vision on the night in 651 that Aidan , the founder of Lindisfarne, died, but he seems to have experienced some period of military service beforehand. He was made guest-master at the new monastery at Ripon , soon after 655, but had to return with Eata of Hexham to Melrose when Wilfrid was given the monastery instead. About 662 he
720-599: A dominating position in central lowland Scotland with extensive views. Torphichen Preceptory is a 12th-century church in the village of Torphichen . It comprises the remains of the preceptory (headquarters) of the Knights Hospitaller of the Order of St John of Jerusalem in Scotland. Historic houses in West Lothian include Linlithgow Palace , a ruined palace that was one of the principal residences of
810-537: A good example of how St Cuthbert was regarded as a protector of his people. A modern interpretation of the Banner, designed by Northumbria University academic Fiona Raeside-Elliott and embroidered by local textile artist Ruth O'Leary, is now on display at the saint's shrine in Durham Cathedral. Cuthbert's cult also appealed to the converted Danes, who now made up much of the population of Kingdom of York , and
900-675: A hamlet of small cottages spread along what is now known as the Main Street. The route became the A71 road, which ran through the middle of the Village until the early 1980s when the present bypass was built. A small plaque inserted by the Community Council into the wall adjoining the " Wee Shoppe ",which is currently a Tattoo Studio called Inkwell, a small building near the E end of the old Village, commemorates this period by marking
990-516: A large farm and play area. In Bathgate, the Bennie Museum is a museum of local history and heritage that is run by volunteers under the management of a charitable trust. It opened in 1989 and is housed used in two former derelict cottages donated by the Bennie family to the local community in 1980. The Linlithgow Museum is a volunteer-run local history museum in Linlithgow . The museum
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#17327811281561080-641: A milkman Sean Connery , who later played James Bond . The Roman Catholic Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle holds St Cuthbert as its patron saint, with the consecration of bishops in the diocese always taking place on 20 March, Cuthbert's feast day in the Catholic Church. Many churches are named after Cuthbert. An Orthodox Community in Chesterfield , England, has taken St Cuthbert as their patron. Fossilised crinoid columnals extracted from limestone quarried on Lindisfarne, or found washed up along
1170-442: A new monastery at Ripon , Cuthbert became its praepositus hospitum or guest master under Eata. When Wilfrid was made abbot of the monastery, Eata and Cuthbert returned to Melrose. Illness struck the monastery in 664 and while Cuthbert recovered, the prior died and Cuthbert was made prior in his place. He spent much time among the people, ministering to their spiritual needs, carrying out missionary journeys, and preaching. After
1260-460: A popular medieval saint of Northern England , with a cult centred on his tomb at Durham Cathedral . Cuthbert is regarded as the patron saint of Northumbria. His feast days are 20 March ( Catholic Church , Church of England , Eastern Orthodox Church , Episcopal Church ) and 4 September ( Church in Wales , Catholic Church). Cuthbert grew up in or around Lauderdale , near Old Melrose Abbey ,
1350-624: A powerful symbol of the autonomy the region enjoyed. The inhabitants of the Palatinate became known as the haliwerfolc , which roughly translates as "people of the saint", and Cuthbert gained a reputation as fiercely protective of his domain. For example, there is a story that at the Battle of Neville's Cross in 1346, the Prior of the Abbey at Durham received a vision of Cuthbert, ordering him to take
1440-535: A resting place at the still existing St Cuthbert's church in Chester-le-Street until 995, when another Danish invasion led to its removal to Ripon. Then the saint intimated, as it was believed, that he wished to remain in Durham. A new stone church—the so-called "White Church"—was built, the predecessor of the present grand Cathedral. In 999, his relics were enshrined in the new church on 4 September, which
1530-511: A variety of urban-fringe land uses. It is divided by the steep-sided and well-vegetated River Almond corridor which runs through it. Remnants from the Oil Shale industry can also be found dotted around the landscape, such as remaining bings, surviving shaleminer's cottages from previous Oilworks, and disused mineral Rail lines. The Calders were originally divided into two baronies (or manors): Calder Clere , where East Calder now stands, which
