1365

Earliest reference to a place called Whytbourne when David II granted land to someone called Ade Forrester. " To Ade Forrester of the half lands of Whytbourbe in the constabulary of Linlithgow, vice comitatu de Edinburgh "

1452

George de Crichton was created Baron of Whitburn by James II. This event was confirmed by James IV in 1491.

1511

James IV gave royal consent to the purchase of wester Whitburn by John Fischer.

1796

Kirk ministers from each parish in Scotland made up the "First Statistical Account" much like a census. A "village of 500 souls" was how Whitburn was described and from the same account it was suggested that the name Whitburn came from the number of families called White who lived beside the burn. Around this time the spelling of the name was Whiteburn and, before then, Wheitburn or Whytbourne. It was also thought that the name may have come about because the neighbouring village was called Blackburn. Sinister or what ?

1840 approx.

Agriculture was the main occupation in the early years of Whitburn's history but approaching the middle of the 19th Century the weaving industry was thriving, as it was in many parts of Scotland in particular the Borders. In 1828 there were around 150 cotton fabric looms in operation in the village and by 1838 this had increased to 218. Towards the end of the 18th Century the population was in the high hundreds but with the boom in the weaving industry this soon increased and the 1801 census figures show the population at 1537and by 1831 it was 2075. It wouldn't be until the 1920s when Whitburn's population would rise dramatically when large numbers came off the land and went down the mines. Due to the industrial revolution the handloom trade suffered and by the end of the first decade of the 20th Century it was extinct in Whitburn.

1850 approx. (middle 1800s)

The word Downdie which is what you are called if you were born and bred in Whitburn was thought to have originated around this time. Seemingly a man called Downie wandered into Whitburn from Livingston and took up residence in the Parish. Now, Downie was not the full shilling so to speak and he ended up being cared for from the Parish funds. This obviously did not go down too well and the Whitburn people tried to send him back to Livingston. They failed and Whitburn was stuck with Downie and the resultant word Downdie.  It is not the nicest of associations considering that Downie was a bit simple. There are a couple of other stories about the word Downdie. One story refers to the long gone Whitburn reservoir on the south side of the town. Simply it was that if you "downed" in the water of the reservoir that you were entitled to be called a Downdie. Whitburn lies in hollow surrounded by villages on higher ground who looked "down" on the people of Whitburn, in more ways than one. Fibres or "down" used to cling to the clothes of the weavers and this the name Downdie came about. Take your pick.

1857

The original Brucefield Church was built.

Other religious buildings can be found in the Gallery.

1860

By an Act of Parliament Whitburn formally became a Burgh. It was confirmed by the Sheriff of Linlithgow just over a year later.

1862

The first meeting of the new Town Council was held and the first tasks undertaken was to ensure a satisfactory water supply and provide 12 gas lamps for the main street. Up until then each garden had a well which supplied water but the Council leased ground in Croftmalloch and built a reservoir.

1907

First ever Galaday. This is the major event in Whitburn's diary when marching bands, children in fancy dress representing their schools & organisations and decorated floats travel round in procession through the town. Parents still buy new outfits for their children to watch the parade after which Downdies and guests alike congregate down at King George V play park to watch the festivities or go to the funfair or "the shows" as they are called here. In essence not a lot has changed since the early days. The photo on the left shows Mary Dow who was the first ever Gala Queen and on the right the photo shows Whitburn Public Band leading the parade in 1910.

1914-1918

Polkemmet House was used as a Nursing Home.    

1922

Polkemmet Colliery was opened.

1930

Electric lamps replaced the gas lamps in the Main Street.

1936

First proper Police Station was built at 87-89 East Main Street to replace the one which had been part of the Burgh Chambers. The new building lacked toilet facilities and prisoners had to be escorted to the botton of the garden whenever "nature called".

1939-45

Polkemmet House was used as a billet firstly for the British then the Polish.

1951

Population was 5232

1953

King George V. park was opened. This large play area has seen may changes over the years. Initially, on the lower level it had a 440 yard cinder running track with a football pitch in the middle and at the east end there were two concrete tennis courts,   putting green & a childrens play area The photo shows the tennis courts and the putting green and play area in the background. Click on the image to see the full size version. The Wilson Pavilion provided changing rooms. The upper level had two football pitches.

