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Linlithgow Civic Trust

What we have Achieved over the Years

  

Over the years Linlithgow Civic Trust has been involved in a wide range of projects and has achieved a number of significant results. Here are a few of them:

  • Burgh Beautiful Linlithgow: The Civic Trust established Burgh Beautiful Linlithgow to enhance the townscape and it has achieved a great deal, including Linlithgow winning a Silver Gilt Medal in Beautiful Britain in Bloom 2012 to follow Best Overall and three other awards in Beautiful Scotland 2011. Refer to the Burgh Beautiful Linlithgow pages for more details.
  • Publications: The Trust has published a number of books and other items associated with Linlithgow. These include:
    • Looking at Linlithgow - How artists over the centuries have been inspired by Linlithgow
    • Linlithgow Old and New - A review of Linlithgow's built heritage (now out of print)
    • Linlithgow - History and Architecture of a Scottish Royal Burgh - more detailed information about all of the points on the Linlithgow Heritage Trail and beyond.
    • Street Names of Linlithgow and Linlithgow Bridge: Derivations and origins of our street names.
    • Walks around Linlithgow: Short walks in the area. (Second edition published in 2014)
    • Refer to the Publications page for more details
  • Linlithgow - A Plan for the Future: The Civic Trust has contributed to this detailed holistic plan for Linlithgow, recognising the problems that the town currenly faces and proposing solutions. See: Linlithgow - A Plan for the Future 2015 - 2030.
  • Commenting on Planning Applications: West Lothian Council planners consult the Trust on all major planning applications in and around Linlithgow and we contribute constructive comments. Refer to the Planning pages for more information.
  • Linlithgow Planning Forum: The Trust is supports wide discussion and debate aimed at agreeing and publicising what is felt would be best for Linlithgow's future development and influencing the West Lothian Local Plan and individual planning decisions. Proposed at the Linlithgow Town Management Group and supported by Linlithgow Civic Trust, Linlithgow and Linlithgow Bridge Community Council, Transition Linlithgow and Linlithgow Against Supermarket Development, the Linlithgow Planning Forum is a platform for the discussion of planning matters.
  • Linlithgow Marches Perambulation: A walking trail following the 1832 Linlithgow Parliamentary Boundary. As well as providing new march stones, the project included footpath improvements, an interpretation board, a smartphone ‘app’ and publicity material.  75% of the funding was from the Heritage Lottery Fund, with a substantial contribution from the Linlithgow & Linlithgow Bridge Town Management Group and generous donations from Linlithgow Civic Trust, Linlithgow & Linlithgow Bridge Community Council, Pride & Passion Linlithgow, councillors’ disbursements, Linlithgow Heritage Trust, and the Linlithgow Round Table.  The Linlithgow Ramblers were also involved in the organisation of this walk and organised a longer version, including Blackness, two weeks later. See Perambulation of Linlithgow Marches for full details.
  • Doors Open Days: The trust has taken on the organisation of this annual event, previously organised by West Lothian Council. See West Lothian Doors Open Days for more detail.
  • Linlithgow Heritage Trail: A walking trail from the Cross developed by the Trust with support from Linlithgow Heritage Trust (Annet House museum) and Pride & Passion Linlithgow with financial support from West Lothian Council via the Linlithgow and Linlithgow Bridge Town Management Group. The Linlithgow Heritage Trail is marked by distinctive "Saint Michael" plaques, supported by a 20 page booklet and includes 5 interpretive panels at the west Port, the Cross, the Low Port, Linlithgow station and the Union Canal. See Linlithgow Heritage Trails for full details.
  • My Place Awards: The Trust proposed Linlithgow Burgh Halls, Architects: Malcolm Fraser Architrects, for a Scottish Civic Trust My Place Award in 2012. It achieved one of only two "Highly Commended" awards granted.
  • Civic Champion 2011: Trust member Ron Smith was the first to receive the Civic Champion Award from the Scottish Civic Trust. 
  • First Railway Station Photograph in the World: Pioneer photographer David Octavious Hill photographed Linlithgow Station in 1845, widely believed to be the first photograph ever taken of a railway station. The Civic Trust arranged for this historic event to be publicised by a panel installed at the station.
  • Linlithgow Visitor Guide:  Ther Civic Trust worked with Pride & Passion Linlithgow, Linlithgow Town Centre BID and other local organisations to produce this free guide for visitors to the town.