1620-477: A verse and a prose life of St. Cuthbert around 720. He has been described as "perhaps the most popular saint in Britain prior to the death of Thomas Becket in 1170." In 698, Cuthbert was reburied at Lindisfarne in the decorated oak coffin now usually meant by St Cuthbert's coffin, though he was to have many more coffins. In 995, the "community of Cuthbert" founded and settled at Durham, guided by what they thought
1710-558: A visitor centre and a loch), Polkemmet Country Park (a 68 hectare park near Whitburn with woodlands, river walks and outdoor facilities), and Almondell and Calderwood Country Park along the Almond river valley near Mid Calder. Blawhorn Moss is a raised bog located near Blackridge that has been a national nature reserve since 1980 and is the largest and least disturbed raised bog in the Lothians. Public healthcare in West Lothian
1800-527: Is Edinburgh Airport . St Cuthbert Cuthbert of Lindisfarne ( c. 634 – 20 March 687) was a saint of the early Northumbrian church in the Celtic tradition . He was a monk , bishop and hermit , associated with the monasteries of Melrose and Lindisfarne in the Kingdom of Northumbria , today in northern England and southern Scotland. Both during his life and after his death, he became
1890-664: Is St Cuthbert's RC High School in Rochdale . Founded in 1968 as Bishop Henshaw School it was renamed to its current name in the late 1980s. The school's badge includes the St Cuthbert Cross and the motto "In Christ We Serve". St. Cuthbert's Co-operative Society (now Scotmid ) opened its first shop in Edinburgh in 1859, and expanded to become one of the largest co-ops in Scotland. Its dairy used horse-drawn delivery floats until 1985, and between 1944 and 1959 employed as
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#17327811281561980-536: Is 130 metres (430 ft) long and 23 metres (75 ft) above the Almond Valley, and was firmly established in the local history books by the London Gazette when it recounted the massive 126 ft icicle which formed on the bridge centre span during the severe winter of 1895, and again in 1920; this is anecdotally the largest icicle ever recorded in the UK. Another local landmark is the ‘Grapes Inn’ village pub,
2070-496: Is Category A listed and features as the logo of West Lothian Council. West Lothian has no airport or airfields in current operation. The county has a few historic airfields, now defunct, including a temporary airfield that once existed in Bathgate. While the village of Kirknewtown is inside West Lothian, the nearby RAF Kirknewton airfield lies inside the boundary of Edinburgh. The nearest airport in operation to West Lothian
2160-719: Is a Category A Listed historic bridge dating from 1810. It is also located within the Almondell and Calderwood Country Park, and was designed by Scottish painter, architect, and landscape designer Alexander Nasmyth . On the outskirts of the Village, toward Ratho , is the Lin's Mill Aqueduct (also known as the Almond Aqueduct ) which carries the Union Canal over the River Almond. This five-arched bridge built in 1821,
2250-591: Is a health centre for blinded war veterans at Wilkieston . The centre is located within the estate of Linburn House, a country house which was demolished in 1955. The Museum of the Scottish Shale Oil Industry was created in 1990, to preserve the history of the shale industry in West Lothian and beyond. It is sited on a former mill at Millfield, near Livingston and is attached to the Almond Valley Heritage Centre,
2340-473: Is a privately owned zoo located in Polbeth , West Calder opened in 2005. The zoo has grown into one of West Lothian's top visitor attractions and was awarded ‘Best Family Day Out’ at the 2024 Scottish Entertainment and Hospitality Awards. West Lothian has a diverse economy and as of 2020 had approximately 4,500 businesses providing almost 72,000 jobs in the area. In 2014, West Lothian Council reported that
2430-674: Is administered by NHS Lothian within NHS Scotland . The main hospital for West Lothian is St John's Hospital in Livingston. The hospital has a dedicated Accident and Emergency department with 550 beds and opened in 1989. St Johns is a teaching hospital for the University of Edinburgh Medical School . Other public hospitals include Tippethill House Hospital a community hospital in Armadale and St Michael's Hospital ,