1954

Polkemmet Primary School was opened. Built just along the pit road from Polkemmet Colliery it served most of Whitburn's population until 1967. Two separate buildings were built, the lower one served Primary 1 and 2, the upper blocks serving Primary 3 - 7.  The lower block is now Burnhouse School and caters for "special needs" pupils. The latest official figures show the school rolls currently at 264 and 27 respectively.

1959

Due to overpopulation in Glasgow, outlying towns were encouraged to house and provide employment to those Glaswegians willing to move out of the city. In March 1959 Whitburn Town Council proposed an agreement with Glasgow Corporation to provide 250 houses in the Murraysgate area within 3 years from the start of the agreement. True to form, just over three years later the first Glasgow family moved into Polkemmet Road. A week or so later my parents moved into Polkemmet Road with my brother who was 2 years old and myself at the tender age of 11 months. A couple of years later my younger sister was born in 35 Polkemmet Road and is therefore a real Downdie.
By 1965 the full occupancy of the Overspill housing was complete and the population of Whitburn had risen by over 700. (Many thanks to Liz Manson who has provided information regarding the Glasgow Overspill).

1961

Population was 5902
Polkemmet House closes following the relocation of the Scottish Police College to Tulliallan near Alloa.

1965

The new Brucefield Church was erected in East Main Street.

1967/68

Due to the large increase in population in Whitburn three new schools were opened to serve the community. Whitburn Academy in the northeast of the town beside Shanks Road was initially a four story classroom block constructed from storey height precast units with newer units added shortly afterwards. The latest official figures show the school roll currently at 928. St Josephs R.C (Roman Catholic) Primary school was opened and it is situated right next door to Polkemmet Primary. To serve the east end of the town and in particular the new "Lochs (Harrisons)" scheme Whitedale Primary was opened. The currents rolls are 110 and 490 respectively.

1974

Croftmalloch Primary school opens serving the ever increasing popultaion of the Croftmalloch scheme.

1975

Whitburn Community Centre was opened. Last ever Town Council meeting due to the re-organisation of local government.

1976

The new swimming pool was opened. Situated just beside the library, it was a major boost to the people of Whitburn who previously had to go to Armadale or Bathgate.

1978

The Gala Day fun fair or "shows" as we call them are held at the site beside St Josephs Primary School for the last time. The following year they would be held in the King George V park where they have remained ever since.

1979

The new purpose built Police station was opened in West Main Street replacing the tiny one incorporated into an ordinary dwelling block at 87-89 East Main Street (which has now reverted back to being a house). The Whitburn station currently has 1 Inspector, 4 Sergeants & 40 officers (although not all at the one time). It also has two civilian staff and most importantly - 1 cleaner. This year also saw the Gala Day procession route change to incorporate other parts of the town. The change coincides with the "shows" moving down to the King George V park.

1981

Polkemmet Country Park was opened to the public. See images of the park in it's own gallery page.

1984

Whitburn Pentecostal Church was erected in Croftmalloch. The church actually formed in 1977 and held their meetings in Croftmalloch Primary.

A larger image and those of other religious buildings can be found in the Gallery.

1985

Polkemmet Colliery closes.

1991

Official population set at 10,860 but the actual figure was about 3000 or 4000 higher. In 1971 the population was 10,183 and since then the large Croftmalloch housing scheme has been built. The abnormal figure from 1991 was due to the large number of people stayed off the voting role in an attempt to avoid paying the highly unpopular Community Charge (Poll Tax).

1999

Levi-Strauss closed their factory after some 30 years of production. In the same year Flat Eric, starred in the Levi TV commercials and had a UK No.1 hit single.
A sad irony perhaps ?, since Flat Eric was a puppet.

2000

Whitburn On The Web appeared, bringing Whitburn, West Lothian, EH47  to a potential audience of 6 billion. Whitburn Junior FC won the Scottish Junior Cup for the first time in it's history. For pictures of the final go to the Cup Final Gallery.

2001

Census year. Official statistics show the population as 10,391 but it must be higher. Just how many are staying off the voting role ?

2004

The Polkemmet OCCS (Open Cast Coal Scheme) begins in earnest. This £500 million project will regenerate the former Polkemmet Colliery and the surrounding area. Once the mining has finished, getting rid of the bings in the process, the Heartlands project will get into full swing.