Polmont
| Polmont Gaelic: Poll-Mhonadh Scots: Powmont | |
| Stirlingshire | |
|---|---|
 Inchyra Grange Hotel | |
| Location | |
| Location: | 55°59’27"N, 3°42’23"W |
| Data | |
| Population: | 5,321 |
| Post town: | Falkirk |
| Postcode: | FK2 |
| Dialling code: | 01324 |
| Local Government | |
| Council: | Falkirk |
| Parliamentary constituency: |
Falkirk |
Polmont is a village and ancient parish in Stirlingshire. It lies towards the east of the town of Falkirk, north of the Union Canal, which runs adjacent to the village. Many locations can be seen from Polmont, ranging from the Ochil Hills and the River Forth, to Cairnpapple Hill.
History
The name Polmont derives from the Gaelic term Poll-Mhonadh, meaning 'Pool of the Hill'.
Old Polmont, situated on a raised beach overlooking the Firth of Forth and the Ochils, which was an important fort on the Roman Antonine Wall. This fort, embankment and water source has been marked out and can be visited in Polmont Woods, close to the M9 motorway.
Polmont was originally included within the parish of Falkirk, but was severed under the authority of the Court of Teinds (teind is the Scots word for tithe), and erected into an independent parish, in 1724. Nothing of the early history of Polmont has been recorded.[1]
The newer, modern Polmont has developed mainly from the 1970s with the Gilston Estate, and further up towards the railway and station, now adjoining the village of Brightons.
During World War II, The now demolished St Margaret's School for girls was used by the Polish forces as a signals training school and soldiers from various Polish units were assigned to learn the trade of signalling.
Lord Polmont is a subsidiary title of the Duke of Hamilton. This title was originally given to the 2nd Duke of Hamilton in 1639.
Economy
The economy of Polmont is based mainly upon relatively small scale private enterprise, such as pubs, cafes, hotels, take-aways and convenience stores. 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 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 mansions.
Transport
Polmont railway station is located on the Edinburgh to Glasgow railway line.
The M9 motorway runs through the village between Polmont and Old Polmont, with two exit points on the east and west sides.
Culture
Polmont Parish Church was designed by John Tait in 1844.[2]
Polmont is a parish and its religious community is primarily Christian, being home to a Church of Scotland in Old Polmont.[3] The area also has a Christian denominational presence in the form of the Church of the Brethren and the Religious Society of Friends.[4]
Rock band Glasvegas have a song entitled 'Polmont On My Mind' on their debut album 'Glasvegas'.
Sport
Football
Polmont is home to Polmont F.C., an amateur football club.[5] 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, Polmont Athletic,[6] but the club failed to last the distance and fizzled out after merely a few years. There have been no attempts at creating a junior or senior team since this experiment.
The most famous sporting export of Polmont is Alex Raisbeck, who spent several years captaining Liverpool. He also represented Scotland on eight occasions, and was considered to have been one of the finest players of his generation, dating back to 1898.[7] He captained Liverpool to their first ever English championship title in 1901 and did so again five years later. He is considered one of the club's greatest ever captains, ahead of many big name players. A memorial trophy named after Raisbeck is completed annually by Polmont F.C.
Other sports
Despite its name, Grangemouth Golf Club is located on the outskirts of Polmont.[8] Ironically, there is also a Polmont Golf Club, which is situated not in Polmont, but in nearby Maddiston.
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.
References
- ↑ 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
- ↑ http://www.scottisharchitects.org.uk/architect_full.php?id=100218
- ↑ http://www.polmontold.org.uk/
- ↑ http://www.quakerscotland.org/polmont
- ↑ http://www.polmontfc.co.uk/
- ↑ http://scottish-football-historical-archive.com/stirlingjrleague.htm
- ↑ http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/team/past_players/players/raisbeck/
- ↑ http://www.scottishgolfcourses.com/central/grangemouth.html
Outside links
 |
("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Polmont) |