Overview of Falkirk

The administrative centre of Falkirk Council area, situated between the Forth and Clyde Canal and Union Canal in a pivotal position between Edinburgh and Glasgow. There are substantial remains of the Antonine Wall and Roman road in the area and to the southeast is Callendar Park House which dates from the 14th Century when much of the area was granted by King Alexander II to the Livingstones; their descendants became Earls of Callendar and Linlithgow before forfeiture during the first Jacobite Rising in 1715. On Callendar Ridge was fought the first Battle of Falkirk in 1298, the second taking place in 1746 to the west near Bantaskine where there is a monument.

To the north near Stenhousemuir large numbers of cattle were sold at the Falkirk tryst or market after 1785 and from 1760 the surrounding area developed in association with local iron foundries and coal mining. Falkirk has football grounds, a greyhound racecourse and public parks including Bellsmeadow, Dollar Park and Callendar Park. Callendar Square is its leading town shopping centre.

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