Scotland’s ‘Great Improvement’ and It’s Realities
Throughout the 18th century, the Scottish Lowlands underwent a ‘Great Improvement’ that saw a completely new era for Scotland and its lowlands. This agricultural revolution was a result of Scotland’s ‘Great Enlightenment’ that completely transformed West Lothian and the whole of Scotland in effect. But what were the actual realities of this rural revolution? Well. […]
Runrig and the Fermetoun
Have you ever looked at Old maps from centuries ago and saw your West Lothian town noted upon it? Yet you find it hard to find any Information of the goings on there over the centuries? I mean, if it was there back then, surely people must have done something all that time. So, how […]
The Lost Farming Communities of West Lothian
When you look around the countryside today, what do you see? Probably the rolling Bathgate Hills, Bings, Sprawling farms and tidy little stone walls or Tree lined hedges to contain them. But what if I told you that just a few centuries back, it was a totally different world. We’re talking about a landscape absolutely […]
The Invisible History of Scotland’s Other Clearances -The Pen Was Mightier Than the Torch
When we speak of historical displacement in Scotland, the mind immediately wanders to the mist-shrouded glens of the north: the tragic spectacle of the Highland Clearances, burning thatch, and families driven onto ships to make way for sheep. But a quieter, arguably more systemic revolution occurred decades earlier across the rolling hills of West Lothian. […]
From Grain to Gold
Today, were taking a look at a revolution that didnt just change Scotland, it completely redrew its map and rewrote its social contract. We’re going to follow the journey from the grain based Scottish Lowlands to thee Cash driven Economy that took it’s place. This is a true story of Grain that turned to Gold. […]
Scotland’s Farming Books that Fuelled a Revolution
When you think of a revolution, what springs to mind? Big battles, right? Maybe some ‘world changing’ invention? Well, what if I told you that the entire nations future was written in a farmers handbook? Sounds strange right? But thats exactly what happened. So, today were going to take a look at how a handful […]