West Port

A small district of Linlithgow in West Lothian and a short street which forms a western extension of the High Street, a half-mile (0.8 km) west of the town centre. This was once the location of the gate which secured the town from the west, but this was removed in the late 18th C. and the road lowered to improve the gradient. St. Ninian's Chapel was located here, where King James V worshipped in 1507 and donated thirteen shillings to the priest. West Port House dates from 1600 and was occupied by the Hamiltons. The West Port Hotel was established in 1790 and the Black Bitch Tavern is also to be found here. Katie Wearie's Tree is where a young lady rested while on her way to market in the 19th C. Also interesting is an unusual example of public housing on the south side of the road. Built in the Scottish vernacular style in the 1930s, these feature long cat-slide roofs, crow-stepped gables and faux-rubble walls.


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