Polmont

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2018}} {{Use British English|date=February 2025}} {{Infobox UK place | country = Scotland | official_name = Polmont | gaelic_name = Poll-Mhonadh | scots_name = Powmont | label_position = left | os_grid_reference = NS936788 | map_type = Scotland | coordinates = {{coord|55.990785|-3.706423|display=inline,title}} | population = {{Scottish locality population|name|POP=Polmont}} | population_ref = ({{Scottish settlement population citation|year}})<ref>{{Scottish settlement population citation}}</ref> | civil_parish = Polmont<ref>{{cite web|url=https://familysearch.org/learn/wiki/en/Polmont,_Stirlingshire,_Scotland |title=Polmont, Stirlingshire, Scotland|publisher=[[FamilySearch]] |access-date=27 September 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oldroadsofscotland.com/stataccstirling.htm |title=Stirlingshire |publisher=Old Roads of Scotland |access-date=27 September 2016}}</ref> | unitary_scotland = [[Falkirk (council area)|Falkirk]] | lieutenancy_scotland = [[Stirling and Falkirk]] | post_town = FALKIRK | postcode_district = FK2 | postcode_area = FK | dial_code = 01324 | constituency_westminster = [[Falkirk (UK Parliament constituency)|Falkirk]] | constituency_scottish_parliament = [[Falkirk East (Scottish Parliament constituency)|Falkirk East]] | static_image_name = polmontmontagenew.jpg | static_image_width = 250 | static_image_caption = '''Top:''' Parkhill House, '''Middle''': [[Union Canal (Scotland)|Union Canal]], '''Bottom left:''' Old Polmont Reservoir and golf course '''Bottom right:''' Meadowbank Library. }} [[File:Polmont War Memorial.jpg|thumb|Polmont War Memorial]]

'''Polmont''' ({{langx|gd|Poll-Mhonadh}}) is a village in the [[Falkirk council area]] of Central [[Scotland]]. It lies towards the east of the town of [[Falkirk]], north of the [[Union Canal (Scotland)|Union Canal]], which runs adjacent to the village.

Due to its situation in Central Scotland, many locations can be seen from Polmont, ranging from the [[Ochil Hills]] and the [[River Forth]], to [[Cairnpapple Hill]]. Although giving its name to [[Polmont (HM Prison)|Polmont Young Offenders Institution]], the prison is in fact in [[Reddingmuirhead]].

== History == The name Polmont derives from the [[Scottish Gaelic language|Scottish Gaelic]] term ''Poll-Mhonadh'', which translates into [[English Language|English]] as "Pool of the Hill".

Old Polmont was situated on a [[raised beach]] overlooking the [[Firth of Forth]] and the [[Ochil Hills|Ochils]]. There were two [[ancient Rome|Roman]] temporary [[castra|marching camps]], one on either side of what is now Grangemouth Golf Course: on the western side was Little Kerse,<ref>{{cite web|title=OS 25 inch map 1892–1949, with Bing opacity slider|url=http://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=16&lat=55.9976&lon=-3.6964&layers=168&b=1|website=National Library of Scotland|publisher=Ordnance Survey|access-date=12 October 2017}}</ref> and on the eastern side was Polmont Hill.<ref>{{cite web|title=Polmont Camps Temporary Marching Camps|url=http://roman-britain.co.uk/places/polmont.htm|website=Roman Britain|access-date=18 November 2017}}</ref> The [[Antonine Wall]] ran through Polmont from [[Mumrills]],<ref>{{cite web|title=OS 25 inch map 1892–1949, with Bing opacity slider|url=http://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=17&lat=55.9970&lon=-3.7427&layers=168&b=1|website=National Library of Scotland|publisher=Ordnance Survey|access-date=12 October 2017}}</ref> the largest [[Roman fort|fort]] on the wall, west of Polmont. Remains of the wall can best be seen in Polmont Woods, accessed by a footpath next to the [[M9 motorway (Scotland)|M9 motorway]] bridge. The first mention of Polmont was in 1498, relating to the Chapel of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The next mention was in the [https://stataccscot.edina.ac.uk/static/statacc/dist/viewer/osa-vol3-Parish_record_for_Polmont_in_the_county_of_Stirling_in_volume_3_of_account_1/osa-vol3-p344-parish-stirling-polmont?search=polmont Statistical Accounts of Scotland]. Old Polmont has changed little as can be seen from this [https://maps.nls.uk/view/74984085 1862 Map] but, in 1968, the first section of the M9 motorway cut through farm land between Old and New Polmont.

