Ballencrieff, West Lothian

infobox UK place
country = Scotland
official_name= Ballencrieff
gaelic_name=
scots_name=
os_grid_reference= NS9770
map_type= Scotland
latitude=55.91
longitude=-3.64
unitary_scotland= West Lothian
lieutenancy_scotland= West Lothian
constituency_westminster= Linlithgow and East Falkirk
constituency_scottish_parliament= Linlithgow
constituency_scottish_parliament1= Lothians
postcode_district = EH48
postcode_area= EH
dial_code= 01506 |

Ballencrieff is a settlement in West Lothian, Scotland, situated equidistant between the towns of Bathgate and Torphichen and seven miles south of Linlithgow. Neighbouring towns are Blackburn, Armadale, Whitburn, Livingston and Stoneyburn. Edinburgh Airport is 16 miles (25 km) away, to the East. Ballencrieff is very close to the Neolithic burial site at Cairnpapple Hill, and the surrounding area shows signs of habitation since about 3500 BC. The name Ballencrieff comes from the Scottish Gaelic Baile na Craoibhe meaning "Farm by the tree".

History

Medieval Ballencrieff (1300–1600)

Possibly one of the earliest references to it dates from 1349 when King David II granted Maurice Murray the lands of Gosford lying within the barony of 'Balnacref', in the county of Edinburgh, and the constabulary of Haddington. In 1599, on the 25th of January, Alexander Hamilton became the first Baron of Ballencrieff (and his wife Christine the Baroness), by Crown Charter from King James VI.

Modern Ballencrieff (21st century)

The area is dominated by agriculture and is home to farms and fisheries, such as Ballencrieff Farm. The Ballencrieff Fishery is well-known for it's trout, and welcomes fly anglers in their hundreds every year. In addition, tourists are also attracted by West Lothian's famous Standing Stones monuments, which surround Ballencrieff. The quarterly magazine Lothian Life - formerly known as 'West Lothian Life' - is produced at Ballencrieff Toll.

External links

* [http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/vli/language/gaelic/pdfs/placenamesA-B.pdf Scottish Parliament website, Place-names document, page 14]
* [http://www.streetmap.co.uk/streetmap.dll?G2M?X=297500&Y=670500&A=Y&Z=3 Streetmap.co.uk, Map of Ballencrieff]
* [http://vision.edina.ac.uk/descriptions/entry_page.jsp?text_id=80160&word=NULL A Vision of Britain Through Time, Ballencrieff]
* [http://guide.visitscotland.com/vs/guide/edinburgh,en,SCH1/objectId,SPF53579Svs,curr,GBP,season,at1,selectedEntry,home/home.html VisitScotland.com, Ballencrieff Fishery]
* [http://www.ballencrieff-fishery.co.uk Ballencrieff Fishery, official website]
* [http://www.megalithic.co.uk/article.php?sid=1517 The Megalithic Portal, Ballencrieff Standing Stones]
* [http://www.lothianlife.co.uk Lothian Life magazine]
* [http://www.jbwb.co.uk/arts_w.htm West Lothian Life magazine, contact details]