Linlithgow Civic Trust

Plague & Pestilence in Linlithgow & Beyond

The second of this season’s talks will be presented by Bruce Jamieson, raconteur, local historian, and author of Linlithgow Through Time and Linlithgow Lives.  Bruce will present a fully illustrated account of the effects of the various pandemics that have spread across Europe over the centuries – and their impact on Linlithgow.

The event is free and open to everyone.  Tea, coffee, and biscuits will be provided. 7.30 pm, Wednesday, 29 November 2023, at the Queen Margaret Hall, 53 Blackness Road, Linlithgow EH49 7JA.

Linlithgow’s ‘Munitionettes’ of WW1 and WW2

Talk to be given by Kathryn Welch, the More than Mary group founder.

The event is free and open to everyone.  Tea, coffee, and biscuits will be provided. 7.45 pm, Thursday, 18 January 2024, at the Queen Margaret Hall, 53 Blackness Road, Linlithgow EH49 7JA.

The Millennium Link: the Falkirk Wheel

Talk by George McBurnie, Senior Project Manager - Scottish Canals.

The event is free and open to everyone.  Tea, coffee, and biscuits will be provided. 7.45 pm, Thursday, 22 February 2024, at the Queen Margaret Hall, 53 Blackness Road, Linlithgow EH49 7JA.

History of St Michael’s Parish Church

Talk by Rev Dr Liam Fraser, Minister of St Michael’s Parish Church.

The event is free and open to everyone.  Tea, coffee, and biscuits will be provided. 7.45 pm, Thursday, 21 March 2024, at the Queen Margaret Hall, 53 Blackness Road, Linlithgow EH49 7JA.

Autumn/Winter Lecture Series 23/24 - The Renovation of the Spire of St Michael’s Parish Church

An appreciative audience of nearly fifty attended the first of this season’s illustrated talks which was presented by Brian Lightbody, a former senior partner in Michael Laird Architects and an elder of St Michael’s Parish Church.

Brian, the kirk’s lead project manager for the restoration work explained, graphically, the background to the restoration work, how the extensive repairs are being carried out, as well as bringing us up to date with progress.

Linlithgow Civic Trust Talk March 2023

The third of the Trust’s 2022/23 winter lecture series was given on Wednesday 29th March at the Adam Room by Jon Cooper PhD, researcher, battle historian, author, tutor in history at Glasgow University.

Jon is a former resident of Linlithgow and expert on the historically important Battle of Linlithgow Bridge.

With great panache, Jon explored the background to the Battle of Linlithgow Bridge which was fought between John Stewart, 3rd Earl of Lennox and James Hamilton, 1st Earl of Arran on 4 September 1526.

The battlefield covers a wide area from the now ruined Manuel Nunnery in the west and includes the Avon Lagoon, Kettil’stoun Mains field and Peace/Pace Hill. The former sand and gravel quarry has re-sculpted much of the original landscape but this has since been re-wilded and has become a popular recreational resource.

Much of the area is potentially under the threat of housing development. Local resident, Helen Morrison, outlined the campaign to protect the remains of the battlefield and to preserve this hugely important greenspace for the benefit of the townspeople.

Linlithgow Civic Trust Talk 2023 - What is the future for Linlithgow Palace?

The first of our 2023 talks - 'The Future of Linlithgow Palace', by Historic Environment Scotland Chief Executive, Alex Paterson was a well attended meeting and created much interest.

Many people in Linlithgow are very concerned that the Palace has been closed to visitors for so long. Over the winter months, Historic Environment Scotland have undertaken a detailed survey of the palaces stonework, which has been deemed as unsafe and dangerous. For this talk, the Chief Executive of HES gave an update of the survey’s findings, and reveal the plans for the future of Linlithgow Palace.

Autumn Lecture Series - The Renovation of the Spire of St Michael’s Parish Church

The second of our 2022 Autumn lecture series, 'The Renovation of the Spire of St Michael’s Parish Church', was held on Thursday, 13th October, at the Queen Margaret's Hall in Linlithgow.The distinctive spire on St Michael’s Parish Church is loved, or loathed, by Linlithgow’s townsfolk.

The structure is certainly ‘iconic’ and its shape has been adopted by organisations and clubs within the town.

After over fifty years exposure to the elements, the crown spire requires major repairs.

Unfortuantely the retired architect, Brian Lightbody, was unable to give the talk. Committee member, Chris Long, gave the talk in Brian's place. 

Autumn Lecture Series - Kinneil: Over 2,000 Years of Scotland's History

In a change to previously advertised dates, the first of our 2022 Autumn lecture series was 'Kinneil: Over 2,000 Years of Scotland's History', by the chair of local volunteer group Friends of Kinneil, Ian Shearer.

Ian, who conducted our recent tour of Kinneil House, unpeeled the layers of over 2,000 years history on our doorstep which include;

• The turf defence which stretched across Scotland, known as the Antonine Wall, one of six UNESCO World Heritage sites in Scotland
• The now lost medieval village of Kinneil which sat high up overlooking the River Forth
• Kinneil House, once home of the Hamiltons, a notable Scottish family, which still contain unique domestic wall paintings of the mid-16th and 17th centuries
• The humble structure in which James Watt carried out experiments which led to the industrial revolution.

Ian spoke to over 40 members about the fascinating history of what was once one of Linlithgowshire's finest residences.

Kinneil Visit Saturday 21^st May 2022

Members of the Trust enjoyed an excellent visit to Kinneil on Saturday 21st May 2022. We were privileged to hear Ian Shearer, Chairman of the Friends of Kinneil, guide us, unpeel the layers of hundreds of years of history in the most northerly part of the old ‘Linlithgowshire’.

We saw the remains of one of the most easterly fortlets along the Antonine Wall; viewed the remains of the ancient Kinneil Church, looked for the vanished village of Kinneil; visited the remains of the home of the notable Scottish family: the Hamiltons, including what are considered to be Scotland’s finest domestic wall paintings of the mid-16th and 17th centuries as well as seeing where James Watt conducted important experiments that led to the industrial revolution.

We are grateful for the representative from Historic Environment Scotland who gave us access inside the house to enable us to look at the outstanding murals.

LCT Annual Lecture 2021

Local historian Bruce Jamieson gave a new illustrated talk on-line via Zoom on “Disaster at Darien” (The scheme, its failure and the impact on Scotland and Linlithgow).

Click here to view a recording of the talk.

Future Programme

Linlithgow Civic Trust organises events throught the year.  Talks and lectures are arranged during the autumn and winter and there are visits to places of interest in spring and summer.

If you have any suggestions of places to visit or speakers, please contact  us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..