Kirkliston

Infobox UK place
official_name= Kirkliston
local_name= "Cheesetown"
country= Scotland
population=
os_grid_reference=
latitude= 55.95
longitude= -3.4
post_town= KIRKLISTON
postcode_area= EH
postcode_district= EH29
dial_code= 0131
constituency_westminster= Edinburgh West
london_distance=
gaelic_name=
scots_name=
unitary_scotland= Edinburgh
lieutenancy_scotland= Edinburgh
constituency_scottish_parliament= Edinburgh West

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.

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.

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. [http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/kirkliston/kirkliston/index.html] 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.

"Cheesetown"

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!

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.

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. [http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/kirkliston/kirkliston/index.html] 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. There is no minister at present; the previous minister (1996-2008) was the Reverend Glenda Keating, who has now moved to the parishes of Craigie and Symington in Ayrshire.

An interesting curiosity in the village 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. [http://www.collectorcafe.com/article_archive.asp?article=670&id=1825]

See also

*Kirk

External links

* [http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/kirkliston/kirkliston/ Undiscovered Scotland - Kirkliston]
* [http://www.kirkliston-parish-church.org.uk Kirkliston Parish Church]