Falkirk History

Falkirk is an ancient town lying in Central Scotland, roughly between Glasgow and Edinburgh. The first parish church was built in the 11th century and the steeple has long marked the centre of the town. The one that stands today is the third on the same site and was built in 1814.

Falkirk has been the scene of two famous battles; in 1298 William Wallace was beaten by the English and captured and in 1746 Bonnie Prince Charlie enjoyed one of his last victories over the English, led by General Hawley. The English general spent the night before the battle at nearby Callendar House, where Mary Queen of Scots had stayed before him, and today you can visit the house and parklands.

In 1760 Falkirk became an iron centre with the opening of the Carron Iron Works, where canons used on Nelson’s Victory were manufactured. Eight years later work started on the coast-to-coast Forth & Clyde canal, which was to pass through the town. Shortly after this plans were moved to link Edinburgh and Glasgow with a canal. They were eventually passed in 1817 and it was decided that the new Union Canal would meet the Forth-Clyde Canal at Falkirk. The railways made the canals obsolete and they fell into disuse, until recently.