2520-546: Is also the namesake of St Cuthbert's College in Epsom, New Zealand ; St Cuthbert's Day on 21 March is a day of school celebration. The school's houses are named after important locations in the life of the saint: Dunblane (yellow), Elgin (green), Iona (purple), Kelso (blue), Lindisfarne (white), Melrose (red), York (orange) and Durham (pink). St Cuthbert's High School , a Roman Catholic school in Newcastle upon Tyne ,
2610-779: Is housed in the Linlithgow Partnership Centre, along with the West Lothian Family History Society and library. Military Museum Scotland is a military history museum in Wilkieston that covers Scottish military history from the First World War to the present day. The Museum of Scottish Railways is a railway museum located within the station yard of Bo'ness at the Bo'ness and Kinneil Railway . Five Sisters Zoo
2700-593: Is kept as the feast of his translation at Durham Cathedral and as an optional memorial in the Catholic Church in England. In 1069 Bishop Æthelwine attempted to transport Cuthbert's body to Lindisfarne to escape from King William at the start of the Harrying of the North . In 1104 Cuthbert's tomb was opened again and his relics translated to a new shrine behind the altar of the recently completed Cathedral. When
2790-416: Is named after the saint. St Cuthbert's Day is celebrated with Mass, and the school prayers include reference to their patron saint (always ending with the invocation "St Cuthbert, pray for us"). The school badge features a bishop's crook in reference to St Cuthbert's time as a bishop, as well as ducks, reflecting his love of the animals. Another Roman Catholic secondary school to bear the name of St Cuthbert
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2880-835: Is represented in the Scottish Parliament by two constituency members and seven regional members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs). In the Parliament of the United Kingdom West Lothian is represented by two members of Parliament. Labour Party Member of Parliament (MP) Gregor Poynton represents the Livingston constituency . Kirsteen Sullivan represents the Bathgate and Linlithgow (UK Parliament constituency) Until 2024,
2970-587: The A71 road (which passes through the south of the county connecting settlements including Livingston, Polbeth, West Calder and Breich), the A899 and A705 in Livingston, and the A801 road which runs from east of Polmont to Whitburn. Several railway routes run through West Lothian. These include: West Lothian has a number of former, disused and defunct railway lines, principally branch lines that originated in connection with oil, mineral and shale mining activities in
3060-711: The Camps Branch of the North British Railway : this impressive nine arch stone single track viaduct spans over the gorge of the River Almond , and is 108 metres (354 ft) long overall and over 27 metres (89 ft) high. In its time it served James "Paraffin" Young 's Paraffin Light & Mineral Oil Company at Pumpherston . The Nasmyth Bridge (also known as the Almondell Bridge )
3150-513: The City of Edinburgh District. In 1996 West Lothian became a unitary authority area, using the same name and territory as in 1975. West Lothian lies on the southern shore of the Firth of Forth and is predominantly rural, though there were extensive coal, iron, and shale oil mining operations in the 19th and 20th centuries which created distinctive red-spoil heaps (locally known as " bings ") throughout
3240-518: The Synod of Whitby , Cuthbert seems to have accepted the Roman customs, and his old abbot Eata called on him to introduce them at Lindisfarne as prior there. His asceticism was complemented by his charm and generosity to the poor, and his reputation for gifts of healing and insight led many people to consult him, gaining him the name of "Wonder Worker of Britain". He continued his missionary work, travelling
3330-574: The Wars of the Three Kingdoms , and Sir Tam Dalyell , a member of the House of Commons from 1962 to 2005. Hopetoun House is a large country house and estate near South Queensferry that was built between 1699 and 1701, and was designed by Sir William Bruce . The house was then hugely extended from 1721 by William Adam until his death in 1748, being one of his most notable projects. The interior
3420-518: The corporal cloth of the saint and raise it on a spear point near the battlefield as a banner. Doing this, the Prior and his monks found themselves protected "by the mediation of holy St Cuthbert and the presence of the said holy Relic". Whether the story of the vision is true or not, the banner of St Cuthbert was regularly carried in battle against the Scots until the Reformation , and it serves as
