The history of curling ponds in West Lothian

The West Lothian Courier and our friends at the Almond Valley Heritage Trust have teamed up to help readers take a trip down memory lane.

In former times, the clear frosty weather that we’ve been enjoying of late will have seen local ponds crowded with skaters and curlers. Curling was a popular sport in Victorian times, when a colder climate allowed a programme of curling matches to take place throughout the winter months.

Most villages had their own curling club competing in either the Linlithgowshire or Midlothian province, and based at their own curling pond.

Curling ponds were usually constructed by levelling off an area of land, forming a low clay embankment around the perimeter, and directing field drainage to flood the area to a uniform depth. Trees might be planted to provide shelter, and a hut provided for basic facilities.

Large crowds cheered on their local champions, and competitions sometimes continued into the night.

Whitburn’s curling club was formed some time prior to 1822. During its long history, the club was associated with four different curling ponds and traces remain at two of these sites.

It was said that the club held matches at a pond to the east of Croftmalloch farm, although there is little indication of this on Ordnance Survey maps of 1855. This map does, however, show curling ponds in the lands of Cult Farm and at Longridge.

It seems that the Whitburn club first played at Cult. Matches were then played at Longridge, where residents of the rapidly growing ironstone districts collaborated as the Whitburn and Fauldhouse curling club.

At the start of the 20th century, Whitburn folk set out to construct a new curling pond much closer to their homes. Lady Baillie made available land at the west end of the town to create a skating and curling pond.

Funds were raised by public subscription, local tradesmen constructing the clubhouse provided their services free of charge, and contractors contributed free transport.

Fauldhouse Curling Club continued to hold their matches at the Longridge pond.

In subsequent years, a succession of mild winters caused increasing disruption to the curling programme. After the First World War, Whitburn curlers continued to win awards, but all competitive matches were held at the indoor ice rinks of Edinburgh and Falkirk.

The site of Cult pond narrowly escaped opencasting as part of the Heartlands development, and patches of reeds and lines of trees still sketch out its boundaries.

Field boundaries and a belt of trees also continue to describe the site of the Longridge pond, enjoying an open vista to the south, across the Briech valley.

The location of the new (1901) Whitburn curling pond seems to have been on the site of King George V Park.