Broxburn facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Broxburn
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 The Union Canal at Broxburn, looking west |
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 Broxburn
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| Population | 15,970 (2020) |
| OS grid reference | NT081722 |
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| Lieutenancy area | |
| Country | Scotland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Broxburn |
| Postcode district | EH52 |
| Dialling code | 01506 |
| Police | Lothian and Borders |
| Fire | Lothian and Borders |
| Ambulance | Scottish |
| EU Parliament | Scotland |
| UK Parliament |
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| Scottish Parliament |
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Broxburn (Scottish Gaelic: Srath Bhroc, IPA:[ˈs̪ɾaˈvɾɔʰk]) is a town in West Lothian, Scotland, on the A89 road, 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.
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Etymology
The name Broxburn is a corruption of "brock's burn", brock being an old Scots name for a badger from the Gaelic broc and burn being a Scots word for a large stream or small river. The village was earlier known as Easter Strathbrock (Uphall was Wester Strathbrock) with Strath coming from the Gaelic srath meaning a river valley.
History
The village that later became Broxburn probably originated around 1350 when Margery le Cheyne inherited the eastern half of the Barony of Strathbrock (Easter Strathbrock) on the death of her father, Sir Reginald le Cheyne III. The hamlet that grew up around her residence was then called Eastertoun (eastern town) after the land on which it stood. The lands of Strathbrock were earlier owned by Freskin the Fleming, granted to him under a charter from King David I.
Easter Strathbrock was burned to the ground sometime in 1443-4 during a conflict between William, Earl of Douglas, Lieutenant-General of Scotland, and William, Lord Crichton, Chancellor of Scotland. It was destroyed again in 1455 during fighting between the Douglases and King James II. After the conflict, peace was regained and the town was gradually resettled.
The village was renamed Broxburn in 1600 by Sir Richard Cockburn of Clerkington, Keeper of the Privy Seal of Scotland, almost certainly after Broxburn, East Lothian.
Industry
Past
Broxburn remained an agricultural community until the development of the oil shale industry in the area during the second half of the nineteenth century. This brought in a rapid influx of workers, greatly expanding the local population. Broxburn is still known for its association with the industry, pioneered by the inventor and industrialist James Young. Many shale spoil tips, known as bings, are still in evidence around the town.
Up until its closure in 2013, Hall's of Broxburn employed around 1,700 employees at its meat processing plant to the east of the town. At the time of closure, it was the largest, single employer in Broxburn.
Present
Broxburn now has two separate industrial areas, the Greendykes Industrial Estate and the East Mains Industrial Estate, which provide employment for local people. The largest employers are Campbells Prime Meat Limited, Glenmorangie and Broxburn Bottlers Limited (part of Ian Macleod Distillers Ltd). James Ritchie & Son is a firm of clockmakers located in Broxburn that was established in 1809.
Governance
Broxburn lies in the Livingston constituency of the British Parliament and the Almond Valley constituency of the Scottish Parliament.
Before Brexit, it was part of the Scotland European Parliament constituency.
For Local Government purposes, it is part of; the Broxburn, Uphall and Winchburgh Ward of West Lothian Council and is part of West Lothian Council 2nd ward, which also includes the nearby villages of Uphall and Winchburgh
Leisure
The Union Canal passes through Broxburn. It no longer operates as a transport link, but is now used for fishing, magnet fishing and some leisure boating. It has a towpath previously used by the horses which drew canal barges and which is now used as a footpath, the foot paths are popular places for dog walkers, bikers, runners and walkers.
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Union Canal
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Swans on the canal
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Between Bridges 26 and 27
The Shale Bings
The 3 Broxburn Bings (Greendikes Bing, Albion Oil Works Bing and Hopetoun Bing) reside on the north east of Broxburn starting from behind the East Mains Industrial estate. The nearby Niddry Bing resides near the village of Winchburgh. The largest of the three Bings is the Greendykes Bing which when scaled provides excellent views of the whole area. The Bings were created by large piles of spoil from the shale mines being dumped on top of each over to form the Bings.
Notable residents
- Anthony Stokes (Professional Footballer)
- James Anderson (swimmer) (Paralympian)
- Charles Benham (cricketer)
- Mark Burchill (footballer)
- Steven Craig (footballer)
- Bill Bann (footballer)
- James Baird (footballer)
- Colin Fleming, tennis player
- Gavin Hamilton (cricketer)
- John Kerr (figure skater)
- Shelley Kerr, football manager
- Stephen Robson, Bishop
- Liam Henderson,(footballer)
- Alexander Steuart clock and instrument-maker
Education
Broxburn has four schools, all state-funded, Broxburn Primary, Kirkhill Primary, St. Nicholas Roman Catholic Primary and Broxburn Academy.
Transport
Broxburn has regular links to Edinburgh, Livingston, Linlithgow and Edinburgh Airport. Operators serving the town include, First, Lothian Country & E&M Horsburgh. The nearest railway station is at Uphall providing links to Edinburgh, Livingston, Bathgate, Airdrie and Glasgow.
Hospitals
The local hospital is St. John's Hospital at Howden in Livingston. Broxburn has its own health centre at the Strathbrock Partnership Centre.
Churches
Broxburn has six churches;
- New Life Christian Fellowship Broxburn in Strathbrock Community Centre,
- Broxburn Baptist Church,
- Broxburn Catholic Church,
- Broxburn Parish Church,
- Grace Community Church,
- St Nicholas United Free Church of Scotland.
There are also some other religious groups active in the town, including Jehovah's Witnesses and several evangelical Christian organisations.
See also
In Spanish: Broxburn para niños