3510-569: The 19th century but were later closed as traffic diminished and industrial operations ceased. Many of the railways in West Lothian use significant viaducts to cross rivers, ravines and other difficult terrain. One prominent example is the Almond Valley Viaduct built by railway engineer John Miller to carry the Glasgow–Edinburgh via Falkirk line and completed in 1842. The viaduct is 1.5 miles long with 36 masonry arches,
3600-443: The 19th century, when his wooden coffin and various relics were removed. St Cuthbert's coffin (actually one of a series of several coffins), as reconstructed by Ernst Kitzinger and others, remains at the cathedral and is an important rare survival of Northumbrian carving on wood. When the coffin was last inspected on 17 May 1827, a 'Saxon' square cross of gold, embellished with garnets, in the characteristic splayed shape, used later as
3690-728: The Almondell Estate owned by the Earl of Buchan. The land north of Main Street, between the East Kirk burn and the boundary of Almondell Estate, was owned by the Pumpherston or McLaggen Estate. The settlement then developed as a "linear" Village along an old Edinburgh-Glasgow route, functioning as a staging post for horse-drawn traffic travelling between the principal Scottish cities; the village would at this stage been no more than
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3780-575: The Church until the reformation, with its annual tithes being given to the monks In the walls of the "Wee Shoppe" is inserted an ancient stone displaying cup and sword markings: this is reputed to be burial stone of a Knight Templar, thought to have been used as a corner foundation stone of St Cuthbert's church. By 1627 a report was sent to the Presbytery stated that the Kirk was in "ruinous" state, and
3870-446: The Church was permanently abandoned in 1751. In this year, the Parish of East Calder was united with the nearby Parish of Kirknewton . A second Church was built to replace it in 1777 by fund, and this was in 1886 then replaced by the third Church, which is the current Church of Scotland place of worship. A famous East Calder landmark is the Camps Viaduct , a Category B Listed historic railway bridge operating between 1885 and 1959 on
3960-423: The Danes his remains chose, as was thought, to settle at Durham , causing the foundation of the city and Durham Cathedral. The St Cuthbert Gospel is among the objects later recovered from St Cuthbert's coffin , which is also an important artefact. After Cuthbert's death, numerous miracles were attributed to his intercession and to intercessory prayer near his remains. The 8th-century historian Bede wrote both
4050-433: The Gospel to persuade the local people to give up their pagan worship and become Christians. The bones of St Cuthbert now rest within Durham Cathedral . St Cuthbert's was first mentioned by Randolph De Clere, and at this time the village was known as the East Kirk of Calder, basically little more than a Rectory with small houses clinging to the walls of this ancient place of worship. Monks from Kelso Abbey looked after
4140-400: The Langton estate, the village is further built on three other estates: the largest part being built on the Calderhall Estate, extending south of a line from the bridge between East and Mid Calder, to the East Kirk burn and along Main Street to Park Avenue; a wall and hedge denoted the eastern boundary there. South of this was the Langton Estate. To the west of Park Avenue, the land was part of
4230-420: The Roman forms, apparently without difficulty, after the Synod of Whitby in 664. The earliest biographies concentrate on the many miracles that accompanied even his early life, but he was evidently indefatigable as a travelling priest spreading the Christian message to remote villages, and also well able to impress royalty and nobility. Unlike Wilfrid, his style of life was austere, and when he could, he lived
4320-419: The University of Durham, also features St Cuthbert's Cross on its arms, granted in 1937. The Newcastle University arms are blazoned Azure, a Cross of St Cuthbert Argent, and on a chief of the last a lion passant guardant Gules. ('A silver Cross of St Cuthbert on a blue shield, with a red lion walking and looking towards you on the silver top third portion of the shield.') The cross of St Cuthbert also features on
4410-400: The annual college day, is celebrated in the Easter term with music, entertainment, festivities and drinking. Cuddy's Corse is a waymarked walking route between Chester-Le-Street and Durham Cathedral; it marks the journey between two of the last resting places of the coffin. Worksop College , founded as St Cuthbert's in 1895, was the last of the Woodard Schools to be opened. St Cuthbert
