Place:Broxburn, West Lothian, Scotland

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NameBroxburn
TypeTown
Coordinates55.9341°N 3.4678°W
Located inWest Lothian, Scotland     ( - 1975)
See alsoUphall, West Lothian, Scotlandparish in which Broxburn was located until 1975
Lothian, Scotlandregional administration 1975-1996
West Lothian (council area), Scotlandunitary Council Area since 1996
source: Family History Library Catalog
the text in this section is based on an article in wikipedia

Broxburn is a town in West Lothian, Scotland and formerly in the parish of Uphall in the County of West Lothian. It is located 12 miles (19 km) west of Edinburgh on the A8 road and approximately 5 miles (8.0 km) from Edinburgh Airport.

The original industrial base was oil-shale mining which occurred in the second half of the 19th century. Int the present day it is a commuter town serving the M8 corridor into Edinburgh and the industrial areas of Livingston, Broxburn has seen a recent increase in immigration, especially from Poland, broadening its cultural diversity.

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History

the text in this section is copied from an article in Wikipedia

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.

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Industry

the text in this section is copied from an article in Wikipedia
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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.

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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.

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Research Tips

Refer to the Parish of Uphall

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