Linlithgow Civic Trust
Events, Visits, & Talks
Watch this space!
Upcoming Events
Looking to 2023, the Trust anticipates much interest in the scheduled talk by the chief executive officer of Historic Environment Scotland. The subject matter is likely to be Linlithgow Palace.
More information will follow in due course.
Watch this space!
Past Events
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 21st 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..