The History of this farm tells the story of a piece of land that has underwent various Transitions. From the Agricultural farm of Fullside to the Urban Housing estate of Falside, this land has seen many changes.
Fullside Farm on the Boghead Estate
Fallside Farm, as it was named in early maps, Including this 1856 Parish Map of the Boghead Estate in the Bathgate Parish. The Farm later became known as ‘Fallside’ and ‘Falside’, which eventually became the name of the Bathgate housing estate that sits upon its site today. But the lands of Fullside have underwent many changes over the centuries.
From an agricultural Fermetoun with Runrig farming by the edge of the marshland, to a Housing scheme. With it being a single tenant farm on the Boghead Estate along the way. As well as an industrial zone for Intensive mining. This little pocket of Bathgate has a colourful history Indeed.
The Fermetoun
Back in the 17th century and before, Bathgate wads situated on the edge of a Boggy Marshland. In the Prehistoric Era, a huge pond sat on the Southern Edge of Bathgate, stretching from as far East as Dechmont, right over to the West side of Bathgate. Just about the Back of the Falside housing scheme is Today. This area is now the Boghead nature reserve, named so for a Good reason.
You see, by the time the Medieval Market Town of Bathgate was established, the pond had long since drained. Instead, it was an expansive area of boggy marshland. A watery swampy area that housed a few fishing cots but was mostly an uninhabitable area.
The origin of the name of Fullside most likely comes from when it was a fermetoun on the Full side of the Bog. The land on which Fullside sat, was dry land that could be cultivated. So, there would have been Rig and Furrow farming going on here around the middle ages up until the 18th century. ‘Improvements’ of the Agricultural revolution of the 18th Century.
Fullside Farm
When the lands around the Bathgate area were given an overhaul throughout the 18th century and early 19th century, Fullside lay within the Boghead estate. The Fermetoun would have been cleared out with many of Its residents heading further Into Bathgate for work or some to the New village of Durhamtoun that was built on the South side of the estate to work in the Chemical works.
One family would have been kept on to manage the land single handedly The Farmstead we see on the map shows us the consolidated building of the Single tenant farm not long after it was established.
The Industrial Boom
There were many different Pits on the lands around Full side.
The Housing Boom
In the mid 20th century, the town of Bathgate expanded and the housing estate of Falside was built upon the former farmland of Fullside farm..