Kirkton Parks Gothic Gates

Kirkton Parks Gothic Gates ....

The two-winged, three-storied, slated Kirkton mansion house used to stand in the eastern corner of the original Bathgate Public Park. According to the late historian Robert Kerr, " A tablet stone removed from the site when the house was demolished in 1862, was built into the gable of an outhouse at Petershill Cottage - it said - 'Thos Shairp and Marion Dalmahoy 1599'." It's believed the stone was from above the main entrance. In 1862, the owner Capt HART ordered the building to be demolished and the building's material were dispersed according to the contractor's wishes. It is believed that the mansion's fountain was bought by Edward MELDRUM and transported to the gardens of Dechmont Castle. The Gothic archway over the gates ( above ) are thought to have belonged to the mansion house. According to the Meldrum Primary School handbook, the School's badge design was based on 'the Dechmont House fountain which was taken to Dechmont House in 1878 from Kirkton House, Bathgate by Edward Meldrum. Edward Meldrum was a manufacturing chemist who, in association with William Binning and James 'Paraffin' Young in 1851, set up work to produce and refine oil from shale'

Growing up in Boghall we never used these gates as we would always follow the path behind Bathgate Academy to gain entrance to the park . A favourite spot for wedding photos ( so I believe ) and a reminder of the parks grandiose history . I would have loved to have seen the fantastic Kirkton House that sat behind these fantastic Gothic gates ...