Polmont was originally included within the [[parish]] of Falkirk, but was severed under the authority of the [[Court of Teinds]] (''teind'' is the [[Scots language|Scots]] word for [[tithe]]), and made an independent parish, in 1724. The parish boundary was from the Firth of Forth up to Muiravonside, and it was later renamed Grangemouth Parish as the port of Grangemouth grew. Nothing of the early history of Polmont has been recorded.<ref>map.http://maps.nls.uk/atlas/thomson/view/?rsid=74400119&sid=74400119&mid=453 http://maps.nls.uk/atlas/thomson/view/?rsid=74401093&sid=74401093&mid=880</ref>

New Polmont was built along the Great North Road (A9), south of Old Polmont, and was originally called Bennetstown or Bennestone (named after the Laird of Whyteside, Mr Bennet, on whose land it was built.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://falkirklocalhistory.club/around-and-about-the-area/places/polmont-and-brighton|title=Polmont and Brightons|date=12 April 2018}}</ref> Apart from housing, agricultural workshops and stores, it also had three public houses: The Crown, The Red Lion and The Black Bull, but only The Black Bull remains and dates from before 1745. [https://maps.nls.uk/view/74984091. Map of Polmont 1860]. The village slowly expanded after [[World War II]] with housing being built on land of former estates of Millfield, Polmont Park, and Polmont House. From the mid-1970s, the population significantly expanded when housing was built on the Gilston Estate, whereupon the village was re-designated as a dormitory town.

During World War II, the now-demolished St Margaret's School for girls was used for signals training by [[Poland|Polish]] forces, and soldiers from various Polish units were assigned there.

==Notable residents==

*[[John Gibb Dunlop]] (1844–1913), director of [[John Brown and Company]] creator of both [[RMS Lusitania|RMS ''Lusitania'']] and [[RMS Aquitania|RMS ''Aquitania'']] *[[Gilbert Laurie]] of Polmont (1729–1809), [[Lord Provost of Edinburgh]] *Johan Theodor Salvesen (1820–1865), joint founder of [[Christian Salvesen]] *[[James Smith (Glasgow architect)|James Smith]] (1808–1863) came to Polmont Bank House with his daughter [[Madeleine Smith]] to escape the notoriety raised by her infamous murder trial. He died there broken by the affair. She married and moved to America.

== Politics == Polmont is within the jurisdiction of [[Falkirk Council]], although the suggestion of east Polmont changing hands for the purposes of the [[Parliament of the United Kingdom|Westminster]] Parliamentary Constituency to [[Linlithgow and East Falkirk]] arose, but was soon discounted. In May 2007, the Polmont area merged as part of an expanded Lower Braes seat, as proposed for Falkirk Council by the [[Scottish Executive]].

Lord Polmont is a subsidiary title of the [[Duke of Hamilton]]. This title was originally given to the 2nd Duke of Hamilton in 1639.

One of the current councillors for Polmont (and the rest of the Lower Braes Ward) in Falkirk Council is Scottish Conservative Councillor Malcolm Nicol,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.falkirk.gov.uk/services/council-democracy/councillors-decision-making/councillors/ward-8/malcolm-nicol.aspx |title=Falkirk Council: Councillor Malcolm Nicol |access-date=27 September 2016}}</ref> who has held the role since 2000 following the death of his predecessor, Frank Hodge. He previously represented a seat in [[Grangemouth]], originally being [[election|elected]] in 1983. SNP Councillor Steven Jackson has also represented Polmont, which is part of the larger Lower Braes Ward, since May 2007, being elected for the first time through the Single Transferable Vote system.

