Kerr's Bathgate History Summary

Bathgate's written history can be said to have begun in the early years of King Malcolm IV's reign (between 1153 and 1158), when he granted by charter the church (Kyrkton Kirk) and lands of Batket as set out by Galfrid de Malleville and Uchtred, Sheriff of Linlithcu to the monks & abbacy of Holyrood.  Thereafter it received several ecclesiastical mentions throughout the 12th, 13th and 14th centuries.   Walter Stewart (1293-1327) married Marjory, daughter of Robert the Bruce in 1315.   Bruce gifted the castle of Bathgate as part of his daughter's dowry.  Walter the High Steward of Scotland fought beside Bruce at the battle of Bannockburn.  In 1316, Marjory bore Walter a son, Robert.   In time he became King Robert II and thus began the House of Stewart.  

But its real history goes further back than that.  

Front Cover Sketch Robert Kerr's original preliminary sketch idea for the front cover to his History of Bathgate.       What follows is: Robert Kerr's Shorter History or Summary:     Part 1   -   Prehistory Part 2   -  1153 - 1406 Part 3   -  14th & 15th centuries Part 4   -  1663 - 1791 Part 5   -  1797 - 1850 Part 6   -  19th century maps Part 7  -   Dead poets & gravestones