Kirkliston
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This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding reliable references. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (October 2007) |
Coordinates: 55°57′N 3°24′W / 55.95°N 3.4°W
| Kirkliston | |
| Cheesetown | |
  Kirkliston
Kirkliston shown within Edinburgh |
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| Council area | Edinburgh |
|---|---|
| Lieutenancy area | Edinburgh |
| Country | Scotland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | KIRKLISTON |
| Postcode district | EH29 |
| Dialling code | 0131 |
| Police | Lothian and Borders |
| Fire | Lothian and Borders |
| Ambulance | Scottish |
| EU Parliament | Scotland |
| UK Parliament | Edinburgh West |
| Scottish Parliament | Edinburgh West |
| List of places: UK • Scotland • Edinburgh | |
Kirkliston is a small village within the City of Edinburgh council area of Scotland. It sits on the historic route between Edinburgh and Queensferry, the gateway to Fife and the north. Today, it is bypassed by the A90. It lies close to the world-famous Forth Road Bridge and Forth Rail Bridge, and is in proximity to Edinburgh Airport.
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[edit] History
Kirkliston was the location of the first recorded Parliament in Scottish history; the Estates of Scotland met there in 1235, during the reign of Alexander II of Scotland.
The oldest house in the village is "Castle House" which contains a marriage lintel dated 1683.
Until May 1975 Kirkliston was, for local government purposes, part of the old County of West Lothian. Under the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 it then became part of Lothian Region and the City of Edinburgh District. Further local government reorganisation in 1996 saw the village become part of the City of Edinburgh Council area. The City of Edinburgh Council has a small office in the village, as well running the library, primary school and leisure centre.
Kirkliston used to be well-known for its Drambuie liqueur factory but the factory re-located several years ago. There had also been a whisky distillery in the south of the village since 1795.[1] In later years this became a malt factory. However, this too has now been demolished. Kirkliston therefore, may be referred to as a dormitory village.
[edit] "Cheesetown"
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This section does not cite any references or sources. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (June 2009) |
Kirkliston is often referred to with the nickname "Cheesetown". There are two principal theories for this. One suggestion is that it is due to an inscription mentioning cheese carved by Burns in a window of Castle House (the second oldest building, formerly an Inn). The most widely used explanation however is that when the Forth Bridge was being built, the workers who lodged in Kirkliston often had cheese sandwiches for lunch.
[edit] Railway
Kirkliston had its own railway station, built by the North British Railway. The station was located on a branch line from "Queensferry Junction" (near Ratho on the Edinburgh-Glasgow main line) to Dalmeny, which was opened in 1866. The line was extended from Dalmeny to Queensferry and Port Edgar a few years later.
Kirkliston Station was closed to passengers by the London and North Eastern Railway in 1930. Freight trains through Kirkliston ended in 1966 and the railway track was subsequently removed. There are still references to the station in the name of two streets. The old railway line has been converted into a cycle path.
[edit] Parish church
The oldest surviving building in Kirkliston is the church (hence the first half of the village's name). Parts of this building are over 800 years of age.[1] Many details are rare examples of late 12th century "Norman Transitional" architecture[2] The building was remodelled in 1883 by R Rowand Anderson a prominent Edinburgh architect[3]. Originally belonging to the order of Knights Templar, the village was historically called Temple Liston.
Kirkliston Parish Church is a congregation of the Church of Scotland (within the Presbytery of Edinburgh). Kirkliston parish also includes Edinburgh Airport and the neighbouring community of Newbridge. The present minister is Rev Margaret Lane, succeeding Rev Glenda Keating(1996-2008), who has now moved to the parishes of Craigie and Symington in Ayrshire.
The manse dates from 1865.
The graveyard is of great antiquity. It contains the oldest dated stone in all the Lothian area - 1545 (distinguishing gravestones from memorials)[4]Another interesting curiosity in the graveyard is the presence of a Gravestone dated 1727 that includes two carved heads wearing glasses. If the date on this headstone is accurate then this is the world's oldest depiction of glasses with sides.[5]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ a b http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/kirkliston/kirkliston/index.html undiscoveredscotland.co.uk
- ^ Buildings of Scotland; Lothian by Colin McWilliam
- ^ Buildings of Scotland; Lothian by Colin McWilliam
- ^ unpublished leaflet by Stephen C dickson , Surveyor of Graveyatds and Cemeteries for CEC, 1984e
- ^ http://www.collectorcafe.com/article_archive.asp?article=670&id=1825 collectorcafe.com
[edit] External links
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