Linlithgow Civic Trust
Publications
The Trust’s various publications can be bought from a number of High Street shops including the Post Office, A Wee Mindin’, Far From The Madding Crowd, and Lilypond Crafts and Gifts.
Putting Linlithgow on the Map
The latest Civic Trust publication, authored by Chris Long, looks at centuries of map-making in Scotland as a whole and then focuses on the history and development of Linlithgow through a comprehensive and diverse selection of maps and related images.
The 100-page book is painstakingly researched, comprehensively illustrated and fully annotated.
Putting Linlithgow on the Map is available from High Street shops or by online purchase for £17.50, including delivery.
Tracks around Linlithgow
This publication tells a railway story with a 19th-century focus and explores company records, old maps and the industrial archaeology to be found around Linlithgow.
A fascinating read for those interested in Linlithgow and Central Scotland’s history and for those who study railway history in the wider context.
This 104-page book is by Dr John McGregor whose books include The West Highland Railway: Plans, Politics and People and The New Railway.
Tracks around Linlithgow is available from High Street shops or by online purchase for £15.00, including delivery.
The Civic Insignia of Linlithgow
Linlithgow Burgh Trust’s book supplements the installation of the two sculptures in Linlithgow, representing the town’s civic insignia: The Black Bitch and St Michael.
This highly professional 84-page book, by Ronald P A Smith, published in December 2020, is well-researched, beautifully illustrated and fully annotated.
“This fully illustrated book cleverly and extensively explores the background of Linlithgow’s civic insignia. It covers the many myths and legends connected to the symbols, debunking some and reinforcing others. It educates and entertains in equal measure and I commend it wholeheartedly.”
Bruce Jamieson, local historian.
The Civic Insignia of Linlithgow is available from High Street shops or by online purchase for £12.00, including delivery.
Looking at Linlithgow
This Linlithgow Civic Trust publication traces how artists over the centuries have been inspired by the history and appearance of the Royal Burgh of Linlithgow.
Chris Long’s highly professional 145-page book is extensively researched, beautifully illustrated and fully annotated.
It is designed for residents of Linlithgow and for visitors who want to see the varied ways the town has appeared in art in its broadest sense including work by painters, cartographers, sculptors, textile artists and so on.
Looking at Linlithgow is available from High Street shops or by online purchase for £15.00, including delivery.
Linlithgow – Architecture and History of a Scottish Royal Burgh
This generously illustrated 64-page book, by Ron Smith, based on the Architectural and Historical Guide first published by the Trust in 1974, has been revised and expanded.
The book contains around 170 illustrations, plans and other illustrations, mostly in colour and never previously published, giving a comprehensive account of the architecture of the Royal Burgh of Linlithgow.
It provides an original historical overview, and an index and has been produced to a highly professional standard, with full annotations to each photograph.
Linlithgow – Architecture and History of a Scottish Royal Burgh is available from High Street shops or by online purchase for £8.00, including delivery.
Walks around Linlithgow
Written by local walker, the late John Davidson, this revised edition provides many interesting snippets of information on local history and wildlife alongside detailed directions for twenty-nine walks, many of which are circular.
Walks Around Linlithgow is available from High Street shops or by online purchase for £7.00, including delivery.
Street Names of Linlithgow and Linlithgow Bridge
This illustrated booklet by local historian and author, Bruce Jamieson, traces the origins of many of the fascinating street names of Linlithgow and Linlithgow Bridge.
Street Names of Linlithgow and Linlithgow Bridge is available from High Street shops for £2.00 or by online purchase for £3.00, including delivery.
Linlithgow Street Plan
This handy, indexed street plan of Linlithgow, prepared and drawn by Ron Smith, was revised and updated in 2022 to include the town’s two new housing developments at Queenswood and Deanburn.
Linlithgow Street Plan is available from High Street shops or by online purchase for £3.00, including delivery.
Pamphlets
Linlithgow Civic Trust has published a number of pamphlets, which are available free of charge from various locations in the town, or can be downloaded here.
Forthcoming Publications
The Changing Face of Linlithgow
Linlithgow Civic Trust is about to publish a book that reveals, for the first time, the amount of ancient building work that survives unseen behind present-day frontages along Linlithgow High Street. The work of Linlithgow-bred architect Laurie Alexander who sadly died in 2023, the book is a historical and architectural detective story showing how, over time, nearly all the High Street’s buildings were extended forward, narrowing the highway and concealing earlier structures, some dating back to the 16th century or before.
Perhaps the most striking features of the book are Laurie’s drawings of former or hidden frontages of buildings, superimposed on more modern photographs.
“In my opinion, Laurie Alexander’s work is the best body of original research that I encountered in all my years of working in West Lothian local history”.
Sybil Cavanagh – West Lothian Council’s local history librarian from 1990 until 2016
All interested in the town of Linlithgow are invited to subscribe to, or sponsor, the book pre-publication. Subscribers and sponsors will be listed prominently within the new book, and receive a copy or copies as follows:
- As a subscriber, at a cost of £15 per copy (the retail price); or
- As a private sponsor, at a cost of £75 for which five copies will be supplied; or
- As a corporate sponsor, at a cost of £300 for which 20 copies will be supplied.
To order a copy or copies in this way, please send an email to bbl.chair@lbt.scot requesting an order form.
In order to guarantee the inclusion of your selected name in the book, all advance orders must be received no later than 5pm on Friday, 7 February.
Support for the publication of this book will be very welcome and very much appreciated!.
Merchandise
Other items are also available for online purchase, including Tote Bags and New Tea Towels.