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Linlithgow History: Old Photos & Film

 Linlithgow in West Lothian, Scotland, is an ancient town, occupied since Roman times. Mary Queen of Scots was born here. Today, the town is home to roughly 19,000 people.

Old Photos of Linlithgow

From Tour Scotland comes this great collection of old photos showing the town over many decades.



Old Photographs Linlithgow West Lothian Scotland - tourscotland on YouTube

The 1950s

Queen Elizabeth II's Royal Visit 1955

Restrictions mean the thumbnail for this short vintage film can't be displayed here. But click the link and you'll be taken through to the National Library of Scotland's archive, to see "ROYAL VISIT TO LINLITHGOW".

On Saturday, 2nd July 1955, Queen Elizabeth II and her husband Prince Philip visited Linlithgow. It may have been the first official visit from the monarch since King George V and Queen Mary’s arrival in 1914.

The first minute and a half is black and white footage of a racecourse. Then the film becomes colour, though it remains silent, for the footage of the royal visit.

Although much of it concentrates on the presentation of Provost Thomas and Lady Provost, followed by a long line of dignitaries and wives, there are many later scenes showing close ups of the watching spectators.

1950s People & Places

Alan Grier uploaded some 1950s family movie reels, recently digitised. Lots of different people and places, including a lot of children, in Ayrshire, Ardrossan, Saltcoats, Stevenston, Largs, and Linlithgow.



50's Ayrshire, Ardrossan, Saltcoats, Stevenston, Largs, Linlithgow - Alan Grier on YouTube

Linlithgow Palace

The birthplace of Mary Queen of Scots has long been unoccupied but remains in fairly good condition.  Therefore for Series 1 of global hit TV show Outlander it was transformed into Wentworth Prison, where Jamie suffered at the hands of Black Jack Randall!



Outlander On Location: Linlithgow Palace - on YouTube

Linlithgow Marches 2001



Across Scotland and parts of northern England, an annual check of the boundaries grew into a formal event usually known as The Marches. In Linlithgow, this developed into a Carnival, with two days of events leading up to the main parade day.

The Linlithgow Marches have been almost held every year since the 16th Century.

Only four emergencies have caused cancellation of this much loved local event:

  • The Great War (World War I)
  • World War II
  • The 1926 General Strike
  • The 2020 Coronavirus Pandemic

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Location: Linlithgow EH49, UK

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