Polmont is unusual for a town in the Falkirk area in that a local by-election in 2000 saw a Conservative candidate returned with over half of the popular vote.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.falkirk.gov.uk/services/council-democracy/elections-voting/election-results/by-election/docs/1%20Ward%2028%20-%20Polmont%20results%20-%2022%20June%202000.pdf?v=201508140908 |title=Falkirk Council By-Election 22nd June 2000 Ward 28 : Polmont |date=22 June 2000 |access-date=27 September 2016}}</ref>

== Economy ==

The economy of Polmont is based mainly upon relatively small scale [[Capitalism|private enterprise]], such as [[Public house|pubs]], [[Cafe (British)|cafe]]s, hotels, [[Take out|take-aways]] and [[convenience store]]s. The majority of these are based in or around Polmont [[shopping centre]], the focal point of local custom. [[Agriculture]] is also a central industry, with [[arable land]] consuming a sizeable proportion of the area. Polmont is home to the controversial [[Avondale Landfill]], a large employer on the east of the village.

Due to the proximity to Grangemouth, a number of the population work at the [[Grangemouth Refinery|Grangemouth refineries]] and [[port]]. Few of the population work in Polmont itself, leaving it something of a commuter town, largely to Edinburgh and Glasgow.

There are several hotels in the area, with the most well known being the Inchyra Grange, a redevelopment from one of the area's many former [[mansion]]s.

== Transport ==

[[File:Inchyra Grange Hotel - geograph.org.uk - 545202.jpg|thumbnail|right|300px|Inchyra Grange Hotel, a redevelopment of one of the area's former mansions]]

[[Polmont railway station]] is located on the [[Glasgow to Edinburgh via Falkirk Line|Edinburgh to Glasgow railway line]]. In 1984 [[Polmont rail accident|a train collided with a cow that had strayed onto the rail line]] near Polmont. The crash left 13 people dead and 61 others injured.

The M9 motorway runs through the village between Polmont and Old Polmont, with two exit points on the east and west sides. There are numerous bus stops throughout the village, primarily situated on Polmont Main Street, which provide direct [[bus]] services to Edinburgh, Falkirk and [[Stirling]]. The nearest airport, [[Edinburgh Airport]], is located approximately {{convert|17|mi|km|abbr=off}} to the east.

==Education== Polmont has provided primary level education since the 1700s. The original Parish School still stands across from the church; however, in the 1960s Polmont Primary School became overcrowded and relocated to a set of interlinked wooden huts on Greenpark Drive. Polmont Primary's colours are green and silver reflected in the uniform of green blazer, green/silver tie, grey shorts/skirts and white shirts/blouses. Further expansion of Polmont meant that the school again became overcrowded; finally, a permanent structure was built in the south west of Polmont and renamed St Margaret's Primary School. St. Margaret's had been the name of a private school that had stood between 1895 and 1948 on the site of houses that are now on the west side of Stevenson Avenue.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Hood |first=John |title=Old Polmont, Laurieston, Redding and Brightons |publisher=Stenlake Publishing Ltd |year=2022 |isbn=978-1-84033-911-6 |location=Catrine |pages=20}}</ref>

[[File:Parishchurchpolmont.jpg|thumbnail|left|175px|Polmont Old Parish Church]]

== Culture == Polmont Parish Church was designed by [[John Tait (architect)|John Tait]] in 1844.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.scottisharchitects.org.uk/architect_full.php?id=100218|title=Dictionary of Scottish Architects – DSA Architect Biography Report (April 4, 2018, 1:55 pm)|first=David|last=Goold|website=www.scottisharchitects.org.uk|access-date=4 April 2018}}</ref>

Polmont is a parish and its religious community is primarily [[Christianity|Christian]], being home to a [[Church of Scotland]] in Old Polmont.<ref name="Old Church">{{cite web|url=http://www.polmontold.org.uk/|title=Polmont Old Parish Church|first=Polmont Old and Iain|last=Morrison)|website=www.polmontold.org.uk|access-date=4 April 2018}}</ref> The area also has a Christian denominational presence in the form of the [[Church of the Brethren]] and the [[Religious Society of Friends]].<ref name="Quakers">{{cite web|url=http://www.quakerscotland.org/polmont|title=Polmont Quaker Meeting – Quakers in Scotland|website=www.quakerscotland.org|date=27 December 2006|access-date=4 April 2018}}</ref>

Scottish rock band [[Glasvegas]] have a song entitled "Polmont On My Mind" on their debut album, ''[[Glasvegas (album)|Glasvegas]]'', referring to the prison.

