Torphichen is a parish in the extreme west of Linlithgowshire. It projects a considerable distance between Stirlingshire and Lanarkshire, and is bounded on its Linlithgowshire sides by the parishes of Linlithgow and Bathgate. (1867: The Imperial Gazetteer of Scotland, by John Marius Wilson).
Blackridge, Bridgehouse, Torphichen, Woodend
Bridgecastle, Cathlaw
PRE-REFORMATION GOVERNANCE:
POST-REFORMATION GOVERNANCE:
Previous to the Reformation the church belonged to the Preceptory of the Knights Hospitallers of St John of Jerusalem.
Includes ministers, licentiates, assistants, readers, and clerks.
(1928: Fasti Ecclesiæ Scoticanæ, by Hew Scott, D. D.)
Parish registers turned over to the Registrar-General, as a result of the Registration of Births, Deaths, and Marriages (Scotland) Act of 1854. The letters B. D. and M. indicate Births (or Baptisms), Deaths (or Burials), and Marriages (or Proclamations of Banns) respectively. Numbers indicate separate volumes or books. Note: These records are by no means complete or without damage; consult the Detailed List of the Old Parochial Registers of Scotland (1872) to learn more about the condition of the records.
| OPR and RD Numbers | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date Range | Name | Number | Type |
| 1693-1854 | Torphichen | 671 | OPR |
| 1855-1895 | Torphichen | 671 | RD |
| 1896-1971 | Torphichen | 671-1 | RD |
| 1896-1971 | Blackridge | 671-2 | RD |
| 1972-1974 | Torphichen | 704 | RD |
| 1972-1974 | Blackridge | 706 | RD |
| 2009 | (Torphichen) West Lothian, Bathgate | 774 | RD |
| 2009 | (Blackridge) West Lothian, Bathgate | 774 | RD |
| 2026 | (Torphichen) West Lothian Council; Torphichen Community Council | ||
| 2026 | (Blackridge) West Lothian Council; Blackridge Community Council | ||
(2009: Parishes and Registration Districts of Scotland - Old and New, National Records of Scotland)
Local community councils (2026) are provided as a potential source of additional information for settlements within the original boundaries of the parish. (Source)
Statistics from informal and official censuses
Aitken, Brown, Main, Marshall, Robertson, Russell, Simpson, Thomson, White, Wilson
Note: Names appearing in research materials, other than censuses. Simple names (First name, surname only) have been omitted unless they appear associated with large properties. All women's names, and men's names with occupations, military ranks, or peerage titles are included.
By the Reverend Mr James Paton.
"At the time of Dr Webster's report (1755), the number of inhabitants was 1295. Excepting that the village of Torphichen is considerably increased, it is probable, that the rest of the parish was more populous even a century ago than it is at present. The present amount is 1069. There are 6 smiths, 9 tailors, 15 weavers, 26 masons and wrights, 1 surgeon, and 156 Seceders. There are 3 oat and barley mills, and a lint-mill.
The people of this parish are industrious, the most of the labouring men wish to take a fee in winter, but in summer to remain free, when they employ themselves in mowing hay, driving cattle to England, and reaping in harvest. This is complained of by the farmers. Servant women are difficult to be had too in summer, as they make nearly as much in harvest as their half year's wages would be, and can do very well the rest of the time by spinning flax; indeed there are many women who do very well the year round, by spinning flax, with their harvest wages."
(This section contains excerpts, at times restructured or paraphrased, from an article appearing in Statistical Account of Scotland, Sir John Sinclair, 1791-1799)
Primary Sources:
Statistical Account of Scotland (1791-1799), Volume 4, p. 465
New Statistical Account of Scotland (1834-1845), Volume 2, Section I, p. 34
See Parish Page Sources for all source information and links.