4500-451: The area included the Linlithgow and East Falkirk (UK Parliament constituency) . The West Lothian question , referring to whether Scottish, Welsh, and Northern Irish MPs should be allowed to vote on English laws, is so named because it was supposedly first raised by Tam Dalyell while he was MP for West Lothian. The creation of the modern council area in 1975 drastically altered West Lothian's boundaries. Significant towns not included in
4590-403: The badges of the two Anglican secondary schools in Tyne and Wear , namely Dame Allan's Schools and Sunderland High School. St Cuthbert's Society , a college of Durham University established in 1888, is named after him and is located only a short walk from the coffin of the saint at Durham Cathedral. The Society celebrates St Cuthbert's Day on or around each 20 March with a feast. "Cuth's Day",
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#17327811281564680-489: The breadth of the country from Berwick to Galloway to carry out pastoral work and founding an oratory at Dull, Scotland , complete with a large stone cross, and a little cell for himself. He is also said to have founded St Cuthbert's Church in Edinburgh . Cuthbert retired in 676, moved by the desire for a more contemplative life. With his abbot's leave, he moved to a spot which Archbishop Eyre identifies with St Cuthbert's Island near Lindisfarne, but which Raine thinks
4770-412: The burgh of Bo'ness and the district of Bo'ness to Falkirk District of Central Region , and the burgh of Queensferry and the district of Kirkliston plus part of Winchburgh to the Edinburgh district of Lothian Region. It gained East Calder and West Calder districts from Midlothian. The two-tier system was abolished by the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994 , and the district of West Lothian
4860-451: The casket was opened, a small book of the Gospel of John , measuring 138 by 92 millimetres (5.4 × 3.6 inches), now known as the Saint Cuthbert Gospel (now British Library Additional MS 89000, formerly known as the Stonyhurst Gospel), was found. This is the oldest Western book to have retained its original bookbinding , in finely decorated leather. Also recovered much later were a set of vestments of 909–916, made of Byzantine silk with
4950-410: The council area. The old county town was the royal burgh of Linlithgow , but the largest town (and the second-largest town in the Lothian region after Edinburgh) is now Livingston , where West Lothian Council has been based since 2009 having previously used facilities across three sites. Other large towns in the county include Bathgate (a town with medieval origins that developed extensively during
5040-412: The county are West Lothian Council and NHS Scotland . The Starlaw distillery is a Scotch whisky grain distillery at Bathgate that is owned by French drinks group La Martiniquaise . The distillery opened in 2010 and can produce 25 million litres annually and has 29 ageing warehouses (cellars) across 75 hectares at the distillery to allow for the maturation of over 600,000 barrels. Glenmorangie ,
5130-439: The daughter of Oswiu of Northumbria , who succeeded St Hilda as abbess of Whitby in 680. The meeting was held on Coquet Island , further south. In 684, Cuthbert was elected Bishop of Hexham at a synod at Twyford (believed to be present-day Alnmouth ), but was reluctant to leave his retirement and take up his charge; it was only after a visit from a large group, including King Ecgfrith , that he agreed to return and take up
5220-420: The duties of bishop, but instead as Bishop of Lindisfarne , swapping with Eata, who went to Hexham in Cuthbert's place. Cuthbert was consecrated at York by Archbishop Theodore and six bishops, on 26 March 685. But after Christmas 686, he returned to his cell on Inner Farne Island, where he died on 20 March 687, after a painful illness. He was buried at Lindisfarne the same day, and after long journeys escaping
5310-602: The five largest employment sectors in the council area were healthcare , construction , retail , manufacturing , and business administration and support services. While historically, mining and shale oil production were key employers in the region, as of 2014 they only accounted for 0.7% of persons employed in West Lothian. The ten largest private employers in West Lothian are Sky UK , Tesco , Mitsubishi Electric , IQVIA (formerly Quintiles/Q2 Solutions), Asda , Morrisons , Johnson & Johnson , Schuh , Jabil and Shin-Etsu Europe . The two largest public sector employers in
