- West Calder
infobox UK place
country = Scotland
official_name= West Calder
population= 5,370 [http://www.gro-scotland.gov.uk/files/04mid-year-estimates-settlements-table2.pdf#search=%22Ratho%20population%22]
static_
static_image_caption=West Calder Main Street looking towards the West End
os_grid_reference= NT019632
map_type=Scotland
latitude=55.85199
longitude=-3.56854
gaelic_name=
scots_name=
unitary_scotland=West Lothian
lieutenancy_scotland=West Lothian
post_town= Livingston
postcode_district = EH55
postcode_area= EH
dial_code= 01506
constituency_westminster= Livingston
constituency_scottish_parliament= LivingstonWest Calder is a
village inWest Lothian ,Scotland , located 4 miles west of Livingston. The village was an important centre for theoil shale economy in the 19th and 20th Centuries. West Calder has its own railway station.History
Burngrange Pit disaster
A memorial in the centre of the village remembers the fifteen men killed on the 10th January 1947 as a the result of an explosion at the
Burngrange oil shale mine southwest of the village.Architecture
Most housing in the village dates from the mid-20th century, though it has a public library built as early as 1903. Funded by
Carnegie money this building represents a fine example of theArt Nouveau style and has a decorative interior. Theparish church (1643) was abandoned in 1880 and is now roofless.Notable Residents
*
Sir Archibald Douglas (1298 - 1333), Guardian of Scotland and military leader.
* The birthplace of James Douglas (1675 - 1742), Scottish physician and anatomist
* The birthplace ofJohn Kane (1860 – 1934), painter celebrated for his skill in Naïve art.
*George Hogg (1869 – ????), Scottish footballer
*Thomas Fairfoul (1881 – 1952), Scottish footballer
*Laurence Ennis , chief engineer on the Sydney Harbour Bridge
*Robert McKeen (1884 - 1974), Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives
*Dougal Haston (1940 - 1977), mountaineer and pupil at West Calder Highport
West Calder is home to the junior football club West Calder United.
External links
* [http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=West+Calder,+West+Lothian,+EH55&ie=UTF8&ll=55.849879,-3.569183&spn=0.017635,0.053902&om=1 Google Map]
* [http://www.westcalder.co.uk/ West Calder website]
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