Kirkton, Livingston

Kirkton (Scots: Kirktoun) is a small area in the north-west of Livingston in West Lothian, Scotland.[1] The area is mainly occupied by an industrial estate, as well as by some residential housing areas. The Killandean burn, a small stream runs through the area.

Part of Kirkton Campus seen from the air

History

Much of the area of Kirkton belonged to the estate of nearby Charlesfield House, dating to 1795 and demolished in the early 20th century.[2] Some of the gardens and forested parts of the estate remain beside the Killandean burn.[2] The first owner of the house was Thomas Hardy, a minister.[3] The estate passed to his son, Captain William Hardy, an officer in the East India Company who died in 1824.[3] The lands then passed to his brother Thomas Hardy, FRCS a surgeon, who died in 1836.[3] The estate was then leased by trustees to Thomas Robertson Chaplin, before it was sold to Henry Raeburn Jnr, the son of the distinguished painter Sir Henry Raeburn.[3] The estate and lands then passed through his descendants until the 1960s when acquired by the Livingston Development Corporation.

Geography

Kirkton is located to the south-west of Livingston Village, to the west of Livingston Centre and to the north of Adambrae. The River Almonnd flows through Kirkton and is joined by the Kileandean burn which also flows through Kirkton. The Kirkton weir is a two-metre-high structure originally built to power the nearby mill in Livingston village that was altered in 2017 to include a fish pass.[4][5]

Kirkton Campus

Kirkton was the site of Scotland's first designed high-technology industrial park known as 'Kirkton Campus'.[6] The site was spread over some 300 acres.[7] The technology park was centered along either side of Simpson Parkway, a curving road near the Killandean Burn.[6] Notable companies and buildings include Ethicon (1978), Boehringer (1982), WL Gore (1984), Seagate Micro Electronics (1986), Canon Business Machines (1989) and Logic (1994).[6] Many of the original technology companies have disappeared and new companies occupy some of the former buildings.

Hospital

In November 2021, a £5 million private medical hospital opened in Kirkton campus, operated by Cosmedicare UK.[8][9] The building had previously housed several companies including Glenmorangie, WL Gore, Quintiles and BskyB.[8][10]

Community facilities

A crematorium is located in the north-west part of Kirkton that opened in 2010.[11]

There is a large, historic park located in Kirkton.[12]

References
  1. "Kirkton Campus". The Gazetteer for Scotland. School of GeoSciences, University of Edinburgh and The Royal Scottish Geographical Society. Retrieved 11 December 2022.
  2. "Charming Charlesfield". Scottish Shale. Retrieved 11 December 2022.
  3. M'Call, Hardy (1894). The History and Antiquities of the Parish of Mid-Calder With Some Account of the Religious House of Torphichen, Founded Upon Record. R. Cameron. p. 128-130.
  4. "Kirkton Weir Fish Pass". Forth Rivers Trust. Retrieved 11 December 2022.
  5. "Kirkton weir – a mapped history". River life. Retrieved 11 December 2022.
  6. Jaques and McKean (1 September 1994). West Lothian - An Illustrated Architectural Guide. Scotland: The Rutland Press. pp. 91–93. ISBN 978-1873190258.
  7. Historic Environment Scotland. "Livingston, Kirkton Campus Business Park, General (284252)". Canmore. Retrieved 12 November 2022.
  8. "Planning approval sought for new cosmetic surgery day case hospital in Livingston". Insider. Retrieved 11 December 2022.
  9. "New £5m private hospital opens". Daily Record. Retrieved 11 December 2022.
  10. "Green light for new hospital in Livingston". The Herald. Retrieved 11 December 2022.
  11. "Homepage". West Lothian Crematorium. Retrieved 11 December 2022.
  12. "Kirkton Park". Visit West Lothian. Retrieved 11 December 2022.

55.8808°N 3.5365°W / 55.8808; -3.5365

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