5400-463: The foreshore, which were threaded into necklaces or rosaries, became known as St. Cuthbert's beads . In Northumberland, the eider duck is known as the cuddy duck. While on the Farne Islands, Cuthbert instituted special laws to protect the ducks and other seabirds nesting on the islands. They still breed in their thousands off the present day Northumberland coast. In Cumbria, the civil parish and hamlet of Holme St Cuthbert are named after him, as
5490-417: The former Burgh Chambers of Bathgate Town Council (built in 1966) as its headquarters, extending the building in 1976 and renaming it Lindsay House. The district council retained the county buildings in Linlithgow as additional office space. In November 2009, the new unitary authority , West Lothian Council, centralised its services at the new West Lothian Civic Centre in Livingston . West Lothian
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#17327811281565580-413: The heraldic emblem of St Cuthbert in the arms of Durham and Newcastle universities, was found. The flag of County Durham since 2013 features the Cross of St Cuthbert, counterchanged in the county colours of blue and gold. The flag of Kirkcudbrightshire in Scotland since 2016 likewise features the Cross of St Cuthbert, whose name is the origin of the county's name. The Cross of St Cuthbert features as
5670-521: The hills near that monastery. He appears to have undergone military service, but at some point he joined the very new monastery at Melrose, under the prior Boisil . Upon Boisil's death in 661, Cuthbert succeeded him as prior. Cuthbert was possibly a second cousin of King Aldfrith of Northumbria (according to Irish genealogies), which may explain his later proposal that Aldfrith should be crowned as monarch. Cuthbert's fame for piety, diligence, and obedience grew. When Alchfrith , king of Deira , founded
5760-438: The industrial revolution) and the historic mining settlements of Armadale , Fauldhouse , Whitburn , West Calder , Uphall , and Broxburn . In 1975, as a result of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 , the boundaries of West Lothian were adjusted: the 1973 Act abolished the traditional counties and burghs, instead creating a system of Regions and Districts . West Lothian was made a district of Lothian Region but lost
5850-423: The largest indoor shopping location in Scotland and the 10th largest in the UK. There are several large scale wind farms in West Lothian, predominantly in the south-west of the county, used to produce electricity across the region, including Pates Hill wind farm , Harburnhead wind farm, and Black Law wind farm. The main trunk roads in West Lothian are: Other principal A roads in West Lothian include
5940-487: The life of a hermit, though still receiving many visitors. In Cuthbert's time the Kingdom of Northumbria included, in modern terms, northern England and southern Scotland on an intermittent and fluid basis as far north as the Firth of Forth . Cuthbert may have been from the neighbourhood of Dunbar at the mouth of the Firth of Forth in modern-day Scotland, though The Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs and Other Principal Saints ("Butler's Lives"), by Alban Butler records that he
6030-406: The location of an old village well which served these travellers. The village was at one time reputed to have seven such wells. In the old Village graveyard stand the ruins of St Cuthbert's Church, the oldest building in East Calder; this pre-reformation church dated from around 1148 and is dedicated to the saint, who was famed for travelling all over the Lothians by horseback or by foot, preaching
6120-488: The manufacture of paraffin; little evidence is left of this one time quaint hamlet at the foot of the Oakbank Bing, itself now very much reduced in size due to landscaping. The significance of the Oak tree stems from the popular belief that many of the small oak trees in the Oakbank area were of French origin dating back to the time of Mary Queen of Scots , who it believed visited the area upon her return from France. East Calder has an estate agent, two Scotmid stores and
6210-432: The modern county are the coastal burghs of Bo'ness and Queensferry and the town of Kirkliston . Large parts of the southern urban area of Livingston which were historically within Midlothian were, however, transferred to West Lothian. Largest settlements by population: 56,840 23,600 15,970 12,840 12,720 11,490 6,430 5,730 4,900 3,840 Cairnpapple Hill is a scheduled ancient monument and hill with
