Auldcathie Explained

Settlement Type:Suburb
Pushpin Map:Scotland
Pushpin Mapsize:250
Pushpin Map Caption:Location in Scotland

Auldcathie is a suburb to the west of Winchburgh in West Lothian, Scotland.[1]

History

A small village existed at Auldcathie since at least medieval times when Auldcathie was a distinct parish until the Scottish Reformation when it was incorporated into the parish of Dalmeny.[2]

Auldcathie Kirk is a ruined pre-reformation church with late 14th century details. The church was abandoned sometime after 1618.[3] The church is a scheduled ancient monument cited as of national importance as an example of a private chapel. In the 19th century, the area had a farmstead and opencast quarry workings, now since demolished.

In the 20th century, part of the area was used as a landfill was redeveloped as a new park.[4] Auldcathie district park is a new recreational and sporting venue that was built as part of the new winchburgh village developments.[4] [5] [6] [7] The park was planned to cover 78-acres, with up to 31,000 trees.[6] [7] In January 2023, the park was open to the public and used for an inaugural parkrun which was said to be Scotland's largest.[8]

Notable People

Robert Lauder a nobleman who supported Mary, Queen of Scots at the battle of Langside held title to Auldcathie. His son Sir George Lauder of the Bass, a cleric, Privy Counsellor and Member of the Scottish Parliament was rector of Auldcathie in the 16th century.

Alexander Monteith was an Edinburgh surgeon born in Auldcathie.[9]

Notes and References

  1. Ordnance Survey: Explorer map sheet 349 Falkirk, Cumbernauld & Livingston. 9780319468562 . Ordnance Survey. 2013.
  2. Web site: Auldcathie, former parish . Saints in Scottish Place-Names, University of Glasgow. January 10, 2021.
  3. Web site: Auldcathy Parish Church . A Corpus of Scottish Medieval Parish Churches, St Andrews University. January 10, 2021.
  4. Web site: Winchburgh Master Plan . Winchburgh Community Council. January 10, 2021.
  5. Web site: Digging deep in aid of charity . Linlithgow Gazette. January 10, 2021.
  6. Web site: Auldcathie Park: New green space with kids play and dog walking areas coming to West Lothian . Edinburgh Live. January 10, 2021.
  7. Web site: Fast-expanding Winchburgh to gain new £6m district park . Falkirk Herald. January 10, 2021.
  8. Web site: Auldcathie Park makes history as Scotland’s biggest ever inaugural Parkrun . Scottish Business News . 12 February 2023.
  9. List of Fellows of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh. Edinburgh, George Robb, 1874|url= https://archive.org/stream/b21465812/b21465812_djvu.txt