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| Grangemouth | |
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  Grangemouth shown within Scotland |
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| Population | 17,3661 |
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| OS grid reference | |
| - Edinburgh | 33.89 kilometers (21 mi) |
| Council area | Falkirk |
| Lieutenancy area | Stirling and Falkirk |
| Constituent country | Scotland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | FALKIRK |
| Postcode district | FK3 |
| Dialling code | 01324 |
| Police | Central Scotland |
| Fire | Central Scotland |
| Ambulance | Scottish |
| European Parliament | Scotland |
| UK Parliament | Linlithgow and East Falkirk |
| Scottish Parliament | Falkirk East |
| List of places: UK • Scotland | |
Grangemouth is a town and former burgh in the council area of Falkirk, Scotland, and formerly in the County of Stirling. It is on the Firth of Forth, 3 miles east of Falkirk. It is twinned with La Porte, Indiana and with Creteil, Paris, France as part of Falkirk District. Grangemouth is currently known for its large petrochemical plant (which includes the oil refinery owned by Ineos), one of the largest in Europe.2
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History
Grangemouth was founded by Sir Lawrence Dundas in 1769 and was built in conjunction with the eastern end of the Forth and Clyde Canal. Its original name was Sealock referencing its proximity to where the canal flowed into the Forth. It became prominent due to the canal traffic that passed through. High tariffs at the port of Leith caused much traffic to come to Grangemouth instead. The re-opened canal no longer passes through the old part of Grangemouth, but joins the tidal River Carron, which has been deepened to allow access to the River Forth for canal traffic. The town's current name refers to its position at the mouth of the Grange Burn (or stream) which flows into the River Forth at this point.
During World War II, Inchyra Road was used as a runway; Canadian and Polish citizens were based there. Immediately prior to the outbreak of WWII the runway was an integral part of the Central Scotland Airport.
The Soap Works building which was used to manufacture soap and glycerine, and owned by the Scottish Co-operative Wholesale Society was established in 1897. This was the largest works of its kind in Scotland and employed a considerable number of local people.
Grangemouth today
The soap works, a local landmark at the end of Wood Street opposite the Old Bus Garage, was demolished in November 2005 to make way for a new Whyte and Mackay blending and bottling plant. The town has new shopping facilities being built in response to its increasing popularity as a commuter town for Edinburgh.
Grangemouth Port is one of the main ports in the UK with the largest container terminal in Scotland, with 9 million tonnes of cargo handled through the dock facilities each year.3 There are links to the inter-modal freight facilities elsewhere in the town which use the town's motorway connections. The town is virtually equidistant between the two largest cities in Scotland - Glasgow and Edinburgh - which has led to a number of motels and hotels being set up to satisfy the demand for convenient but lower-cost tourist and business accommodation servicing these popular destinations.
Grangemouth has an international-standard sports stadium and sports centre. Grangemouth Stadium was built for the citizens of Grangemouth, partly-funded by BP. The stadium has been extended to host a 150-metre running track, physio room, and weight-lifting. The stadium is used as the National Indoor Sports Stadium. A park is situated in the centre of the town next to Grangemouth sports complex. Grangemouth Golf Club is actually located in the neighbouring village of Polmont.
Grangemouth was notable for many years for having a three-tier school system - the only area in Scotland to do so. (See main article.) This system ended in 1988. The high school is due for a re-build in 2008. There is a primary school providing Catholic-focused education - Sacred Heart.
Grangemouth has a wide range of Christian churches: three Church of Scotland, two Catholic Churches, one Episcopal Church and several mission-type churches.
Church of Scotland:
Abbotgrange Parish Church (New union between Kerse and Dundas Parish Churches); Kirk of the Holy Rood; Zetland Parish Church
Catholic:
Christ the King; Sacred Heart
Episcopal:
St Mary's
Youth and sports activities
Grangemouth has an Air Training Corps Squadron, 1333 (Grangemouth) Squadron (located at the TA Centre in Central Avenue), an Army Cadet Detachment (also in Central Avenue) and a Sea and Marine cadet corps (at Grangemouth Docks). There is a Boys' Brigade, Girls Brigade, Cubs, Scouts, Brownies and Guides unit. The town has many football teams, including Ineos Community F.C. and Bowhouse F.C., and is home to Grangemouth Stags Rugby Football Club.
Famous residents
- Kaye Adams - television presenter
- Alan Davie - artist
- Steve Frew - Commonwealth Games gold medal winner, gymnastics
- Robin Guthrie, Will Heggie and Elizabeth Fraser of the Cocteau Twins
- Stuart Kennedy - ex-Aberdeen and Scotland footballer
- Isla St Clair - former television presenter
- Sir David Tweedie - chairman of the International Accounting Standards Committee
- George Young - ex-Rangers and Scotland football captain
- Brian Hurren - keyboardist for Scottish Celtic rock band, Runrig
References
- ^ Falkirk Council, 2001 Census [1], retrieved August 24, 2007
- ^ Ineos Grangemouth Refinery
- ^ Forth Ports
External links
- Parish of Grangemouth by Rev. Hugh R. Thom
- Historical perspective, drawn from the Ordnance Gazetteer of Scotland
- Grangemouth Rugby Club
Wikipedia content modification information:
- This page was last modified on 13 November 2008, at 22:47.
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