6300-414: The monarchs of Scotland in the 15th and 16th centuries and is the birthplace of Mary, Queen of Scots . It is now a visitor attraction in the care of Historic Environment Scotland . The House of the Binns is an early 17th century historic house and estate near Philpstoun . The house is the historic home of the Binn family whose owners included Sir Thomas Dalyell a Scottish Royalist general in
6390-454: The monastery at Lindisfarne where Cuthbert was to spend much of his life. This was around 635, about the time Cuthbert was born. The tension between the Roman and Celtic Christianity, often exacerbated by Cuthbert's near-contemporary Wilfrid , an intransigent and quarrelsome supporter of Roman ways, was to be a major feature of Cuthbert's lifetime. Cuthbert himself, though educated in the Celtic tradition, followed his mentor Eata in accepting
6480-407: The non-denominational East Calder and Calderwood Primary Schools, and St Paul's RC School which is the local Catholic primary school. The non-denominational schools are in the catchment area for West Calder High School , while St Paul's is in the catchment for St Margaret's Academy . East Calder PS was founded in 1934 as a Middle School (Junior High). In 2020 it was announced that it would undergo
6570-504: The principal charge on the coat of arms of the University of Durham , granted in 1843, blazoned Argent, a Cross of St Cuthbert Gules, on a canton Azure, a chevron Or, between three lions rampant of the first ('A red Cross of St Cuthbert on a silver shield, with three silver fighting lions around a gold chevron on a blue square in the top left-hand corner'). The Cross also features in the arms of many of its constituent colleges. The University of Newcastle upon Tyne , formerly King's College in
6660-786: The principal transport arteries of the M8 motorway, the A89 and A71 roads, the Edinburgh – Glasgow railway line (the Shotts Line ), and Edinburgh Airport . The East Calder Gala is a local highlight held every June, dating back to 1919. East Calder lies in the lee of the Pentland Hills within the Almond River Valley , near the right bank of the river, and specifically in the East Calder / Livingston / Broxburn Plain,
6750-680: The river Tweed', who waged an unsuccessful campaign against the Scots at the Battle of Carham in 1018. By the later 11th century the Bishops of Durham had established a semi-autonomous region known as the Liberty of Durham , later the Palatinate of Durham , between the Tyne and Tees. Within this area the Bishop of Durham had almost as much power as the king of England himself, and the saint became
6840-438: The site of which was originally occupied by a much older Inn called the " Olde Wines ". Other visible historical remains include lime quarries and kilns, operating from approximately 1780 to 1913, 18th & 19th C improvements on surrounding farming land, and the routes of drove roads from Falkirk and Stirling , across the Pentlands. Nearby Oakbank was at one time a busy bustling mining community set up to extract shale for
6930-492: The steady growth of Cuthbert's posthumous cultus , to the point where he became the most popular saint of Northern England and Southern Scotland. Numerous miracles were attributed to his intercession and to intercessory prayer near his remains. In 875 the Danes took the monastery of Lindisfarne and the monks fled, carrying St Cuthbert's body with them around various places including Melrose . After seven years' wandering it found
7020-508: The town now bypasses it to the south. East Calder is served by a number of bus services. The nearest train station is located at Kirknewton . Lothian Country operate services: West Lothian West Lothian ( Scots : Wast Lowden ; Scottish Gaelic : Lodainn an Iar ) is one of the 32 council areas of Scotland , bordering (in a clockwise direction) the City of Edinburgh council area , Scottish Borders , South Lanarkshire , North Lanarkshire and Falkirk . The modern council area
7110-463: The whisky distillers have offices and a bottling facility in Livingston that was opened in 2011. West Lothian has several shopping centres, the largest of which are located in Livingston, including 'The Centre' (comprising more than 1,000,000 square foot of retail space) and Livingston Designer Outlet (the largest outlet mall in Scotland). The combined retail spaces of central Livingston form
