Event marks end of shale history project

A project celebrating the history of a West Lothian village is coming to its conclusion.

The one- year Bridgend Shale History project has been funded by Heritage Lottery and a special Celebratory Event will be held at Bridgend Primary School today ( Thursday) from 6pm.

Pupils in P6/7, adults in the village and some with Bridgend connections from further afield, have been finding out just what the history of the village is, why it exists at all, how people lived, and what signs there are of life and work in the 130 years since the Linlithgow Oil Company started shale mining, retorting and refining on what is now the Bridgend Golf Course.

Participants have enjoyed events and outings, learning from experts, the shale museums at Almond Valley Heritage Centre and old maps, but most of all the adults have enjoyed hearing other people’s memories and stories about the past that have been handed down. In that connection memories and images of the past are being brought together in a Bridgend Book that will be ready in the autumn and

distributed to everyone who has been involved in the project. Pupils were encouraged to think about where they live, its history and what it means to them and this resulted in their making a video. Both the video and Book will also be on the project’s website in due course.

As well as reconnecting with Bridgend’s past, the project has been working at ways of making sure that the connection is maintained in the future. At the school pupils have created a huge piece of mixed media art for a wall that is passed by pupils everyday. The art installation will be unveiled at the final event. The local craft group is embarking on a tapestry for the community centre that will show the mining and aspects of past life in the village. A history ‘ box’ and pop up banner are also in the pipeline so that Bridgend will not be short of legacy material for future reference with regard to its own history.

For further information on the project up to September 3, contact Moira Foss on 01506 834519.

After that, if necessary, contact Helen Mein 01506 834317.