Polbeth

Human settlement in Scotland

Polbeth

Location within West Lothian

Population2,380 (mid-2020 est.)^[1]OS grid referenceNT025645Civil parish

West Calder

Council area

West Lothian

Lieutenancy area

West Lothian

CountryScotlandSovereign stateUnited KingdomPost townWEST CALDERPostcode districtEH55Dialling code01506PoliceScotlandFire Scottish Ambulance Scottish UK Parliament

Livingston

Scottish Parliament

Almond Valley

List of places: UK; Scotland

55°51′34.00″N 03°33′15.00″W / 55.8594444°N 3.5541667°W / 55.8594444; -3.5541667

Polbeth (/poʊl.bɛθ/; G. Poll - pool beithe - birch tree "birch pool") is a former oil shale mining village located about a mile from West Calder, and not far from Livingston, West Lothian, Scotland.

Five Sisters

A mile to the west of the village are the Five Sisters Shale Bings, a local landmark and scheduled monument (55°51′35″N 03°35′05″W / 55.85972°N 3.58472°W / 55.85972; -3.58472). The bings rise to a height of 720 feet (220 m), some 230 feet (70 m) above the surrounding area, and are the spoil tips from the oil shale industry that was a feature of the area.

Five Sisters Zoo Park

The Five Sisters Zoo Park (55°51′49.67″N 03°33′33.94″W / 55.8637972°N 3.5594278°W / 55.8637972; -3.5594278) is located on the edge of the village and has animals such as a lion and wolves.^[2]

Polbeth Harwood Church

Harwood Church was one of two Church of Scotland churches in West Calder. The other was in Polbeth, and the two churches were amalgamated.

Worship in Polbeth took place in what previously had been the Engine House of Shale Pit 26. When mining ceased in the community the Engine House was converted into what is now known as Polbeth Hall. Worship took place here while the new church was being built.

Notable people

Rhys McCabe, footballer currently player-manager of Airdrieonians
Shelley Kerr, former footballer. Current coach of the women's Scottish national football team.
Callum Fordyce, footballer currently playing for Airdrieonians
Billy Hartman, actor

References

^ "Mid-2020 Population Estimates for Settlements and Localities in Scotland". National Records of Scotland. 31 March 2022. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
^ "How to Find Us | Five Sisters Zoo | Get up close and personal at West Calder's premier wildlife attraction". Archived from the original on 13 March 2015. Retrieved 13 March 2015.