7200-624: Was also adopted by the Normans when they took over England. Cuthbert's shrine at Durham Cathedral was a major pilgrimage site throughout the Middle Ages, until stripped by Henry VIII's commissioners in the Dissolution of the Monasteries . According to Bede 's life of the saint, when Cuthbert's sarcophagus was opened eleven years after his death, his body was found to have been perfectly preserved or incorrupt . This apparent miracle led to
7290-568: Was appointed Chancellor here for King Edward I. He may have had some say in naming this small estate and it is suggested that the Church at Langton in Berwickshire was dedicated to St Cuthbert, the same as the one in Calder Clere. John de Langton built his mansion and called it "Langton Law". As a result, in 1306, during the wars of succession , it underwent forfeiture and was granted to James Douglas by Robert The Bruce . Apart from
7380-868: Was completed by his sons John Adam and Robert Adam . Midhope Castle is a 16th-century tower house on the Hopetoun estate that was used as a location in the Outlander TV series on Starz as the main character, Jamie Fraser's family home called Lallybroch (Broch Tuarach). There are a variety of castles and other historic fortifications in West Lothian, including medieval mottes, tower houses and Renaissance laird's houses, as well as relatively modern castellated mansions. Examples include Cairns Castle , Duntarvie Castle , Midhope Castle and Staneyhill Tower . There are several public country parks in West Lothian, including Beecraigs Country Park (a 370 hectare park between Bathgate and Linlithgow with forests,
7470-534: 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
7560-459: Was fostered as a child near Melrose. Fostering is possibly a sign of noble birth, as are references to his riding a horse when young. One night while still a boy, employed as a shepherd, he had a vision of the soul of Aidan being carried to heaven by angels , and later found out that Aidan had died that night. Edwin Burton finds it a suggestion of lowly parentage that as a boy he used to tend sheep on
7650-479: Was granted by King Malcolm IV of Scotland to Randulph de Clere around 1160 and was named after him; and the adjoining Calder Comitis (meaning Earl's Calder), where Mid and West Calder are sited, belonging to the Thanes (or Earls) of Fife . In 1296 Count John de Langton, along with his brother Allan of Berwickshire, swore fealty to King Edward I of England . John was vicar of Calder Clere, and after his submission
7740-481: Was made into a unitary council area named West Lothian Council . West Lothian Council is the local authority for the West Lothian area and has 33 elected members. Councillors are generally elected every five years, with the next election falling in Spring 2027. The current council composition is: Following the abolition of West Lothian County Council in 1975, the new West Lothian District Council chose to use
7830-647: Was made prior at Melrose, and around 665 went as prior to Lindisfarne. In 684 he was made bishop of Lindisfarne, but by late 686 he resigned and returned to his hermitage as he felt he was about to die. He was probably in his early 50s. Cuthbert was born (perhaps into a noble family) in Dunbar , then in Northumbria, and now in East Lothian, Scotland , in the mid-630s, some ten years after the conversion of King Edwin of Northumbria to Christianity in 627, which
7920-466: Was near Holburn , at a place now known as St Cuthbert's Cave . Shortly afterwards, Cuthbert moved to Inner Farne island, two miles from Bamburgh , where he gave himself up to a life of great austerity. At first he received visitors, but later he confined himself to his cell and opened his window only to give his blessing. He could not refuse an interview with the holy abbess and royal virgin Elfleda ,
8010-499: Was slowly followed by that of the rest of his people. The politics of the kingdom were violent, and there were later episodes of pagan rule, while spreading understanding of Christianity through the kingdom was a task that lasted throughout Cuthbert's lifetime. Edwin had been baptised by Paulinus of York , a Roman who had come with the Gregorian mission from Rome, but his successor Oswald also invited Irish monks from Iona to found
8100-404: Was the will of the saint, as the wagon carrying his coffin back to Chester-le-Street after a temporary flight from a Danish invasion became stuck hard on the road. During the medieval period, Cuthbert became important in defining the identity of the people living in Northumbria north of Tees. Symeon noted that it was the 'people of St Cuthbert', that is, 'the whole people between the river Tees and
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