Parkhill House and grounds were used as a location in the fourth season of [[Outlander (TV series)]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.outlanderlocations.com/locations/season-four-locations/|title = Season 4 Locations}}</ref> It was transformed into a graveyard and was filmed over a few evenings

The grounds of the former Millfield House folly still remains including its bowling green with steps at either side which is flanked by two beautiful Canadian redwoods at either side.It also has remains of a Lily pond and wildfowl lake.The burn at the side was also sloped with stone and has trickle waterfalls along its length

Polmont won best small town in Scotland in Bloom awards 2023 for the first time ever.

== Sport ==

===Football===

Polmont has an amateur football club.<ref name="Polmont F.C.">{{Cite web |url=http://www.polmontfc.co.uk/ |title=Archived copy |access-date=14 June 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111101223556/http://polmontfc.co.uk/ |archive-date=1 November 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Since the 2014–15 season they have played in Division One [[Stirling & District Amateur Football Association|Stirling & District AFA]]. The club play their home games at Meadowbank Bank, St. Margaret's in the east of the village. There was once a junior club representing the area<ref>{{cite web|url=http://scottish-football-historical-archive.com/stirlingjrleague.htm|title=scottish-football-historical-archive.com|website=scottish-football-historical-archive.com|access-date=4 April 2018}}</ref> but the club only lasted a few years. Another club, [[Rumford Rovers F.C.|Rumford Rovers]], played at senior level briefly in the 1890s.<ref>{{cite journal |title=Football |journal=Edinburgh Evening News |date=14 August 1895 |page=4}}</ref>

[[File:From the Union Canal - geograph.org.uk - 63579.jpg|thumbnail|right|250px|Farmland in Polmont looking towards [[Grangemouth]] industry]]

The most famous sporting export of Polmont is Alex Raisbeck, who spent several years captaining [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]]. He also represented [[Scotland national football team|Scotland]] on eight occasions, and was considered to have been one of the finest players of his generation, dating back to 1898.<ref name="Raisbeck">{{cite web |url=http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/team/past_players/players/raisbeck/ |title=Liverpoolfc.tv: Past Player Profile |access-date=28 August 2005 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050828030318/http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/team/past_players/players/raisbeck/ |archive-date=28 August 2005 }}</ref> He captained Liverpool to their first ever [[Football League First Division|English championship title]] in 1901 and did so again five years later.

The highest-profile Polmontarian currently playing at senior level is [[Derek Niven]], formerly of [[Chesterfield F.C.|Chesterfield]].<ref name="Chesterfield FC">{{cite web|url=http://world.chesterfield-fc.co.uk/page/ProfilesDetail/0,,10435~21773,00.html|title=Chesterfield – Team – Profiles – Derek Niven|website=world.chesterfield-fc.co.uk|access-date=4 April 2018}}</ref>

===Other sports=== Despite its name, Grangemouth Golf Club is located on the outskirts of Polmont.<ref name="Golf website">{{cite web|url=http://www.scottishgolfcourses.com/central/grangemouth.html|title=Grangemouth Golf Club|website=www.scottishgolfcourses.com|access-date=4 April 2018}}</ref>

Within the boundaries of Grangemouth Golf Club is Millhall [[Reservoir]], which is now a fishery. To the east of the clubhouse is Polmont Ski Centre, which includes an [[artificial ski slope]].

==See also== *[[Falkirk Braes|Falkirk Braes villages]]

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== {{commons category}} {{Wikivoyage}} * [http://www.falkirklocalhistorysociety.co.uk/gallery/index.php?cid=11 Archive images of Polmont] * [https://www.st-margarets.falkirk.sch.uk/ St Margaret's Primary School]

[[Category:Villages in Falkirk (council area)]] [[Category:Parishes in Stirlingshire]]